A Scene Made of Time

Monday, January 19, 2026

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Yesterday, the dogs and I enjoyed an outing in another of my favorite places. No surprise—it’s small, BLM-type land: unimproved, au naturel, and quietly familiar. The dogs played along the large canal that runs through it, a channel that rushes with high water in summer but, at this time of year, lies dry except for patches of bottom ice. I hadn’t visited this spot in quite a while.

Imagine my delight—and genuine astonishment—when I discovered artwork along our path.

Nearly hidden by tall rushes, the installation is clever and quietly playful. Someone—likely with help, and probably with large machinery—constructed a scene using only elements drawn from the surrounding landscape.

Have a seat. Pour some coffee. Let that gazing ball do what gazing balls have always done: invite reflection.

The rock furnishings are massive—the table, its seats, and that beautifully rounded sphere. Everything about the scene is compelling, and all its elements easily point to the inspiration behind the work.

These days, most of us are caught in the uncertainty of politics and economics. For many humans, the future feels cloudy. And yet, human society hasn’t lost faith, nor does it seem entirely unmoored. Instead, the moment appears to be encouraging something quieter: a steady stirring from our innermost selves, and a shared yearning for simpler, more basic ways of being.

Oh, for less population and more community.

That is why this rock art installation grabbed my imagination—and still does. It feels both powerful and genuine, a piece of art that asks nothing more than that we pause, sit down, and remember what matters.

— Diana