Cliffs/Stacks

Our syllabus says that this week's subject is cliffs. However, that is such a broad subject that I decided to narrow it down somewhat. Since this summer's subjects are generally associated with the sea, I decided to focus on stacks. Stacks are geological features of coastal areas that have been created by erosion. Sometimes, they are lingering remnants of islands. In short, they are pillars of rock in the water close to coastlines. They are found all over the world. They are also unstable. Because erosion is ongoing, new stacks can emerge as coast lines recede, continue to erode--sometimes in fantastic shapes--and eventually wear away entirely.

I have a number of photos of stacks below, but the first one is a particularly well-known pair, especially in Japan. It is a popular spot for newlyweds to visit; Japan's Wedded Rocks (Meoto Iwa). This is one of Japan's 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

I have more information about this pair along with my painting in 6.2.

Here are a few photos of other stacks. Perhaps one of them will inspire your own painting.

Bako National Park, Malaysia.

Ko Tapu (Nail Island), Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. If this seems familiar, it may because it appeared in the The Man With the Golden Gun, a James Bond Movie.

Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park, Victoria, Australia. There were never twelve. Eight was the number until one collapsed in 2005, leaving seven today. Erosion happens.

Dún Briste (Gaelic for Broken Fort), County Mayo, Ireland

Glenlough Bay, County Donegal, Ireland

Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom

Hvitserkur, Iceland. This sea stack is known as Iceland's Troll Rock, and yes, it is standing on three legs.

Reynisdrangar Basalt Sea Stacks, Vik, Iceland

Tettegouche State Park on Lake Superior, Minnesota. Until 2010 when it partially collapsed, this stack was the leg of a natural arch. This last standing portion of it was toppled after a major storm in December last year. Even most of the rubble was washed away. Erosion happens.

We're getting closer to home.

Olympic National Park, Washington State. Note that this photo has tenkei, the small figures in the middle.

Haystack Rock, Canon Beach, Oregon

In fact, we don't have to travel far at all in order to see a sea stack.

Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, California

Here is another picture of Meoto Iwa, Japan's Wedded Rocks:

The rope connecting the two stacks is called a shimenawa. It has special significance in the Shinto religion. It is made of rice straw and needs to be replaced several times a year.

The tassels hanging from the shimenawa are the ends of relatively short rope segments that are woven together to make the full-length rope. Below is a picture of a much larger (in diameter) shimenawa.

This shimenawa is at the Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine in Izumo, Japan. In the Shinto religion, shimenawa separate sacred areas where gods are enshrined from the outside world and are found at most Shinto shrines, torii gates, and sacred landmarks like Meoto Iwa. They are sometimes used for more mundane purposes, too. They are often set up at ground-breaking ceremonies for new construction.

Meoto Iwa represents Izanagi and Izanami, the two Shinto gods (kami) who gave birth to Japan and the rest of the Shinto pantheon. The shimenawa represents their eternal bond, celebrating the union in marriage of men and women.

Meoto Iwa is maintained by the nearby Futami Okitama Shrine in Mie Prefecture on Honshu, Japan's largest island. The shrine is known for its frogs, supposedly having the power to grant wishes. The Japanese name for frog (kaeru) is the same as the verb for the return of things to their owner.