Storyboard: The Giant Boulder

lethilogica

Story by lethilogica

Published on May 02, 2011 in Shop

Photo by Douglas Dolde

lethilogica

Revolting_bio.jpg

Su Wu of I’m Revolting continues to compile a list of the things, places and misinterpreted philosophies that somehow manage to coalesce into a well-lived life. These narrative-driven collections will find you stealing out of your alternate personas’ closets. Here’s Su.

In this part of the desert, it’s not surprising to find an entire plant, uprooted, drifting in the wind. They’re invasive weeds, apparently, but aren’t we all? Arriving here from somewhere else, not quite sure of where we’re headed, glancing off a rock or two until — bump — there we are. It gets cold by the boulder when the sun goes down. Bring a sweater.

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Clockwise from top left: Sheet metal rhombicube containers from wyattellison; Striped toggle sweater from annacarinavintage; Brass tree letter holder from InheritedTraits; Antique art deco flapper pipe from CuriousGoodsTrader; Hairy ceramic bottle from LesleyWilsonArt.

After flying around for a few years with Howard Hughes, test pilot George Van Tassel bought the world’s largest freestanding boulder, in a complex calculation of what felt right and what seemed to be possible — or another way to describe love. The boulder’s prior owner, a shortwave radio enthusiast, had been killed in a botched government raid.

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Clockwise from top left: Chestnut ankle boots from sasparillagreenleafs; Clay house from ARTISANIEeurope; Sub rosa salt soak from flossiefern; Bird cuff from acommonthread; 1966 mineral chip set from graftonave; Hazelnut nougat from haveitconfections.

Living out of a cave under the boulder, Van Tassel operated a one-strip airport and a café made of cinder blocks known for serving really good pie. Equidistant in all directions from the far edges of nothingness, the boulder became a pit stop for aviators caught in sandstorms, and also aliens.

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Clockwise from top left: Balsa wood geodesic dome from go2vintage; Carved cedar chain from JohnToftBasketry; Leather platform sandals from lousybeatnik; 1953 science fiction book, Planet of Dreamers from NightOwlBooks, Sterling silver pill box by Esther Wood from littlethingsvintage, Welded octohedron stool from TotalMetalResource.

Inspired by a room on a spaceship from Venus, Van Tassel spent two decades building a geodesic chamber near the boulder, out of plywood and fiberglass and not a single nail. The chamber is acoustically perfect. It sits on a spot of unusual magnetic activity, rumored to cure sore joints and thin blood and the rougher edges of cynicism.

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Clockwise from top left: Sculptured granite photograph from DouglasDolde; Dream spirit staff from Akhsana; Tangerine quartz from AlliPach; Wood-fired plates from Nanbanceramics; Navajo churro wool blanket from tonusamu.

Hopi legend says that the giant boulder will crack open as we approach the end of the world. In the meantime, make a left at Yucca Valley and drive north until you hear the hum of vibrating quartz bowls, a sound bath in the chamber, and the tumble of your own thoughts.

I’m Revolting is a totally non-confessional compendium of things and ideas written by Su Wu, who has given a lot of thought to superpowers and thinks that, apart from the ability to fly, the best superpower would be the ability to say exactly what you mean, when you need to.

Su Wu of I'm Revolting continues to compile a list of the things, places and misinterpreted philosophies that somehow manage to coalesce into a well-lived life. These narrative-driven collections will find you stealing out of your alternate personas' closets.

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