A year ago, I stumbled upon this magical place, by the Ottawa River, where John Ceprano is working on the art of balance. Last year’s work has probably been dismantled naturally during the winter, but the sculptures currently on display just blew my mind. They are taller, bigger, and there are dozens of them.

The weather was gorgeous, with blue sky and big fluffy white clouds looming over the river. The river was so peaceful I caught a few perfect mirror reflections.

I spent an hour there, admiring both the sculptures and the patience needed to perfectly balance all the rocks. The sculptures are so still there were even spider webs spun between them!

Inukshuks On The Ottawa River

Hide and Seek
The Sculptures Site
Mirror Reflection
The Art of Balance

No Tricks… Just Balance

Perfect Balance!

Spider Web

Spider Web

Perspective of Balance

Three Flat Rocks
The Art of Balance
Inukshuks On The Ottawa River
Mushrooms?

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16 Comments

  1. Yogi August 16, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    How remarkable. I’ve never seen nor heard anything like this. The creativity of people just never ceases to amaze me. Going back to basic, balancing rocks for art. I love it.

    Reply
  2. London Caller August 16, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    Have you heard of “cairn” before?
    It’s very similar to Ceprano’s artworks!

    Reply
  3. micki August 16, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    This is so unique and creative! Amazing, all of them are well balanced. I like the mushrooms art! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Tulsa Gentleman August 17, 2010 at 12:09 am

    These are amazing. I suppose the wind eventually knocks them over, right? This requires patience.

    Reply
  5. Lizz August 17, 2010 at 4:06 am

    Wow, that’s some seriously breath-taking work, Zhu! Gorgeous stuff.

    Reply
  6. Em August 17, 2010 at 6:38 am

    That’s amazing!

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  7. khatia Caroline August 17, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    wow amazing place! I haven’t seen it yet. How you get there?

    Reply
  8. Gail at Large August 18, 2010 at 2:14 am

    I shot Remic Rapids entirely on film the other Sunday, and I still haven’t taken the rolls in for developing yet! But you had a much nicer day than I did — it started pouring just after we finished shooting and I phoned you.

    Reply
  9. Linguist-in-Waiting August 18, 2010 at 9:29 am

    Rock balancing? I have heard of that before when I was in the Philippines, and I for myself didn’t understand what it was all about. Now I know!

    Reply
  10. Scarlet Ily August 18, 2010 at 10:59 am

    Fascinating! I would LOVE this place…and I’d take away a positive message from all that BALANCE around me. Love the hide ‘n seek photo, Chica! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Zhu August 18, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    @Yogi – This is definitely creativity in action. I think the artist just started with a few sculptures and expended over the years.

    @London Caller – Yes, it’s the same kind of natural art.

    @micki – It does look like mushrooms, doesn’t it?!

    @Tulsa Gentleman – I don’t think the wind knock them over, however the water probably does when it raises. It is not a very windy place.

    @Lizz – The artist is truly amazing!

    @Em – Isn’t it?!

    @khatia Caroline – You can take the bus to Tunney’s Pasture/ Parkdale and walk straight to the river. It’s about 4 km from Parliament Hill if you bike/ walk along the river, past the War Museum.

    @Gail at Large – Can’t wait to see your pics! You made me think of going back there, and I just loved the clouds and the light that day. I was lucky.

    @Linguist-in-Waiting – I had never heard of it before coming to Canada and seeing Inukshucks!

    @Scarlet Ily – I agree, the message is quite beautiful too. Nice metaphor for life.

    Reply
  12. Seraphine August 19, 2010 at 1:34 am

    the art of balance.
    and here we are as unbalanced
    as my checkbook.

    Reply
  13. Soleil August 19, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    These sculptures are mind-blowingly amazing! What a talented guy. Not only are they beautiful, but they seem to be immune to gravity. Unbelievable. Thanks for sharing with us!

    Reply
  14. Yasmine August 20, 2010 at 6:14 am

    So amazing and peaceful, I can picture myself spending several hours there just enjoying the forms. I live only 4 hours away from this Zen place! Maybe I could…

    Reply
  15. Vagabonde September 10, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    I never saw sculptures like that – these are super neat!

    Reply
  16. Graham Ettridge April 25, 2011 at 3:24 am

    Goodness, I was watching a documentary just the other day on a guy who did rock balancing like this. I am wondering if it was the same guy. That is what gave me the idea for the theme. How amazing that you interpreted it in exactly the same way as I had in mind!!! Great minds, eh? lol! I love the pics you have here. You have captured the art in its full glory. Love the textures, the colours, the forms and the challenge of nature. I especially like the pic of you poking your head out from behind the artwork!!! Brilliant, and it is so lovely to have you on board the photochallenge!!! Hope you are well and having fun x

    Reply

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