Celticknot viewing stone prep for Crawley 2011

Hi,
Today Chris T. and I put together part of our viewing stone display for Crawley.
The table had a slight dip towards the middle.



A virtual / paste of 12 of the 18 feet Celticknot will be showing.


A few close ups.




Your comments are very welcome and appreciated.

Hi Jeremy

Can you explain what you see in the stones, and the poetic story in the two displays ....I dont really gett it....two mountains in one display?

Kind regards Yvonne

Hi Jeremy,

I always liked Chis and your displays and these are again wonderful!! I have only one observation, it's about the placement of the stones on the multiple level stand. This summer I attended a suiseki workshop where we discussed these placements using Japanese suiseki guidelines and were taught the mountain should be on the highest level. You do have the cloud pattern stone correct because in nature the sky is above the mountain but I would switch the square pattern stone (a tree?) on the right with the small mountain stone.

Thanks for showing and giving us the opportunity to comment.....!!

Best regards,
Norma

First let me say thank-you for posting and being open to comments. It's always educational to follow along.

like so many things japanese, one's teacher can influence a student to a specific way of doing things. I see it in the different schools of ikebana, Sumi-e ink, bonsai etc.

I have a difficult time accepting a display of multiple stones, preferring to appreciate, a single scroll, bonsai, kusamoni or bronze figure. I'm just now trying to get my mind around shohin display of multiple trees so this could be quite the assist in learning such a thing in suiseki. looking forward to more comments/instruction.

Hi Jeremy

I have been thinking for a while ower your display....It looks to me, as you dont understand the way, of display of stones, as you have two mountains in one display.....

They say mountains should be on the highest level on the shelf....but personaly, I think a stone representing clouds is higher, and ower clouds, is religion or the universe.....

There is poetry involved with displaying stones, I can best describe it this way, with telling you about my two displays, I am abel to make with stones in my home.....

On the first shelf I have, a display called ( the life of the japanese teaplucker)....on top...... shi-shi ( the guard-lion of religion), next, a "far distant mountain" ( the country she lives in)...."kappa"the mith ( the story she tells her children)....a hutstone( the house she lives in).....a small mountain in a suiban ( the sea arround her country), a little ship is placed in the sand......next to the shelf, is a figure made of bronze, showing a japanese teaplucker.

My next display is made of 3 paterstones....on top a sunset-stone, next a dragon who fly high in the sky, and the last stone, is a mountain in mist.

I wrote a haiku ower the last display

Sunset
Dragon fly high in sky
ower mountain in evening mist.

I hope this helps you putting a display together....there must be a story. or it is just a group of stones, witch makes no sence, it is just telling the viuwer what you own.

I asked you about, what you saw, in your display, but I should have asked you, what you saw in your stones...then it would be interesting to put a new display together, as there are so much wrong with the display you have showed. It looks to me, you have only looked at the owerall view ( art)...but this is not how a stone display is build up.

Maybe you can find 2 or 3 stones, who talk together, in the poetic story, and in the way, they lean towards each other. And make a display with them.

the twostone display you show us, is also not really nice, it will be better to leave out the small stone, and use a kusamono insteadt, or a small figurine who give sense to the mountain.

I hope my reply can help you..or please ask again.

I still want to know what you see ( call) your stones).

Kind regards Yvonne

OOPS, I just saw, it was not a mountain with the 2-stone display....please let me know the names of the 2 stones.

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi Jeremy

Can you explain what you see in the stones, and the poetic story in the two displays ....I dont really gett it....two mountains in one display?

Kind regards Yvonne

Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for your reply.

I will split the displays into 3 individual displays, so 2 mountains in one display will not apply.

The multi stand will on the day only have scenic, figurative and object stones. No story, just my personal taste and feelings.

The other two stone displays are summer influenced and my personal feelings.
I have recently returned from California and saw many high mountain with snow caps.
I hope to communicate my ideas and feelings through the use of space and by our choice and arrangement of objects within our displays.

