Stone stackers from across the globe are descending on a Scottish coastal town for a European championship that could catapult the winner to world-class competition in Texas. The European Land Art Festivals (ELAF) began on Monday in Dunbar, East Lothian, drawing competitors from countries including Italy, South Africa, Switzerland and Poland.
The week-long event kicks off with sandcastle and sculpture competitions on Tuesday, followed by various workshops throughout the week. Artists and enthusiasts will gather on the East Lothian beaches to showcase their skills in this unique form of land art.
Championship weekend approaches
The main event, the European Stone Stacking Championships (ESSC), takes place over the weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Competitors will face multiple challenges testing their stone-balancing prowess and artistic vision.
The competitions include stacking the maximum number of stones within strict time limits, creating artistic stone designs, and constructing impressive stone arches. The overall winner will earn a coveted spot at next year's world championships in Llano, Texas.
Creator praises global appeal
James Page, the artist who created and directs the ESSC, expressed his excitement about the international participation. He praised the unique appeal of Dunbar's coastline for the ancient art of stone stacking.
"Competitors travel from all over the world for this, which is fantastic, and they all love the beaches of Dunbar because we've got the best stones," Page said. "I think it's going to be very exciting this year, with the winner set to travel to Llano in Texas."
Community spirit prevails
Despite the competitive nature of the event, Page emphasised the remarkable camaraderie among participants. He highlighted how the championship brings together artists from different cultures united by their passion for creating temporary sculptures from natural materials.
"It's always an exciting time for everyone. Even though it's a competition, there's so much camaraderie and encouragement between everyone, and that's what's really beautiful about it," Page explained. "It's a community getting together, creating art in nature, and that's about as good as it gets."
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
