Far away from distant gold and silver mines carved deep into the earth, you can find a very different kind of precious stone. Strolling up the chilly Maine coast (and into Canada), you might start looking for seashells just as you would on many other beaches—but then you quickly notice an unusual proliferation of stripes. Stripes… on rocks. Big rocks, small rocks, in-between rocks… all decorated by a stunning variety of zips. (The above photo is of a few we have gathered during our strolls.) These rocks, to me, are special sculptures. They are, more scientifically, called foliated rocks where enormous pressure squeezes these bands into being. Culturally, they are known as wishing rocks. If you find a rock with just one single white line (two or more won’t do!) that goes all the way around without interruption, whatever wish you make on the rock will come true. (The exact wishing method is subject to some debate as to whether you have to trace the line with your finger and throw it into the ocean, carry the rock around in your pocket, give it to someone else, or so on and so forth.) These treasures are a reminder that wherever you go, or don’t go, there is wonder—whether man-made or natural—and that we are exceptionally lucky that we have the capacity to notice it.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CORWIN LEVI
Corwin is a visual artist working in design, illustration, bookmaking, curating, and writing. As an artist, he has attended over twenty artist residencies. He has also have lived in eighteen cities across twelve states. Along with Michelle Aldredge, he co-created Mirror Mirrored: An Artists’ Edition of 25 Grimms’ Tales. He is currently remixing vintage game boards and making a book from illustrations of Alice in Wonderland.
