Small Stones, Worlds Apart
Description of the Small Stone Contest in late 2020 and the subsequent book Small Stones Worlds Apart published in August 2021.
By Thomas S. Elias, August, 2021
Imagine holding a mountains range, waterfall, or even the entire world in your hand. The idea that a small rock can suggest a natural feature in the landscape or an imaginary figure captures the essence of stone appreciation. The belief that specific stones can represent things more significant than themselves and be used for contemplation, inspiration, and enjoyment for their beauty has its origins in ancient China. Some of the earliest human records show a fascination with small rocks based on color or form. The practice of collecting and appreciating stones, large or small, spread from China to Korea and Japan, and then to other countries of the world. As that practice spread, emphasis was placed on large unusual stones displayed in courtyard or gardens and medium-sized stones displayed indoors in wood bases or trays. Even though small stones possess the same attractive features as larger stones, they are largely neglected in exhibitions and books about stone appreciation. I know of only two books published solely on small stones out of the more than 150 Japanese language books published in Japan on suiseki and viewing stones.
Two award-winning traditional stones: left, "Echoes of the Wind" by Claudio Villa; right, "Sad Embrace" by Anthony Gedang.
The Viewing Stone Association of North America (VSANA) sponsored a global stone contest in late 2020 to promote the appreciation of small stones and gauge these rocks' appeal in different countries. To our surprise, we received 573 entries from 127 individuals in 24 countries. This was twice the response we had hoped to receive. This was our first indication of the level of interest in smaller size stones among the global viewing stone community. Each submission was assigned to one of four categories: Traditional stones, Contemporary Stones, Traditional Stone Displays, and Contemporary Stone Displays. These are arbitrary designations designed to group similar types of stones for comparison purposes. Comparing stones from different regions of the world and the different individual approaches to display gives us a good indication of the quality of stones being collected and displayed. This information can be a great help to individuals as they learn more about the art of collecting and displaying stones.
More award-winning small stone displays: left, “Preacher” by Sheng Hsun Chen; right, “Socrates” by Pierre Chantry
Left, “The Peaks Alcove” by Anthony Rawashdeh; and right an untitled stone by Anthony Ankowicz.
A small stone is defined for this contest as up to six inches (15 cm) in height, width, or depth. The six-inch size is an arbitrary designation to define the limits of the rocks included in the project. A small stone can be as beautiful and as provocative as a larger one. The primary difference is in how it is displayed and viewed by admirers. When displayed in more intimate spaces, small rocks can have the same impression on viewers as large evocative stones exhibited in spacious museum galleries. A small rock is a more personal item that can associate with another person, event, or natural feature in a person's life.
The difference between a pebble, small boulder, or cobble and a tiny viewing stone is the presence of certain features. The accepted characteristics of a good stone, shape and form, color, texture, and composition dictate a stone's ability to suggest something more significant than just a hard lump of mixed minerals. The additional appeal of smaller viewing stones is their weight, portability, and space they occupy. One or more stones can be easily carried to a gathering of stone enthusiasts and shared in a more personal meeting.
Two award-winning contemporary small stone displays: left, “A Place that Exists only in Moonlight” by Pierre Jardin; and right, "Can I Eat this?" by David Goscinski.
Approximately 20% of the entries to the contest and the E-book are devoted to contemporary stones and displays. Exploring new ways of looking at and displaying viewing stones is a challenging yet exciting aspect of stone appreciation. Most collectors follow Japanese and Chinese traditions. However, some collectors break with tradition and present creative new ideas for stone displays. A wide selection of these innovative displays is presented in this book of award-winning small stones and other stones and displays of merit.
Artist and sculptor Andy Moerlein served as the judge for this contest. The best 10% of the entries in each category received an "Outstanding Award," and a second 10% received an "Excellent Award." The award-winning stones are featured at the beginning of each category. They serve to inform others about the growing appeal found in the beauty of diminutive rocks.
The culmination of the 2020 Small Stone Contest was the publication of the 272-page ebook Small Stones Worlds Apart. This volume is the most comprehensive work on small stones ever published. It featured 439 different stones or stone displays, some containing multiple rocks. The decision to publish an electronic version is to facilitate its distribution globally. Currently, the cost of shipping a book between countries is greater than the cost of printing a hard copy edition in a specialized subject area. The combined printing and shipping cost makes a book like this too expensive for most stone collectors.
We hope this book will inspire more people to appreciate the beauty and meaning found in small rocks.
