Boulder, CO artist told to stop stacking stones

Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago to Culture

Well, I must admit I was in high dudgeon upon coming across this article. It was absurd in the extreme that the artist, Michael Grab, was told he would be arrested for continuing to make stacked river stone sculptures... My thinking was "WHY?!". He has been making these for SEVEN years, much to the enjoyment of the residents of Boulder.
The upside though, is that an outpouring of support for Michael Grab brought about a rapid change in attitude of those who mandated such an absurd law. He was told that he could continue, unimpeded, to create his beautiful sculptures, which are part of the natural beauty of the environs they grace.

SOURCE URL: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/boulder-cops-declare-rock-stacking-a-jailable-offense-to-stop-local-artist-who-spent-7-years-creating-sculptures/

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8

Posted by Technocracy 9 years, 5 months ago

I don't think "keeping Boulder weird" is in any danger.

My friends in Denver have STRONG opinions about the weirdness in Boulder :)

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  I have heard much about the inhabitants myself. I just kind of was tickled by the subject, river stones, and the where, Boulder. 😁
  
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Posted by xthinker88 9 years, 5 months ago

But can he stack rocks while under the influence? Or would that be an SWI?

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  That remains to be seen. My guess is, the sculptor, yes. Maybe the city hall will put up signs...... No Stoners Near The Boulder Sculptures
  (Nice play on words there, eh?? Eh?? Elbow to the ribs, nudge nudge..
  
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Posted by khalling 9 years, 5 months ago

and that's why you have to cross a moat to get there

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Keeps the inhabitants in, rather than invaders out..? ;-)
  
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Posted by vido 9 years, 5 months ago

1st amendment => these cops should be jailed.

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Posted by jimslag 9 years, 5 months ago

Keep Boulder Weird is it. I am from Denver and the People's Republic of Boulder was always that way, or at least since the 60's when I first lived in the area. Still a nice, expensive place with all the leftover hippies and liberals that hate Denver. The University doesn't help at all either, remember that is where Professor Churchill taught his Eichhman lesson.

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Yikes. It good there's a river to keep things at least slightly separated...
  
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    Posted by jimslag 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    I grew up mostly in Wisconsin and back there the South Platte would barely be a creek. The Little Plover River is bigger than the South Platte. Everything else around Denver and The People's Republic is called a creek and most are dry except in spring or after a rainstorm in the mountains.
    
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      Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
      
      Interesting. I have never been to CO. Utah skiing.
      
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        Posted by teri-amborn 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        You must go to Utah.
        Fly into Vegas, rent a car and head north.
        Make a deliberate stop for a night or two in Springdale (Zion National Park).
        You will be permanently inspired.
        
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        Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        I skied The Canyons and Deer Valley.
        
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        Posted by khalling 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        Zion is very beautiful. I'm a Moab girl myself :)
        
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        Posted by teri-amborn 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        Eddie McStiff's, Arches, Canyonlands and last but not least: Head west to Capitol Reef. See you there!
        
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        Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        Swish! 🎿
        
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        Posted by teri-amborn 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        Actually, Brian Head is a very beautiful place to ski not too far from Zion and Bryce.
        
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        Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        Sounds like a great trip. :-)
        
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        Posted by jimslag 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        Should try it in Colorado, Steamboat is nice and close to Utah. Otherwise, Ski Summit, Arapaho Basin, Keystone all offer great skiing. Of course there is Aspen and Vail if you have money. Many very good ski resorts there, used to do it until my doctor told me to give up skiing or give up walking after my third knee surgery.
        
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        Posted by Terrylutz3682 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        My wife and I loved Snowmass near Aspen. I too had to give up skiing because of my knees.
        
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        Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        My husband liked Breckenridge when he went before we were married. I'd love to go out there before I fall apart myself.
        
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        Posted by khalling 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        all my furniture is in Breckenridge as we speak. :) I love Salida and Lake City myself.
        
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Posted by autumnleaves 9 years, 5 months ago

Isn't this interesting! Several years ago, a man went from Washington State to San Diego, along the coast, doing this very thing. I have no idea if it was the same man. "Every rock has a balancing point" he told me. As you can see, one must have patience and steady hands. Try it, it's fun.

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  There is a house about a mile or so from where I live that has these all around the house, stacked on the tops of the stone walls. It's kind of cool looking. :-)
  
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  Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  just keep your toes out of range! -- j
  .
  
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    Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    Good advice.
    
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Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 5 months ago

People in governments, no matter how big or how small, just can't seem to keep from exerting power, even if it's in the most trivial of matters. I'm waitng for an edict saying how much toilet paper one is allowed to use by law. (And maybe how to use it.)

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Truly. Things that seem trivial become large because of good intentions used in a manner unintended. Ruinous in many instances. And the power trips overcome even the most modest.
  