Hi Jeremy

I send you a reply, at the same time as you, so maybe you dont see it.

Kind regards Yvonne

Norma wrote:Hi Jeremy, I always liked Chis and your displays and these are again wonderful!! I have only one observation, it's about the placement of the stones on the multiple level stand. This summer I attended a suiseki workshop where we discussed these placements using Japanese suiseki guidelines and were taught the mountain should be on the highest level. You do have the cloud pattern stone correct because in nature the sky is above the mountain but I would switch the square pattern stone (a tree?) on the right with the small mountain stone.
Thanks for showing and giving us the opportunity to comment.....!!
Best regards,
Norma

Dear Norma,
Good to hear from you.
I had originally planned a multi stand with pattern, object and figurative stone. Somewhere along the line that went astray.
Thank you for your insight.

dick benbow wrote:First let me say thank-you for posting and being open to comments. It's always educational to follow along.
like so many things japanese, one's teacher can influence a student to a specific way of doing things. I see it in the different schools of ikebana, Sumi-e ink, bonsai etc.
I have a difficult time accepting a display of multiple stones, preferring to appreciate, a single scroll, bonsai, kusamoni or bronze figure. I'm just now trying to get my mind around shohin display of multiple trees so this could be quite the assist in learning such a thing in suiseki. looking forward to more comments/instruction.

Hi dick,
Chris and I are not fortunate enough to have a teacher, we gleen what we can from all over and then use our feelings and taste as our filter.

Multi display stand with viewing stones.
It works for me and my taste / feelings.
I am open to why it is bad taste / not the done thing.

looking forward to more comments/instruction.

Me too.

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi Jeremy

I have been thinking for a while ower your display....It looks to me, as you dont understand the way, of display of stones, as you have two mountains in one display.....

Hi Yvonne,
The guidelines / rules of suiseki are, as you say, not understood by me.
I have spent many a happy hour chatting about and reading threads / books on the japanese approach. Some of which I have incorporated into my personal displays.
Viewing stone displays are to me a personal journey reflecting my feelings and taste, while attempting to incorporate all that is good from many sources.
the IBC is a great resource for me. Allow my displays to be seen by the worlds stone appreciating public and receiving their insights only broadens my appreciation.

Hi Jerry
I have seen many of the suiseki displays you and Chris have put on and know the passion both you and Chris share for this art. In the main I have enjoyed seeing them and spend a great deal of time sat in front of them studying them. I am no expert on this subject,but I know what I enjoy looking at and your displays have given me great pleasure at many shows. As for criticism that you are breaking rules/guidelines,since when has art had said rules/guidelines? When an expert like Willi Benz says what you are doing is wrong, then is the time to stop and think,but until then keep on "rocking"

Bob

Hi Jeremy

I think it is very nice, you take your time, and enjoy, your journey....

It was through conversations with my friend Willi Benz, I learned about displaying stones in a shelf.

I can also understand, that western people want to do something else, I have no problem with this. Rules, or no rules....the words of Willi Benz made sense to me. I guess there is all sorts of sense.

