What is it about human beings, anyway, that we are compelled to arrange things in patterns that please us, to see images in found objects? What is the power of metaphor and simile made concrete? Well. I don’t know. But I’m not going to let that stop me from showing you some examples.
Photographer Ken Scott lives and works over on the Leelanau. Take a look at his Cairn Series on Flickr, especially Snoopy and the gang and Snoopy and the gang . . . II.
I like cairns. Even when they’re whimsical, recent creations, they seem to be ageless and filled with significance. Must be the rocks. I suspect cairns built of, say, Dixie cups, would not have the same impact. On the other hand, you can do some pretty cool things with driftwood and logs, too. Look what we found on the Shepleys’ shed the other morning.
Other creatures, from birds and bees to prairie dogs and bears, build things. Miss Sadie and the Cowboy make cozy nests for themselves out of found objects, which is why it is very important to be careful about what objects are left lying around at the Writing Studio and Bait Shop. But I don’t know of any other creatures that make something as a means of communicating with each other, or as an object that delights because it is awe-inspiring or simply pretty. That, I think, is exclusively human behavior. It would delight me to be proven wrong, of course. I like learning new things.
Definitely related posts:
Torch Lake Views 
uphilldowndale
September 29, 2009
I searched high and low on my holidays this summer for drift wood, to no avail, sigh, I had great plans.
Gerry
September 29, 2009
I thought of you when I posted about stones, then here comes a comment about driftwood! There seems to be a dearth of it about here, too. Wonder why?
uphilldowndale
September 29, 2009
I’ve just had chance to look at the photos on Flickr, wonderful, just wonderful; who needs drift wood any how!
Gerry
September 29, 2009
There y’go. One day soon I’ll expect to see some stacked cairns somewhere in the north of England.
Katherine
September 30, 2009
It brings to mind this guy Andy Goldsworthy: Google index of images of Goldsworthy’s work
Gerry
September 30, 2009
Indeed, the cairns and the shed work are in the spirit of Goldsworthy. There are a lot of readers of this blog who delight in his work, and I’ve put lots of links in, but it never occurred to me to do what you’ve done, and present a whole index of images. Cool idea, Katherine. Thank you.
centria
September 30, 2009
I like that you say you don’t know. But that doesn’t stop you from talking about it. Got to love us humans, don’t we?
Gerry
September 30, 2009
I think so. Yes.
Gerry
September 30, 2009
And there’s more! Long story short, I stumbled on a post about Inuit inuksuks and just knew you’d want a link. OK, I knew Mrs. Uhdd would want a link. She is obsessed with stones. One of the things I like about her.
flandrumhill
October 2, 2009
There’s something about stones or wood that have their rough edges smoothed by the sea that makes them even more mysterious. I can’t seem to get enough of stones either.
I know that some birds (magpies?) will collect colorful objects and bring them back to their nest. A favorite color is blue. I don’t know what their reasoning is. Perhaps it’s just their way of doing some interior decorating.