[accessibleimage] Strange stones stay silent

Strange stones stay silent

By Jake Kleinschmidt for The VanCougar

The VanCougar, Washington State University, WA, USA

Posted February 03, 2009, 10:31:33 AM

http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/ss/vancougar/index.php?page=viewstory&story=780
Apparently, the keys to the secrets of the universe are right under our
noses. They are contained in a collection of stones and rods lying in the
courtyard outside the library. They don't seem to serve a purpose, but a
closer look shows they have a reason for being there after all.

Some are aware that it is Braille. However, knowledge beyond that has been
left to the imagination. This ACE editor set out to find some answers as to
the true nature of these stones. The VanCougar spoke with Erin Dengerink
Madarang, the campus gallery director, about the stones outside the Library.

"It's great public art and my favorite piece," said Madarang, "You can walk
on it, sit on it, or interact with it in any way you wish." The name of the
stone art is "Opening the Secret." The name itself leaves an impression that
the art is supposed to be discovered. However, it may be more difficult to
figure out the answer. Madarand said, "Opening the Secret is more about the
things that few people will ever know." This means that the chances of
finding the secret are near impossible.

The problem would be that the art is actually Chinese Braille. To decipher
the art you need at least two people to figure out what is written on the
stones.

What we all want to know is if there are at least some hints as to what the
bronze rods on those rocks are actually saying to us. If you go into the
library and look straight ahead there are two white panels near a window
facing the stones. That is the artist's statement. The answers must be
there, right?

Not quite. The artist leaves only more intrigue as to what the stones must
say. In 1998, Jo Hockenhull and Ann Christensen, both professors of the
arts, traveled to China and were introduced to Li Xiu Qin, a sculptor. They
took her back to the United States to create some art. The volcanic basalt
stones were taken from the rock query and split for her to place the bronze
rods into the rocks.

Li Xiu Qin said that the rocks being split are to represent the opening of
history of Vancouver and/or the release of energy. The shape of the "concave
and convex" forms of the stones is to be seen as yin and yang. "The 'secret
messages'," said Li Xiu Qin, "are found in American and Chinese Braille on
the inner pages of the opened stones. When you open the pages from your
sense of touch, it is my hope that the pages will open the universe of your
heart and soul." Li Xiu Qin says the art is to show that we are all equal,
as we share the same place in the universe. The art is to honor emotion,
community and cooperation.

So that's the secret of the stones. The translation of the braille remaines
hidden to the students of WSU-V.

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