A rock sculpture standing about three feet tall appeared on the north embankment of the Erie Canal near the Day Road Bridge. A similar sculpture can be found 100 feet away. Another less-intricate sculpture lies just across the canal. (PHOTOS BY SCOTT LEFFLER / ENP STAFF)

By +Scott Leffler 
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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This somewhat smaller sculpture is found just 100 feet west of the larger one.

TOWN OF LOCKPORT — Rock sculptures seem to have appeared out of nowhere along the Erie Canal near the Day Road Bridge.

The intricate stack-and-balance art has caught the attention of those going by along the towpath, out for their daily walk, jog or bike ride.

A female jogger this morning stopped to look at the nature art about 100 yards east of the bridge on the north side canal embankment. She said the stone figure wasn't there Sunday. Neither was a smaller sculpture that stands about 100 feet west of the more impressive three-foot-tall one.

Across the canal, along Groff Road, there stands another odd collection of rocks — almost appearing like a bench.

Sally Bisher, who lives near the sculptures, said she had noticed little piles of stones popping up, but had originally thought it was the creation of people fishing — maybe making a stand for their pole. She noted that she has seen some rock formations made to look like footprints, as well. But she hadn't seen anything so intricate as the figures that appeared out of nowhere today.

Kevin Clark of Lockport and Greg Smith of Cleveland were walking along the canal this afternoon when Clark said the figures were brand new. Clark walks the towpath regularly.

Smith said he's seen similar sculptures — which he referred to as Cairns — marking hiking paths in Vermont. The rock art found here is reminiscent of Inuksuit, a specific style of Cairn made by Inuits and found along the coast in Artic North America. An Inuksuk served as the logo for the 2010 Olympics held in Vancouver.  One was also on the cover of the Rush album, "Test for Echo."

The structures are not marked in any way to indicate who created them. Or why.

Bisher, who also serves as director of Market Street Art Studios, said she hopes she sees more of the sculptures pop up. Always interested in art, she said she hopes its a sign of things to come.

This pile of rocks on the south side of the canal near the Day Road Bridge looks almost like a bench.

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