A Questing
of Balance
The "17bc rockatree"
public art project began on June 30th 1996 under a rare
blue moon.
The location was chosen by a large
white granite boulder which had rolled from the daffodil
field above
and came to rest on a rock bluff
beside the Pat Bay Highway, (17BC) between Victoria and Sidney,
British Columbia.
photo: Jovian Wiefelspuett
I'd been noticing that boulder for months and
became convinced it would make an ideal foundation rock.
The site can be viewed from
both directions, while pedestrian access is difficult.
Tumbling rocks roll
into the drainage ditch about
5 meters below where some can be retrieved.
Fellow rockatier,
Glen McConnell
agreed to assist
although neither of us knew
if we could work in such a challenging location.
The first time we set foot
on the site, the noise of the cars and the blast of wind
from semi's cruising
by at 100K was so intense
it was difficult concentrating on the job at hand. As
soon as we got to it, choosing rocks and
carrying them down from the edge of
the field, the distractions diminished and the balancing
went well.
christmas rockatree
" highway
rockatree"
10 years on the edge of 17 BC
click on thumbnails then hit your back button
more 17bc pix
~
Building arches is a challenge,
especially when two people are involved. It's practically
impossible to give or
take instant directions while each is
struggling with three or four moving rocks at once. Hands,
knees, elbows and feet,
every limb is involved. It appears to
be a foolish thing to attempt, the rocks will never set
even if the whole day is spent,
yet suddenly they do and so smartly
the world seems to pause along with them for a moment or
two.