Should We or Shouldn't We?

Beginning in January 2021 I began creating small, simple mosaics on rocks and leaving them on the local walking trails and beaches. I wanted to leave a bit of brightness in a world that can sometimes seem dark. Some of the little mosaics have remained where I placed them, some have been moved to new spots (which I think is wonderful!), but most have disappeared and I like to imagine them in someone’s garden or on a windowsill.

Thanks to a suggestion by my husband, I have started calling my little creations “petrosaics” - rocks plus mosaics = petrosaics! I post pictures on Instagram and Facebook of the petrosaics in the spots I have left them. It turns out that some people do not agree with people leaving anything made by human hands out in nature. They feel that those who leave petrosaics, painted rocks, etc. are contaminating nature by leaving artificial materials out on the trails and beaches. They are also concerned that by posting pictures of what I am doing, I am influencing others and that soon our trails and beaches will be covered in human-made debris.

I gave their arguments serious thought. I definitely agree that there should be places we can go where we will just see nature in all it’s glory. I would not leave my petrosaics in pristine wilderness. They don’t belong there. However, there is nowhere I walk that does not already have signs of humankind. And I’m not talking subtle stuff like noise and light pollution. I’m talking clearcuts, houses and garbage of many kinds. In fact, I make it a practice to pick up garbage from the beach as I walk each morning, and it’s a rare day when I don’t find something. Other than the adhesive, all the materials I use are stone or glass. Definitely closer to natural than most of what I find out there.

I am painfully aware of the impact of humans on mother nature. But, at least for now, I’m going to continue to make and leave petrosaics on trails and beaches. I have left over 50 already and have made a commitment to myself to continue the practice for a year. For me, the pleasure I get from making and placing my petrosaics, and the small joy I imagine and hope others feel when they find them, out weighs the other concerns. And I feel the impact of my petrosaics is small compared to what else is going on. But then, I’ve been known to say “we can rationalize anything we want” so maybe I’m rationalizing what it is I’m going to do anyhow. What do you think – should we or shouldn’t we?