Utilizing stones wrapped in armature wire, Boundary Stones: Boulder, 2023 transforms found objects into vessels of storytelling and land art. The sculptural rocks act as a metaphor for the intrinsic intersection between landscape, earth objects, and humanity. The project requires the artist to locate, wrap, and then place the stones within their natural setting. This process serves as a method for marking personal memory and commemorating the numerous vestiges of human presence. The wrapped stones serve as indicators for the passage of time and the myriad of stories that have unfolded within these natural spaces. By juxtaposing the materiality of the rocks and the fluid intricacy of the wire, Boundary Stones: Boulder, 2023 seeks to evoke a sense of reflection between permanence and transience. The project invites viewers to contemplate the infinite narratives that lie embedded within the very fabric of the earth.
Boundary stones, also known as boundary markers or boundary monuments, have played a crucial role throughout human history in demarcating territorial divisions and establishing environmental boundaries. They were typically made of stone, wood, or metal, and were often inscribed with markers to denote ownership or jurisdiction. Boundary Stones: Boulder, 2023 attempts to redefine the practice of claiming ownership over natural space and the landscape. The stones act as an ephemeral marker that swaps strict permanence for impermanence, agency, and choice.
Boundary Stones: Boulder, 2023 includes a set of instructions for experiencing the work. These choices reflect the potential for human responses to art and nature, from passive observation to active participation. As viewers encounter the sculptures, they are confronted with the decision to either preserve the artwork as they found it, remove the wire and return the stone to its natural state, or take the wrapped stone with them, granting the possibility of complementary locations and narratives. The audience becomes an active participant in the ongoing evolution of the work. Through this process, they have the option of shaping the project’s trajectory and infusing new layers of meaning and significance.
Boundary Stones: Boulder, 2023 is the third instance of an ongoing project. The first instance of the work is titled Boundary Stones: Purchase, 2008. The second instance of the work is titled Boundary Stones: Boulder, 2015.
INSTRUCTIONS
When a spectator comes across a stone sculpture, it is recommended that they select one of the following reactions:
1. Observe the stone and leave it as you found it.
2. Remove the wire from the stone. Dispose of the wire and return the unwrapped stone to nature.
3. Take the wrapped stone with you. Display it in a new location or give it to someone who touches you deeply.
INSTANCES
Boundary stones were located, wrapped and placed around various locations in Boulder, Colorado.
