Why my evolving rocks?

I have learned from teaching that a captive audience is not always a willing one, so I see painting and leaving rocks as a different way for me to impact a mind.

When a person picks up one of my rocks, it's their choice, and whether or not they keep it or toss it aside doesn't matter. Either way, they decided it themselves.

When they find the rock, are they feeling worried?scared? Grief stricken? In love? Victorious? Bored?

Whatever they are feeling, the found rock can possibly soothe, distract, remind or otherwise participate in the moment.

I leave these rocks around town with the intent of adding a dimension to life.

I left this character in the art class at Ellensburg High School today!

Why my evolving rocks? (Copy)

I have learned from teaching that a captive audience is not always a willing one, so I see painting and leaving rocks as a different way for me to impact a mind.

When a person picks up one of my rocks, it's their choice, and whether or not they keep it or toss it aside doesn't matter. Either way, they decided it themselves.

When they find the rock, are they feeling worried?scared? Grief stricken? In love? Victorious? Bored?

Whatever they are feeling, the found rock can possibly soothe, distract, remind or otherwise participate in the moment.

I leave these rocks around town with the intent of adding a dimension to life.

I left this character in the art class at Ellensburg High School today!

And another thing

Have you ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? Of course you have. Everyone has.  As an English teacher, I have read it more times than I can count and still, I have one part of the book I cherish more than the rest. 

Boo Radley is a scary recluse who communicates with the kids by leaving a variety of mundane items in a hole, in an old tree, and in doing so, builds a connection. Boo Radley ends up rescuing the children from the villain. You see, although the town did not see him as an upright citizen, he was. I will fight for my community the way Boo Radley fought for the youngsters.  Boo Radley understands the reason I love to leave rocks.

And Another!

“In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.”-Friedrich Nietzche

I love that I teach all day keeping a formal and professional tone, and then I play with rocks.  Today I read, and then painted, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

After having read it, we are well set up for a universal truth that Frankenstein, the desperate and lonely monster, utters. “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”

I hope the person who finds it will read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein because of it.

Another Reason

"There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents, and only one for birthday presents, you know."

Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll talks about un-birthday gifts, and this is a thing I enjoy about painting rocks and leaving them all over the place.  It costs me nothing and if a person likes it, then I have given them a gift.  It is so small that I don’t have to worry about losing money if nobody likes it.  Nobody has to return it to the store to get their money back.  If a person doesn’t like it, they either keep walking or they toss it, and in doing so, they were given the gift of a choice.   Once I have put it out there as my ‘un-birthday’ gift to whomever may enjoy it, it is done. I have given a gift and have no more stock in it than that.

One Reason

One Reason: Henry Mattisse said it, and I hear it: “Creativity takes Courage”.

 I love that each particular design on a rock didn’t exist before I created it. And it especially didn’t exist in the particular place that I set it. And the act of picking out a rock, putting my own brand of pretty on it is not as simple as it seems. I am Anxious picking it up, I’m anxious putting it down, bravery moves my feet.

Why is Cray rocking Ellensburg?

Thank you for your interest in this.

I was born in the old hospital at the top of third street, the youngest of the five Ray children, thanks to Edward Lee and Adele Ray. I spent a most adventurous childhood at 206 N. Sprague in the safe and loving arms of a neighborhood. Through life’s pulling and pushing, I spent half my life in Western Washington raising a family, much of it teaching secondary English Language Arts, and most of that time trying to get back to Ellensburg. When, in 2016, I arrived at last, I was met by an early snow, followed by more snow and a relentlessly frigid winter. It was time to get a hobby.

And that’s when I began rocking back and forth, and I have never stopped.

Here are a few of the rocks, which I will never claim are amazing, but they are mine! PINTREST: https://pin.it/43WXerx