Page 30 - BSAM 2015 Q1

Top left; Figure 18 – Bridge Stone; Italy; 6 x 3 x 3 cm
Top right; Figure 19 – Bridge Stone; Japan; 15.5 x 6 x 6 cm
Middle left; Figure 20 – Slope Stone; USA; 9 x 5 x 6 x 4 cm
Bottom; Figure 21 – Distant Mountain; Japan; 9 x 4 x 3 cm
told us this stone should be cut to enhance its overall look. While cutting the stone is an option for some, we believe one of the strengths of this stone is that it is natural and unmodified which is the case for all of the stones in this article with the exception of Figures 1 and 8 which have a cut bottom.
There are so many beautiful and expressive small stones throughout the world. It would only be fitting to show you one last stone, Figure 21. It has a special place in our collection. It is a very small stone, 9 x 4 x 3 cm, but is such a beautiful small viewing stone that represents to us what collecting stones are about.
Wonderful color with the subtle suggestion that its peak raises above the clouds that envelope the rise of the mountain slopes, but of course others who see this stone immediately visualize a dolphin’s fin breaking the surface of the water. See what we mean. A great viewing stone seen by different people can represent that which they have personally experienced.
In closing, it never ceases to amaze us how such small stones can represent such vast things in nature, from soaring mountains to vast flat plains. We believe our love of small stones is very obvious to anyone that reads our blog. Small stones can be found throughout the entire world and they visually express a wide range of subject matters as seen by the stones in this article. The next time you are out walking by the coastline or enjoying a late summer day by your favorite river or stream, please take the time to observe those hun- dreds, if not thousands, of small stones that you are walking by—you might just find one for your own personal collection.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sam and Kathy Edge live in Memphis, Tennessee, recently moving from the San Francisco Bay Area where they lived for more than 30 years. They have both been involved in the advancement of digital photography and self- publishing from their inception. As members of San Francisco Suiseki Kai, they were mentored by Mas Nakajima who taught them the appreciation of stone collecting. Their passion is to pass along to others the beauty of this art form.
Naturally occurring stone bridges can also be found throughout the world from coastal bridges by the sea to wonderfully colored bridge stones in the deserts of Arizona and Utah.
These stones are often accompanied by small bronze objects to enhance their look.
Finding really nice slope stones in any size can be difficult as it requires the correct proportions for the valley floor and the mountain. Figure 20 is a slope stone found in a Northern California river in the Unit- ed States. The material is excellent, quite hard and the stone possesses a beautiful patina. One acquaintance
28 | BCI | April/May/June 2015