No Holes Barred- the annual PVSG Exhibit

As in previous years, Potomac Viewing Stone Group has mounted a viewing stone exhibition on the indoor atrium area the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum of the US National Arboretum.  It was mounted in late January & taken down after a walk-through with exhibit coordinators on March 27th.

Poster...


Three cabinets where displays are mounted...

The exhibition focused on objects which express the fascination of ancient & modern enthusiasts with perforations & tunnels expressed through stones and root sculpture. While all appear naturally contoured, some are surely sculpted-- though traces of crafting other than by nature are rare.

In early Chinese Daoist thought, openings in remote mountain caves and grottos were considered potential entrances to immortal worlds. The widely known poem Peach Blossom Sprin from the late 15th century notes passing through a rocky opening & encountering people from a distant past historical dynasty. Paintings of blue & green (ground lapis & malachite stone) pigments depict wonderlands where immortals play. Chinese garden walls were built with moon-gates (round entrances) opening to scenic stone constructions representing a remote landscape filled with spiritual energy (chi/qi). Desktop stones of somewhat abstract shape yet associated with soaring mountain peaks were considered to compress the energy of their landscape counterparts.

Natural stone bridges crossing peaks or creating tunnels over water in other stone mountings suggests literary & spiritual tales of real & imagined characters interacting in a remote natural setting. What might they suggest to modern viewers?

Entrance...


First cabinet display space...

First cabinet objects...

#1


#2


#3


#4


Two views of same composition...
#5a

#5b


#6



#7 (large rootwood)


#8 (also seen on p.90 of the Kemin Hu's book Spirit Stones)

Exhibited stones are appreciated for their focal points...
 
Early garden scholars rocks were placed at entrances against walls where some were best known for the shadows that they cast...

Watching & listening to others in their appreciation often adds insight.  Coordinators of the exhibition encouraged expressed their thoughts an encouraged visitors' comments on the last day of the exhibition...

Objects on the second cabinet.

Approaching from the entrance...

#9-- large Taihu scholar's rock)...


#10

#11-- Wulin stone

#12-- collected on Patapsico River, Maryland

#13

#14-- large rootwood

from another angle (my preference)...


#15 from Redwood Creek, California (heavy bronze stand)

#16 another (considerably different) Wulin stone


#17


#18 turquoise stone



#19


#20


#21-- collected in West Virginia (large limestone is very resonant)

Looking back on second cabinet display...

Third cabinet display space:

Approaching the third cabinet...


#22-- massive Boshan Wen stone


#23-- bog iron


#24-- as found wood  


#25-- gift from Seiji Morimae


#26


detail...

#27 & 28


#29 & 30


#31


#32-- final stone in the exhibition...


Looking back along third cabinet...


Reversing direction (looking toward tail-end of second cabinet)...


Reversed direction (looking toward tail-end of first cabinet & the last turn before departing)...


A lingering visitor contemplates...

Hi Chris,
Thanks for sharing

Regards...