Our purpose is to establish an ongoing international dialogue about contemporary displays that will help to promote stone appreciation. We encourage members of the global viewing stone community to create new ways of displaying stones that reflect your life in the 21st century, your regional geology, your customs, craft and culture. Unfamiliar types of stones, bases, accessories and materials are welcome. We are not confined to displaying viewing stones in either the traditional Japanese or Chinese manner. These are options available to us and we should respect and acknowledge the established ways of displaying stones, but they are not the only way. It is timely to explore exciting new options to create stone displays that have bases, display tables, and other accessories that reflect our regional and national arts and crafts.

By Gary Fisher

Counterpoint, 2016, 6"x2"x2," (rosewood, walnut, freshwater pearl, found rock)

In this piece, the natural undulations of the pearl and rock are meant to evoke mountainous islands. The smooth texture and luster of the pearl playing against the craggy, matte surface of the rock acts as a conceptual counterpoint to suggest a deeper meaning to the juxtaposition which may or may not be there.

The pearl and the stone
I view them and imagine more
sparkling wet lotus