Phillip A. Long

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The Balanced Stone Photography Story

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The artist:
My name is Phillip A. Long. I grew up in western Oklahoma on a wheat and cattle farm. I came to the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in 1988 (one enlistment in the Navy). I've lived several places on the east coast but keep coming back to Virginia. I travel several times a year to do new work. I have always found stone interesting. They’re (usually) free, they’re simple, most are over a million years old, and no two are alike. My mother, Gwen, recently reminded me that when I was a little boy, my pockets were always full of rocks and things that I had found.

The photography:
When choosing a location to work, I am looking for two things: colorful stones for the sculptures and breathtaking backgrounds for the photography. Most of my work is done on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The Vineyard’s north and west beaches are known for their rocks and stones. Every morning the tide and waves have delivered fresh subjects for my work. You’ll also see many photos from work that I’ve done on the Chesapeake Bay beaches, Blue Ridge Mountains, and the US Virgin Islands.

The idea:
Let me mention my aunt Janice. Having a passion for natural stone has been the root of my enthusiasm. But Janice is the person who inspired me to actually do something artistic with it. If you were to visit her home on Martha’s Vineyard, you would find thousands of hand selected rocks and beach stones. Some arranged according to color, size, shape. Some stacked and some balanced. Some on the porch and some in the yard. It’s the first thing you notice when you arrive. Several years ago on Philbin Beach on Martha’s Vineyard she showed me how to balance a stone. It just kind of grew from there.

The balanced sculpture:
All of the sculptures that you’ll see are free-balanced. I don’t cement the stones or modify the photos. I feel that there is great energy in free balance. Just think, the Earth is rotating at almost 1100mph. There is a point (balance) that can be found where equal gravity from all possible directions is pulling on any object. If you find that perfect point and let go, they stay! I photograph each sculpture to save it. Usually a balanced sculpture will last a day or so. Some have lasted as much as a week. Ultimately, the stones end up in the sand where I found them. Mother nature erases all evidence of my visit.

The titles:
You’ll notice that each piece has a name. After completing a sculpture I step back and think about it for a while. Interpretations of art is relative. The titles, probably even more so.
I’ve received some interesting comments on my website ( www.vineyardrocks.com) about what some of the sculptures look like or symbolize to different people. Some are really deep, spiritual, and sometimes emotional interpretations. Some of the interpretations cause me to look at and to think about the piece in a different way. I appreciate all the comments and feedback I receive.Thank you for your interest in my work.

The printing and stretching process:
Giclee is a fine art reproduction process which is based on digital technology. 'Giclee' is a French word meaning "to squirt or spurt." The printer sprays archival ink onto cotton canvas or paper delivering a quality that must be seen to be believed. It looks like you can touch the stones in the picture. The print is then sealed with a special uv protection laminate. Prints should not be exposed to direct sunlight just as any original artwork. Under normal lighting conditions, the inks will not show noticeable fading for at least 100 years. All canvas are gallery wrapped, meaning that you can see the image from the sides (see examples below) The image wraps around 1 1/2" thick stretcher bars.

Shipping of Canvas:
UPS Ground
A flat rate of $4.95 per canvas print is charged for shipping to anywhere in the cont. United States. Outside of the cont. please call or email for rates.
Shipping of matted photo prints:
US Postal Service
Initially you will be charged $4.95 per print. Immediately I will issue your method of payment a $2.00 refund per print. Bringing the shipping cost down to $2.95 per matted photo print.

EXHIBITIONS!!!!

Visit Katody's Gallery on route 17 @ Governor's Point in Suffolk, VA. Kathy will show you my work as well as many other local artists.

Stop by ZEN Spa on Holland Road in Virginia Beach to see my latest work on display.

See my work @ the Riverview Gallery on the harbor in Portsmouth, VA.

Contact Raquel at Trends Salon in Okeene, OK.

See Carol at the Health Food Center on S. Pennsylvania Ave. in south Oklahoma City.

The new Sentara @ Belle Harbour in Suffolk, Virginia has a large display of balanced stone work for viewing.

Offices of Doctors Wiggins and Rhodes in Portsmouth, VA

The Barbara and Charles Mertz Foundation.

See some of my large giclee prints on canvas at the Aquinnah Cliffs in Martha's Vineyard, MA. Ask for Donald.

Maersk Ship Line's BTT Norfolk, VA office

St. John Spice Co. in St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands @ the ferry dock. Ron or Ruth will show you my work.

Phillip A. Long

To view balanced stone sculpture

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example 30x40 photo on canvas

example canvas

GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS

To make a purchase

MV01-Dragon's Tooth

MV02-Great Rock

MV03-Colliding Planets

MV04-Babylon

MV05-The Desicion

MV06-Circus

MV07-Simplicity

MV08-Sea Mist

MV09-Getting Well

MV10-Healing

MV11-Reliance

MV12-Reliance...b/w

MV13-Mother

MV14-Looking North

MV15-Transmitting Signals

MV16-Spectrum

MV17-Visionary

MV18-Visionary...b/w

MV19-Axis

MV20-We the People

MV21-Family Day

MV22-Family Day...b/w

MV23-Widows Walk

MV24-Blue

MV25-Looking West

MV26-Philbin Beach Sunset...b/w

MV27-Obama and Biden bringing Hope

MV28-It's A Sign

MV29-Before the Storm

MV30-Totem

MV31-Coins

MV32-Untitled

VA01-The Run

VA02-Monitor

VA03-Cow Pokes

VA04-Lonely

VA05-Top of the World

VA06-White Oak Canyon

SJ01-Beacon

SJ02-Paradise

SJ03-Cool Breeze

SJ04-Crazy Horse

SJ05-Little Man

SJ06-Temporary

SJ07-St. Pat

SJ08-Optimism

SJ09-Morning Arrivals

SJ10-Frankly

SJ11-True Center

SJ12-Beach Puzzle

The Balanced Stone Photography Story

GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS

Contact Info

EXHIBITIONS!!!!

I hope that you enjoyed your visit. Come back soon.

Donaroma"s Nursery and Landscape Services - Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard

Visit my friend Peter @ Split Rock Real Estate, - Martha"s Vineyard exclusive buyer representation