blog
31. Dry Stone
Thoughts and images from Sifnos, Greece, 2019.
On Nov. 28, 2018, the art of Dry Stone Walling, including its knowledge and techniques, as practised in Greece and 7 other countries, was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
On Nov. 28, 2018, the art of Dry Stone Walling, including its knowledge and techniques, as practised in Greece and 7 other countries, was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
03/05/2023
Artist Statement (Dry Stone):
On Nov. 28, 2018, the art of Dry Stone Walling, including its knowledge and techniques, as practised in Greece and 7 other countries, was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Evidence suggests that the dry stone wall techniques practised in these countries today, i.e., constructing stone walls without mortar, have been handed down from one generation to the next, in some cases, since prehistoric times.
While the walls can be admired for their historical significance, their utility, their design beauty and the skill required in their construction, I believe they symbolize something more. I see them as a metaphor for a family, or an organization, or a community. Whether it be the larger-than-life rock that holds the others in place and gives them support, or the smaller ones of a more common and consistent size and shape, or any of the others, all must work together to form a strong and functioning wall that can stand the test of time.
This collection of photographs, titled Dry Stone, pays homage to the dry stone walls of the Greek island of Sifnos and the rocks used to make them.
This series of photographs was taken in 2019.
Images from the series (click to view): Dry Stone #1, Dry Stone #2, Dry Stone #11.
There are other images in this series that are not on this website. If you are interested in more information about them, please leave a message below or email me.
... back to main listing page
On Nov. 28, 2018, the art of Dry Stone Walling, including its knowledge and techniques, as practised in Greece and 7 other countries, was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Evidence suggests that the dry stone wall techniques practised in these countries today, i.e., constructing stone walls without mortar, have been handed down from one generation to the next, in some cases, since prehistoric times.
While the walls can be admired for their historical significance, their utility, their design beauty and the skill required in their construction, I believe they symbolize something more. I see them as a metaphor for a family, or an organization, or a community. Whether it be the larger-than-life rock that holds the others in place and gives them support, or the smaller ones of a more common and consistent size and shape, or any of the others, all must work together to form a strong and functioning wall that can stand the test of time.
This collection of photographs, titled Dry Stone, pays homage to the dry stone walls of the Greek island of Sifnos and the rocks used to make them.
This series of photographs was taken in 2019.
Images from the series (click to view): Dry Stone #1, Dry Stone #2, Dry Stone #11.
There are other images in this series that are not on this website. If you are interested in more information about them, please leave a message below or email me.
... back to main listing page
Dry Stone #1
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