My husband, Steve Wilson, was invited to participate in a private sculpture show on Saturday, March 28. The event was held at the Oakwilde Ranch Sculpture Park in Burston, CA, about 30 miles east of Stockton in the Sierra foothills.  It is a 52 acre parcel of rolling hills and mighty Oaks that serve as a natural canvas to celebrate the relationship between art and nature through sculpture.

 

The sculpture exhibit was nestled amongst a stand of trees several hundred yards just southwest of the main gathering area. Several trees within this area had been cut down, however, the varying sizes of stumps had been left in place and used as natural pedestals to display the sculptures. (Steve's sculpture "Daedalus").

 

Steve had been to the property before and took me on a tour to see some of the large sculptures that had been placed in the park. I was really taken with the gentle way the property is being developed. Clearing of old brush and tree trimming was done with great care revealing the natural beauty of the land. Nothing bull-dozed, no ripping, leveling, or shredding. There were no signs of humans forcing or beating the land into submission. It was a pleasure to be there and I felt pleasure emanating from a land that has been honored.

 

We were well on our tour walking up a very steep hill stopping from time to time to enjoy the view before continuing on. At the next stopping point further up the hill, was a small grove of trees. I noticed a sign dubbing the area "Outer Limits." I looked beyond the sign and there at the peak of the hill were many stones seemingly floating in air. As I looked closer, I could see the stones sitting on top of stumps - the same sort that had been used to display the sculpture exhibit. From their vantage point, the stones had a clear view of the valley below.

 

I stared for a moment taking in the "sculpture" and then noticed the stones on stumps formed a circle with a small clearing of grass in the center.

 

My breath caught in my chest as a small gasp escaped my lips. I was inexorably drawn to the stones, the Outer Limits as it were. Almost immediately I could feel great joy emanating from the stones. I moved closer to the circle and the joy increased. I told Steve, "Oh, these stones are so happy! There is so much joy in them, so much excitement to be honored in such a way. They are literally singing." And then my eyes filled with tears and I just opened myself to their joy, their Love, and their wonder. I just wanted to stay there, sitting in the center of those stone beings, smoking the Pipe, and playing my flute. What a wonder and a privilege it would be to sit among these beautiful beings.

 

I am inspired to take even more care with the land I live on. Imagine how the world would change if we each took more care with the land we live on...

 

For more pictures of the Oakwilde Ranch, please click here.