There is a beach just west of the Montauk lighthouse that has acres of 5-15 pound beach stones (i.e. unusually large). It is unlike any other beach I have encountered in terms of the sheer number of beautifully shaped stones. Some of them are symmetrical and others oblong, but virtually all have been smoothed and rounded by decades (millenia?) of pounding surf.  I love hunting for beautiful stones on that beach and I decided to build sculptures with the stones that showcased their natural shape and beauty but also offered a chance for a visual double take. I want the viewer to pause even momentarily to wonder, "How is that possible?" when looking at one of these stacks.

I have been tremendously inspired by the art of Andy Goldsworthy and these stone stacks grow directly out of Goldsworthy's work. His quest to find profound beauty out of the most prosaic natural landscape is infectious; Anyone who has seen his film "Rivers and Tides" will not stand on a rocky beach the same way afterwards. I certainly don't.