Information about Jozsef Toth
''I would like to draw a parallel between rocks and humans: some are well balanced and some are not. There are some out there who could fall at any time.'' - Jozsef Toth
Jozseph Toth was born in Hungary and is a stonemason by trade. His relationship with rocks began in the environs of Budapest, building walls and restoring castles, and eventually brought him to Vancouver. The balancing act began one day at English Bay while taking a break from building a large stone retaining wall. The wonder that the crazily balanced rocks evoked in onlookers combined with Jozsef's natural showmanship and sent him irreversibly off on the path of performance art. He now balances rocks every weekend at Granville Island or on English Bay where it all began and collects money for the Vancouver Children's Hospital. This is when he is not on tour exhibiting the art form and spreading his personal philosophy: Balance is the Future.
Jozsef's rock art has been featured in a variety of print publications. Exerpts from:
The Globe and Mail, Saturday, May 13, 1995 p.E3
But is it art? Ed Varney, an artist, critic and curator who is organizing the public art component of the new Vancouver Public Library, takes a moment to think about it. ''I think it can be considered a form of temporary public art,'' says Varney. ''You get a sense of gravity and balance and I suppose it says something about the way we think about the static point in a turning world. It's interesting because it grows naturally out of this environment.''
The Kitsilano News July 19, 1995 p.7
Toth is almost legendary among English Bay Beach-goers for his rock balancing. He has spawned a legion of imitators, having recently presented a rock balancing workshop.
Jozsef's latest print appearance was in the June, 1996 issue of Penthouse, Japan.
Jozsef is presently featured on BCTel's sympatico television commercial, which is being broadcast nationally.
Jozsef Toth is now searching for a sponsor to enable him to do a world tour to promote the art of balance.