I live in small town in Upstate New York.  A couple blocks from my home, there is a parking area for a looping nature trail through a public forest.  Someways up that trail, there is an easily missed unmarked side trail, more of a deer path than anything, that branches off the main trail and heads towards the rather steep gorge and creek. We call it the “precarious path” because it hugs the steep cliff and is very narrow as it descends at an angle down to the Creek at the bottom.  It does seem a bit dangerous the first few times you walk it especially because of the long drop to the Creek below.  But really, it’s not that big a deal if you take your time and go slowly.  It’s also very fitting in a metaphorical sense.  But of course:  if you are going to go to “Paradise,” you have to take the “Precarious Path” to get there. 

What is Paradise?  Where is Paradise?  Paradise is the place that makes you happy.  For me, at least, Paradise is right there at the end of the precarious path. It’s a meandering creek in the forest surrounded by moss and tree covered gorge walls.  It’s not a big gorge and it’s not big creek.  On hot midsummer days it slows to a trickle.  But In Spring and Fall rains, it rushes like a river.  The shoreline is covered with rocks, lots of rocks…. Infinite rocks in Infinite sizes shapes and colors.  And me, well, I’m a rock guy.  Rocks are the toys that I like to play with and the main medium for my art.  Paradise is any place that has what you need to follow your passion.

For the most part, you can walk along the rocky shoreline of the creek on the bottom of the gorge.  Occasionally, you have to hop across rocks that are protruding from the water to keep your boots dry.  But I prefer to walk barefoot in the Creek.  The water is mostly only ankle deep with a couple of small pools that are up to my knees and waist and several small waterfalls and rapids where there are some rather impressive all natural water features.  One spot in particular, has a mini-waterfall in back of a perfect round pool and a curved shoreline that seems to manifest a new collection of colorful and interesting rocks with each Spring and Fall flood season.  I think of it as mother nature’s perfect out door art studio.

I like to make things there with the rocks upon the shoreline; creative cairns, sculptures, small arches and gravity defying towers.  It really is my very favorite thing to do.  But I don’t make things there to last forever.  Impermanence is part of the process. Rain and rushing river rises every Spring and Fall, so everything I make will eventually Fall.  But something about that fact.. the fact of Impermanence…. Changes the nature of the creative experience. Life and Death together.  Can’t have one without the other. If they don’t get knocked over by the elements, I will knock them over myself.   In this exhibit, I will post photos of some of my creations in Paradise.  All of the creations in the photos are no longer living.  Video of them while they were still alive is available in premium content.