Galt's Gulch
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Boulder, CO artist told to stop stacking stones

Posted by Non_mooching_artist 8 years, 11 months ago to Culture
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Well, I must admit I was in high dudgeon upon coming across this article. It was absurd in the extreme that the artist, Michael Grab, was told he would be arrested for continuing to make stacked river stone sculptures... My thinking was "WHY?!". He has been making these for SEVEN years, much to the enjoyment of the residents of Boulder.
The upside though, is that an outpouring of support for Michael Grab brought about a rapid change in attitude of those who mandated such an absurd law. He was told that he could continue, unimpeded, to create his beautiful sculptures, which are part of the natural beauty of the environs they grace.
SOURCE URL: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/boulder-cops-declare-rock-stacking-a-jailable-offense-to-stop-local-artist-who-spent-7-years-creating-sculptures/

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  • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 11 months ago
    People in governments, no matter how big or how small, just can't seem to keep from exerting power, even if it's in the most trivial of matters. I'm waitng for an edict saying how much toilet paper one is allowed to use by law. (And maybe how to use it.)
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  • Posted by $ minniepuck 8 years, 11 months ago
    These remind me of the Inukshuks we see when we are driving the rural areas of Canada. I tend to enjoy seeing most of them; this guy's structures look nice, too. I'm wondering who he pissed off enough to get the police on him and why it's a big deal. I wish the article would have asked the police for their side of the story.
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    • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 8 years, 11 months ago
      I was wanting more about the why of it myself. A little digging might be in order.
      The drive in Canada sounds beautiful. What part?
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      • Posted by $ minniepuck 8 years, 11 months ago
        To visit my family, we usually fly into northern Minnesota and then drive up 6-8 hours into northern Ontario. The majority of the drive is a windy road cutting through the forest. It is beautiful in the summer. During the winter, however, I spend my time trying not to blink just in case a moose gets onto the road (that happened once).
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        • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 8 years, 11 months ago
          Sounds great. Except a moose in the road. That could end badly. And winter up that way is brutal! I visited an uncle up in St. Cloud during the winter years ago. We all walked across the frozen Mississippi River.
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          • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 11 months ago
            hey! . moose in the road is an opportunity to drive
            for supper! . in tennessee, it is legal to take your
            roadkill home and sear it on the grill. . moose steak,
            using Sarah's recipe for alaskan caribou, anyone? -- j
            .
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            • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 8 years, 11 months ago
              No lie, a person I know hit a deer on her street, and as she was sitting at the side of the road, a guy in a pickup pulls alongside, asks her if she wants it. She said no, (idiot), so he said do mind if I take it? "No". He then slung it into this pickup and drove off. With fresh VENISON.
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  • Posted by Eudaimonia 8 years, 11 months ago
    I suspect that whatever petty minded bureaucrat went after this guy is probably on board with Agenda 21 and the US claiming control over all "navigable" waterways.

    How dare you move rocks in The Peoples' brook!
    Back to your centrally planned pack-n-stack apartment complex!
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  • Posted by $ Stormi 8 years, 11 months ago
    Boulder has been known for weird form many years. However, watching him stack the rocks, he definitely is in touch with something there. As to the cops, well, lets see, why would there be an increase in thefts and rape, Maybe they should check that one out. Just don't pick up a rock in Colo. or Wyo., no matter how much you think it is cool, they protect those rocks and intend to keep them.
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  • Posted by johnpe1 8 years, 11 months ago
    this guy is Good!!! . my mom was often irritated with me
    over stackings around the house, but I wasn't putting
    the centers of gravity off-line like Michael is!!! -- j
    .
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  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 11 months ago
    This is another example of police acting beyond their scope similar to the NYC and Baltimore killings, simply with a different subject and verb but the same misplaced motives driving dangerous behaviors. Thank goodness the DA is at least a servant to the people (read "politician"), because it remains unclear how much he acted from his own wisdom or to popular pressure.
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    • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 11 months ago
      It's the city council that's behind the actions of the cops, who otherwise did not give a flip about the stone art for all of seven years.
      Some of the cops may even like the art but their job is to enforce laws--even a recently thought up stupid one.
      For a moment,think like a Colorado politician who gets elected these days. Not too long. It may hurt your head.
      That's how I came--ouch!--to the following conclusion--
      That city council is likely a pack of environazis who think nature, especially around running water, should be kept pristine.
      In fact, I'll bet they think the world would be a by far better place if we all just dropped dead.
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