Balancing Stones

Sculpture which has fascinated and intrigued me for some time is the work of Adrian Gray.  His seemingly impossible stone sculpture can be found on the beach at Lyme Regis where he balances large stones on top of each other.

It looks like trickery, the eye sees the stone balancing but somehow something inside says it shouldn't work.  He describes it as being all about friction and gravity, spending a lot of time looking for the right stones to work together and create his compositions of wonder.  Patience is required in finding the centre of gravity and enough of an edge (the smaller the more impressive) for friction to hold it.

Adrian then photographs the sculpture before time, the tide, wind, or weather cause the stones to topple and revert to anonymous obscurity with their fellow boulders on the sand.

I think if I didn't work with stone myself, I would find it difficult to believe he had created his pieces without trickery, checking for pins, or glue to explain the mesmerising and magical stone pieces.  But I do know a little of this 'magic' as sometimes I have moved blocks of stone, which at first seemed impossible, and then through some 'balancing'  and using the weight of the stone to help me, I have managed to shift them into place.  In fact I have (showing off!) spun huge stones on their axis with seeming ease, and it has simply been balance and gravity working perfectly together - and the same too with carrying heavy lumps, if first I achieve the stone in balance it is easier to lift and walk with.  (Though please don't ask, this is not a part of my art that I demonstrate!).