INPERSON
Making the
Impossible
Possible
Rock balancer
Patrick Catalde
finds joy and
balance of
his own in the
process.
BY BERNADETTE WILSON
8
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icmags.com
W
hen you’re walking along the
beach, especially on a day
when the wind is out of the
south and the air is still, there’s a chance
you’ll encounter a work of art by Patrick
Catalde—you’ll know it’s his because you
won’t believe your eyes.
Catalde has gained renown for rock
balancing, an art form in which rocks are
arranged in breathtaking configurations
without the use of supports or adhesives.
Instead, artists achieve equilibrium by the
way they place the rocks, keeping contact
points small for optimal effect. Rock
balancing is proof that what may look
impossible really can be possible.
Catalde waits for the right weather
conditions, finds the time and the right
spot, and sets out to create another mind-
blowing work of art. He may work along
Walnut Creek near the Old Sterrettania
Bridge, at Elk Creek in Girard, on
Manchester Beach—or anywhere with
public access.
“I choose most spots randomly. It
depends on the feeling I have that day,”
says Catalde, preferring secluded places.
“If people are around, I can feel their
energy. If I know they’re watching, it can
interfere with my concentration.”