Northwest Stone Sculptors Association

2024 Stone Carving Calendar of Events

Links for these events will become live as registration & information becomes available

Virtual Tool Workshops via ZOOM - 3rd Tuesday 2024 6:30-7:30 PM
This winter, we plan to host a monthly virtual discussion focused on stone carving tools and techniques with Myles Schachter of 2Sculpt! Each month we will gather on Zoom. Myles will spend the first half hour of our workshop sharing his knowledge on power tools. The second half will be open to all participants to ask questions, share and discuss. Have a topic you'd like to discuss, let us know!
January 16th Topic:  "The Psychology of Stone Sculpture"
February 20th Topic: "The Creative Process"

February 24, 2024 NWSSA Winter Party, Marenakos Rock Center in Preston, WA 
Marenakos Stone Center in Preston, WA has generously offered to host our Winter Party in their spacious show room area with stone sculpture displays by several of our members, a full kitchen and outdoor spaces for us to mingle. Members, spouses, supporters and friends are welcome to bring a dish to share, meet and reconnect with each other as we look forward to more events in 2024! In the NWSSA tradition... it's a potluck, please bring a dish to share. Also bring something to drink, we will have the basics. The party will begin at 4 pm.

April 14-21, 22^nd Annual CALIFORNIA SCULPTORS SYMPOSIUM at Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria, California (CSS) is an annual, week-long program of workshops and demonstrations given by sculptors for sculptors. Intimate hands-on sessions with expert instructors will improve your technique, inspire your designs and build your expertise. Participants return to CSS year after year to share their passion for working with stone, wood, metal and clay. It’s a place to learn, exchange ideas and recharge your creative batteries for both the novice and the seasoned artist. Registration is open NOW! California Sculptors Symposium

Seattle Mineral Market Show May 18 & 19, 2024
NWSSA will have a display booth of stone sculptures at the 16th Annual Seattle Mineral Market Family friendly, free admission and free parking! Free rocks for kids and door prizes! at The Hangar 30 building at Magnuson Park @ 7400 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115

Women’s Hand Carving Retreat & Art Show June 7-9, 2024
Our quiet, peaceful, 3-day hand carving event is a wonderful gathering of women artists on the grounds of the Old Alcohol Inn overlooking the bay. We can easily talk among ourselves. If you aren’t a hand carver, bring a partially finished piece you can rasp, chisel, or sand. Space will be limited to 17 experienced carvers & 4 new sculptors. RSVPs will be on first-come, first served basis.

Summer Symposia:
Our symposia are open to all levels from beginners who have never carved stone before, to the hobbyist, to the professional sculptor. These events are one of the most supportive and inclusive environments you will ever encounter. Meet new people, renew old friendships, get inspired, pose your question, answer someone’s question, and fire up the creative spirit in a rich, sharing environment.
Extensive carving sessions are interspersed with informative classes and stimulating sculpting lessons during each of our events. Field mentors and instructors are available to help guide you through your challenges. Bring your gear (if you are a beginner, we have tools you can use), connect to our power, water and air sources and peruse the tools and variety of stones being carved and available for purchase from our on-site vendors.
 
JULY 6-14 2024:  Washington Summer Symposium At Camp Pilgrim Firs, Port Orchard, WA
Join us for an eight-day symposium on the lovely grounds of Pilgrim Firs Camp in Port Orchard. Guest Artists to be announced, We will have an expanded Beginner's tent, with hand carving and intermediate power tool instruction, the NWSSA general assembly meeting, campfires, inspiring conversations and, hopefully, you!. Please email the Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any questions. 

JULY 13,  2024 11 am - 4 pm Sculpture Show at Pilgrim Firs, Port Orchard, WA
Visit with artists, and view 100 sculptures on display and for sale as our 37th Annual Sculpture Symposium culminates. This outdoor event is open to to public.
 
AUGUST 25- SEPTEMBER 1st 2024: Suttle Lake International Stone Carving Symposium, Sisters, OR
Suttle Lake Camp is our home for the week of our annual Stone Carving Symposium in Oregon!! Suttle Lake Camp is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains 14 miles west of Sisters. Guest artists to be announced.  Registration will be open by June. Questions? Contact Symposium Director Kentaro Kojima at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

AUGUST 31st, 2024 11am - 4 pm Sculpture Show at Camp Suttle Lake in Sisters, OR
Visit with artists, and view 50+ sculptures on display and for sale as our Annual Sculpture Symposium culminates. This outdoor event is open to to public.

AUGUST 17 & 18, 2024  Evergreen Arboretum Sculpture Walk
In collaboration with the Everett Arboretum & Gardens, Schack Art Center and the Fresh Paint event we will be co-sponsoring a two-day Sculpture Walk at the Evergreen Arboretum in Everett, WA. The Fresh Paint event has attracted tens of thousands of people. Keep your eyes open for the “call for artists”. All members are invited  to display your outdoor and indoor pieces at this event. We will be hosting a Soapstone Carving workshop for youth and are looking for volunteers for this event. We will send out a request for volunteer sign up closer to the date.

SEPTEMBER 9-15th, 2024 Vancouver Island Stone Sculpture Symposium, Lake Cowichan, BC Canada
A New sculpture symposium for 2024, hosted by Event by Daniel Cline and West Coast Sculpture Association  More Information to come: Vancouver Island Stone Sculpture Symposium

September 13-15, 2024 Salem Art Festival, OR

September 2024 - TBA Kubota Garden Foundation Art in the Garden Sculpture Show, WA

October 2024 - TBA Portland Regional Gem & Mineral Show, OR