Kind regards Yvonne

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi Jeremy
I have been thinking for a while ower your display....It looks to me, as you dont understand the way, of display of stones, as you have two mountains in one display.....
They say mountains should be on the highest level on the shelf....but personaly, I think a stone representing clouds is higher, and ower clouds, is religion or the universe.....
There is poetry involved with displaying stones, I can best describe it this way, with telling you about my two displays, I am abel to make with stones in my home.....
On the first shelf I have, a display called ( the life of the japanese teaplucker)....on top...... shi-shi ( the guard-lion of religion), next, a "far distant mountain" ( the country she lives in)...."kappa"the mith ( the story she tells her children)....a hutstone( the house she lives in).....a small mountain in a suiban ( the sea arround her country), a little ship is placed in the sand......next to the shelf, is a figure made of bronze, showing a japanese teaplucker.
My next display is made of 3 paterstones....on top a sunset-stone, next a dragon who fly high in the sky, and the last stone, is a mountain in mist.
I wrote a haiku ower the last display
Sunset
Dragon fly high in sky
ower mountain in evening mist.
I hope this helps you putting a display together....there must be a story. or it is just a group of stones, witch makes no sence, it is just telling the viuwer what you own.
I asked you about, what you saw, in your display, but I should have asked you, what you saw in your stones...then it would be interesting to put a new display together, as there are so much wrong with the display you have showed. It looks to me, you have only looked at the owerall view ( art)...but this is not how a stone display is build up.
Maybe you can find 2 or 3 stones, who talk together, in the poetic story, and in the way, they lean towards each other. And make a display with them.
the twostone display you show us, is also not really nice, it will be better to leave out the small stone, and use a kusamono insteadt, or a small figurine who give sense to the mountain.
I hope my reply can help you..or please ask again.
I still want to know what you see ( call) your stones).
Kind regards Yvonne
OOPS, I just saw, it was not a mountain with the 2-stone display....please let me know the names of the 2 stones.

Yvonne, do you have pictures of these displays? The way you discribe them make them sound magical. I would really love to see them after the explanations.

Neil

Hi Niel and jeremy

Thank you for your interest...I have no photos at the moment, but will post, when....

My two displays are oldfassioned, the first, with a japanese story, shown with chinese and japanese black stones. And the second with danish collourstones, with a chinese story.

The collourstones is quit newly found...you can see the two of them, in my latest reply in my topic " danish stones"...the sunset-stone was already in my garden. It was found on the same location, and match perfect in sice and collour.

Display can also be mordern....it could, with collourstones, tell the story of a carrace. What is important, is that the display tell a story, otherwise is it to me, no better than a shopdisplay.

All of us, who also exhibit shohindisplays know how difficult it is to have enough trees, who speak together, in movement, sort, and style. And if you can't put a display together, is is better to show only one tree. This can highlight a lovely tree or stone.....

it takes time to find enough stones or shohin to create a display. It is not enough to buy the displayshelf, and fill it up with what you have.

If you have 3 stones who speak together, could it be better to have emty spaces in the display, or maybe two small plants, who fits the story in the display.

This is the guideline I use. I hope you can use some of it...I am still learning

Kind regards Yvonne

Chris T. and I spent some time today working on our viewing stone display.
Chris's display.


A few close ups.

I refined my displays a little.
While the object / animal / human / picture stone multi display can be a little challenging for some, I hope to show to those attending the Crawley show some viewing stone that they might enjoy, without having a high appreciation of suiseki.



I have a moss ball in an interesting Dan barton accent pot that will sit in the empty space.

A few close ups.

I also refined the mountain stone display.
I used my sun scroll hoping to evoke a feeling I had while on the road trip recently.

Finally,
A human stone with waterfall stone display.




The feet on the waterfall stone seem to me to be a little tall.

I liked this display, but tried a second waterfall stone.






Your comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Hi jeremy

It is funny to put a display together...You and your friend must have had some great time. I wish, I had a friend interested in stones close to me...but sadly, I am the only person in Denmark, who is interested in stones this way....hopefylly there will be more in the future. I have given one lekture, and is going to give one again foirst thing next year.



In this display, would I leave the doban right on the table, no stand...the stand woulld I replace with the other stand, and place the towerstone, a bit more to the right side of the stand.

I think the bird and the biseki, showing the tree, could go well together in a display.

The sunscroll, and the mountain is VERY nice together.


In this display, do I see a man and hes funny little dog. I like it.

None of the small waterfallstones, is waterfallstones, as the waterfall is to both sides...I must ONLY be to one side, to call it a waterfallstone.

Thanks for letting me play along.

Kind regards Yvonne

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi jeremy
None of the small waterfallstones, is waterfallstones, as the waterfall is to both sides...I must ONLY be to one side, to call it a waterfallstone.

Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for your reply.
Both waterfall stone only have the "falls" on one side. One is a ligurian stone from Italy, given to me by Bob Bailey.
The other waterfall is a "Sajigawa-ishi, from Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Sajigawa is the name of the river where the stone was found, gawa meaning river in Japanese, hence 'Saji river.'

One of the reasons I decided not to name my viewing stones was to allow each viewer to see what they saw and not limited their appreciation, by naming the stone. Possible, if they fail to see what the owner named the stone, it can make them feel a little stupid.

I hope Chris will find the time to reply to your thoughts on his viewing stone display.

Hi Jeremy

Then they are waterfallstones...no doubt about that

I can understand you dont want to name the stones, to let the viewer find their own story.....But if you dont writhe the names on the label, they will not know.

Viewers with immagination, will find their own story....but some, do not understand stones, or the stones in the display, and want an explanation. And this is here, your story comes in, to give it all sense.

Kind regards Yvonne

Yvonne Graubaek wrote:Hi Jeremy
I can understand you dont want to name the stones, to let the viewer find their own story.....But if you dont writhe the names on the label, they will not know.
Viewers with immagination, will find their own story....but some, do not understand stones, or the stones in the display, and want an explanation. And this is here, your story comes in, to give it all sense.

Yvonne,
I was told a long time ago,
"Subtle allusion draws feeling better than obvious allusion.
So select a stone that doesn't reflect a "thing" but does represent a situation or memory."

This is a guideline i have adopted.

Chris and I hope the organizers and visitors respond to our viewing stone displays in a way that will raise the imaginative potential. 

If they are intuitively right, viewers will pause.
The stones alone will engage many. 

Another viewer will be transfixed by something not in the depicted scene, carried away by the faintest pull of the stones.
We aim to encouraging the viewers mind to wander in a scene of its own creation. Hopefully, enhancing the viewers appreciation.

Hi Jeremy

You are right about what you say.... I think the same, even if you dont think so. fx.

The display with the humanshaped stone, (this was your name for the stone), I dont think it looks like a human very much, but if you think so, am I happy about it...and a waterfall-stone ( this stone does not look like a mountain to me).... Theese stones are not at all, a obvius allusion.

For me, to call this display, "a man, and hes funny dog", is purely my imaginaton. The display gave me sense, when you added the waterfallstone....then suddenly, I saw the man, and the dog. To call the stone funny, is ment in the good way.

If you place theese two stones together in a exhibition.... I would find this story.

Look at stones....all stones, not just yours. They are all just an allusion with room for anybodys imagination.

I look forward to see more of your displays in the future.

Kind regards Yvonne

Like your stones, has all mine stones a history ( ofcourse)....where I found it, or who gave it to me, and so on....this is all about my feelings and memorys....I display more of theese stones together in my home. But they do not match and make a story together, and therefore, are they not for a exhibition-display IMHO....They would just look like a shopdisplay in my oppinion.

If I want to exhibit theese single stones, will it be as single stones.

Jeremy wrote:I refined my displays a little.
While the object / animal / human / picture stone multi display can be a little challenging for some, I hope to show to those attending the Crawley show some viewing stone that they might enjoy, without having a high appreciation of suiseki.



I have a moss ball in an interesting Dan barton accent pot that will sit in the empty space.

A few close ups.

Hi Jeremy.
My appreciations of stones are quite limited, BUT these stone are so nice, the second one is very nice and the fourth stone is the best stone with scenery that I have ever seen, its like a detailed monochromatic Japanese landscape painting. Wonderful! It got detailed foreground and a background well in proportion. The tree in the foreground got a very natural looks too.

regards,
jun

Jeremy wrote:I also refined the mountain stone display.
I used my sun scroll hoping to evoke a feeling I had while on the road trip recently.

Wow. I guess it's a very personal connection when something like this stops you dead in your tracks...

I see the mountains that seemed to rise out of the fields where I lived in Japan, with the snow cover peaks of Nikko in the distance. How wonderful it must be to own something like this, I'd never tire of looking at this stone. Thanks for sharing it.

R