Potographic Prize

This shot by Doug Jamieson ( Holstein Ontario )won the 2010 Dry Stone Walling Association of Canada prize for best photo of a dry stone wall .

The wall was built by Eric Landman who featured recently in this blog. Well done to both artists.

The next entry on the 2nd of August shows a dog then on the 6th there is a lion!

Stone balancing

This photo came to me via Andre Lemieux. For me this type of fine art although it may only be in existence for a brief time is fascinating. I attach comments from Andre.

"The "work" for want of a better word, was done in a cottage just outside Morrisburg Ontario on the banks of the St. Lawrence River .The stones stayed for quite some time- 24 hours or so. It wasn't until my sister and her boys came for a visit that the fun began- they would knock 'em down and I would set 'em up again."

To see more of Andre's work contact him on lemieux.andre@gmail.com

The next entry (29/07/10)is a prize winning photo of a wall built by Eric Landman.

More from Mike Ellis

Not dry stone walling but this creative work deserves a place for all those who love the medium to see.

A great way to mark your Entrance

This photo was taken by Sean Donnelly at the start of a 50 foot section of wall which he is constructing. More of Sean's Photos and a wee dog in an entry soon.

Arched Doorway

This photo was sent to me by "Stone on Stone" Mike Ellis .Here is what he said about it.
"This arch was built as a focal point of a monastic healing garden set in the ruins of a church. It was built on sight for the Portland Maine flower show U.S.A. It was built by Matt Carter and Mike Ellis of Green Island Stonework. (Greenislandstonework.com) This piece was built in approx. 2 days.......16-18 hour days, using a random selection of stone. Although tired we were pleased to be awarded the ingenuity award for the show. What a fun project."

Colourful Canadian Wall

As always the work of John Scott deserves special note. I attach some of his comments about the history of this fine artistic venture. His is a wall built with great skill and strong emotions following a breakup.

"Sometimes a fella has to think about life,himself,ethics---that's what country music is for. This wall was built, a few stones every night, in the dark, after attempts at resolving muted outbursts and perhaps after the companionship of a beer ---often too many.The stones were all rejected from other projects or replaced by stone dismantled and left on their own, to try to understand their sudden explosion from an otherwise comfortable bond. It is also made from stones my kids and I collected as we went on adventures, fishing trips and visits to grandmas and properties of people whom I hold dear to give it life, strength and balance. While the cheekend marks the end of a wall, it also signifies a strong and confident new beginning, bursting with colourful potential."

Coping with different Rock

Recently I was working with a group of trainees at the Scottish Lime Centre in Charlestown. One of the outstanding features of the site was that there was a wonderful collection of different types of stone. Our challenge was to extend the present wall using the type of stone available. You can possibly see from the first photo that we had various sandstones, bassalt, red and white marble, mudstone, granite all around for the main part of the wall. As an exercise we used bassalt kerb stones, mudstone and a yellowish sandstone on different sections of coping. It will be very interesting in the long term to discover how each of these sections stands up to the weathering. The group did a tricky job very well.

Thanks for a good couple of days to Alice, Colin, Fiona, Jill, Kenny and Stan. Also thanks to residents Steve and Tom for their preparation help and advice.

For more information about the Lime Centre and courses available go to http://www.scotlime.org/