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Posted by minniepuck 9 years, 5 months ago

These remind me of the Inukshuks we see when we are driving the rural areas of Canada. I tend to enjoy seeing most of them; this guy's structures look nice, too. I'm wondering who he pissed off enough to get the police on him and why it's a big deal. I wish the article would have asked the police for their side of the story.

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  I was wanting more about the why of it myself. A little digging might be in order.
  The drive in Canada sounds beautiful. What part?
  
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    Posted by minniepuck 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    To visit my family, we usually fly into northern Minnesota and then drive up 6-8 hours into northern Ontario. The majority of the drive is a windy road cutting through the forest. It is beautiful in the summer. During the winter, however, I spend my time trying not to blink just in case a moose gets onto the road (that happened once).
    
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      Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
      
      Sounds great. Except a moose in the road. That could end badly. And winter up that way is brutal! I visited an uncle up in St. Cloud during the winter years ago. We all walked across the frozen Mississippi River.
      
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        Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        hey! . moose in the road is an opportunity to drive
        for supper! . in tennessee, it is legal to take your
        roadkill home and sear it on the grill. . moose steak,
        using Sarah's recipe for alaskan caribou, anyone? -- j
        .
        
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        Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
        
        No lie, a person I know hit a deer on her street, and as she was sitting at the side of the road, a guy in a pickup pulls alongside, asks her if she wants it. She said no, (idiot), so he said do mind if I take it? "No". He then slung it into this pickup and drove off. With fresh VENISON.
        
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Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 5 months ago

I'm having trouble getting into the article NMA. Was there any explanation given for why rock stacking is so dangerous?

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Nope. Just boneheadedness. Or maybe the cop was as dumb as a box of rocks...
  
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Posted by Eudaimonia 9 years, 5 months ago

I suspect that whatever petty minded bureaucrat went after this guy is probably on board with Agenda 21 and the US claiming control over all "navigable" waterways.

How dare you move rocks in The Peoples' brook!
Back to your centrally planned pack-n-stack apartment complex!

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Without a doubt. The irony is all those old burnouts elect this kind of moron. They made their (rock) beds, now they can lie in them.
  
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Posted by Stormi 9 years, 5 months ago

Boulder has been known for weird form many years. However, watching him stack the rocks, he definitely is in touch with something there. As to the cops, well, lets see, why would there be an increase in thefts and rape, Maybe they should check that one out. Just don't pick up a rock in Colo. or Wyo., no matter how much you think it is cool, they protect those rocks and intend to keep them.

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Posted by NealS 9 years, 5 months ago

It's just a sample of where we are headed in relation to authority that decides everything we can and can't do. Welcome to North Korea II.

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  Posted by jdg 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Be thankful our southern border isn't all fenced yet. If it ever is, they'll be using it to keep us IN.
  
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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Yes. Just little tweaks. It's been happening for years, it's just become glaringly apparent recently.
  
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Posted by MichaelAarethun 9 years, 5 months ago

Following in the foot steps of the greatest stack artist who ever lived. Temujin Genghis Khan. Except he used skulls.Some people use jars full of piss some use other mediums. Some up in Southern Oregon even use tree houses

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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Interesting the variety of elements used. Spent casings might work...
  
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Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 5 months ago

this guy is Good!!! . my mom was often irritated with me
over stackings around the house, but I wasn't putting
the centers of gravity off-line like Michael is!!! -- j
.

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Posted by Thoritsu 9 years, 5 months ago

This is another example of police acting beyond their scope similar to the NYC and Baltimore killings, simply with a different subject and verb but the same misplaced motives driving dangerous behaviors. Thank goodness the DA is at least a servant to the people (read "politician"), because it remains unclear how much he acted from his own wisdom or to popular pressure.

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  Posted by MichaelAarethun 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  They have recall?
  
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  Posted by allosaur 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  It's the city council that's behind the actions of the cops, who otherwise did not give a flip about the stone art for all of seven years.
  Some of the cops may even like the art but their job is to enforce laws--even a recently thought up stupid one.
  For a moment,think like a Colorado politician who gets elected these days. Not too long. It may hurt your head.
  That's how I came--ouch!--to the following conclusion--
  That city council is likely a pack of environazis who think nature, especially around running water, should be kept pristine.
  In fact, I'll bet they think the world would be a by far better place if we all just dropped dead.
  
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    Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    You're probably more right about that than many would be comfortable with.
    It does cause a pain in the head...
    
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    Posted by Thoritsu 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    Interesting that the DA can overrule the city council. The whole thing is a bizarre dynamic.
    
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  Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  It was a bizarre thing to enforce. And find fault with.
  
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Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 5 months ago

Crazy, but at least a happy ending.

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  Posted by Ranter 9 years, 5 months ago
  
  Happy ending -- did he get his rocks off?
  
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    Posted by Non_mooching_artist 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    Bwahahaha!
    
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    Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 5 months ago
    
    LOL This is the opposite kind of happy ending where he didn't get his rocks off.
    
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Boulder, CO artist told to stop stacking stones

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