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Saturday, November 1, 2014

Michael Grab - A Balancing 'Class' Act

Thinking of the previous post, the movie review for Koyaanisqatsi (Life out of balance) this artist is not only not out of balance but is a balancing expert.







Michael Grab has mastered the art of stone balancing. He explains how he does it. “The most fundamental element of balancing in a physical sense is finding some kind of “tripod” for the rock to stand on. Every rock is covered in a variety of tiny to large indentations that can act as a tripod for the rock to stand upright, or in most orientations you can think of with other rocks. By paying close attention to the feeling of the rocks, you will start to feel even the smallest clicks as the notches of the rocks in contact are moving over one another. In the finer point balances, these clicks can be felt on a scale smaller than millimeters. Some point balances will give the illusion of weightlessness as the rocks look to be barely touching. Parallel to the physical element of finding tripods, the most fundamental non-physical element is harder to explain through words. In a nutshell, I am referring to meditation, or finding a zero point or silence within yourself. Some balances can apply significant pressure on your mind and your patience. The challenge is overcoming any doubt that may arise.”

Koyaanisqatsi - Movie review (A blast from the past)

This film is one of my favorite films and is most certainty best viewed on the Big Screen. I saw it years ago in Manhattan in IMAX -- such a visual treat.

KOYAANISQATSI
(1982)

Documentary | Music | Special Interest
1 hr. 26 min.

Rated: UR - Unrated
Grade: A

Director: Godfrey Reggio

Writers:Ron FrickeMichael Hoenig, Godfrey Reggio, Alton Walpole 
Music: Philip Glass
Stars: Lou Dobbs, Ted Koppel | See full cast and crew


A movie with no conventional plot: merely a collection of expertly photographed scenes. Subject matter has a highly environmental theme.

 
An art-house circuit sensation, this feature-length documentary is visually arresting and possesses a clear, pro-environmental political agenda. Without a story, dialogue, or characters, Koyaanisqatsi (1983) (the film's title is a Hopi word roughly translated into English as "life out of balance") is composed of nature imagery, manipulated in slow motion, double exposure or time lapse, juxtaposed with footage of humans' devastating environmental impact on the planet. Starting with an ancient rock wall painting, the film moves through sequences depicting clouds, waves, and other natural features, then into man-made landscapes such as buildings, earth-altering construction machinery, and cars.
The message of director Godfrey Reggio is clear: humans are destroying the planet, and all of human progress is pointlessly foolish. Also notable for its intense, atmospheric score by new age composer Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (1983) was a labor of love for Reggio, who spent several years filming it. The film was followed by sequels, Powaqqatsi (1988), Anima Mundi (1991) and Naqoyqatsi (1999).

Koyaanisqatsi is eye candy and the Phillip Glass soundtrack is excellent and I'm not a big Phillip Glass fan.
Below is the full movie via vimeo
I suggest viewing it in full screen mode.


At the end of the film just prior to the credits are some very telling quotes of ancient Hopi prophecies. Think of the contrails from  military jets that appear in our skies worldwide.


If you are just too impatient to watch the entire movie there is a 5 min.'Cliff Notes' version of the film below.