Rock on
Artists are coming to Dunbar for the European Stone Stacking Championships, says James Craig Page
Europe’s best stone stackers are coming to Dunbar
What is stone balancing?
Stone balancing is an emerging worldwide art form that has its roots in Land art with artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Long and Robert Smithson. It is part performance, part meditation, creating sculptures and installations from found objects in nature. This mainly involves stones, but any natural materials can add to these transient artworks.
Artists such as Bill Dan, Gravity Glue (Michael Grab), Tim Anderson (keystonebalance) and Pedro Duran, last year’s European champion, have brought this art form to the public’s attention. From this has emerged the World Stone Stacking Championships, held in Llano Texas, as part of LEAF Festival and also the European Championships which were held in Dunbar for the first time last year.
Why is Dunbar uniquely placed to host this event?
Dunbar is perfect for stone balancing, due to its incredible stone beaches, and its astounding variety of geology. Bringing artists to Dunbar from all over Britain, Europe and America has confirmed that Scotland has the minerals and the rocks to attract the best artists from this global community. The first ever stone balance competition held in Britain was three years ago as part of the annual John Muir birthday celebrations. The European Championships are held in celebration of Muir’s birthday on 21 April and Earth Day on 22 April.
How many stone balance artists are expected to compete?
We expect an increase in artists from 30 last year to around 50. There is also a 14 years and under competition held alongside the Earth Day celebrations in Lauderdale Park, extending this event into a two day festival. There is still time to enter so to sign up go to stonestacking. co.uk or facebook.com/ European stone stacking /. However places are going fast with competitors already signed up from Spain, France, Austria and America.
What happens to the sculptures after the competition?
After the main competitions held at the Eye Cave Beach on Sunday, 22 April between 11am-4pm the public will be allowed to get a closer look at these amazing works of art, with the opportunity to meet the artists and photograph their work. There will also be some workshops available encouraging the public to have a go. Usually, artists will dismantle their work, in a leave-no-trace work ethic. However there is something special about the interaction between the incoming tide and these natural creations by human hand that makes leaving them for the waves to dismantle a very vivid and mindful experience.
Do you have any top tips for how to successfully balance stones?
To become an accomplished artist at stone balancing does take patience and focus. In a similar way to a game like chess the basic rules can be understood in minutes, yet it can take a lifetime to master. One of the great benefits of this creative practice is that it teaches you meditation and mindfulness. You have to give all your attention to what you are doing. Another bonus is that the act of balancing stones has the effect of tuning you in to the restorative powers of nature and your own creativity, simply through the process of participation. It has limitless possibilities that continue to evolve the artist into a more balanced human being and also revealing our endless potential.
What else do we need to know?
The prize for the overall winner of the European Championships is a flight to next year’s World Championships in Llano, Texas, with accommodation generously provided by the LEAF organisation. To find out more visit llanoearthartfest.org n