By Richard Turner



Viewing stones are typically valued for their ability to evoke the grand vistas of distant mountain ranges, the fractured strata of a cliff face, or the solitude of an alpine valley. But what about more urban, close-to-home settings? Most of us spend much more time walking our neighborhood streets than hiking mountain paths. This display employs classic viewing stone display methods to conjure a walk through a nearby tract of mid-century modern homes built by Joseph Eichler, whose single-family homes were known for their low profiles, clean lines, and minimal ornamentation. The base on which the stone rests is a cinder block, one of the characteristic materials used in Eichler homes. It is painted a muted pastel, a color common to such houses. The volcanic stone atop the base suggests the drought-tolerant landscaping typical of the front yards of Eichler homes in Southern California. The display as a whole has the austerity of an Eichler home. Just as conventional viewing stone displays remind us of the beauty of the natural world, this arrangement of an unremarkable stone atop a cinderblock prompts us to pay attention to the beauty in our everyday lives.