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Save the Dates 2023

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

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 - Virtual Tool Workshop 6:30 pm via ZOOM
MAY TOPIC: The Science of Sculpting Stones
Please join us for a monthly virtual discussion focused on stone carving with Myles Schachter of 2Sculpt! Each month we will gather on Zoom. Myles will be spending 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. Zoom session starts at 6:30 pm.
Click here for more information & Zoom Link

Seattle Mineral Market Show May 20-21, 2023
MWSSA will have a display booth of stone sculptures at the 15th 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 2-4th 2023 Port Hadlock, WA
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. Event is FULL!

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 8th-16th, 2023: Washington Summer Symposium At Camp Pilgrim Firs, Port Orchard, WA
Early Bird Registration Is Open NOW for our eight-day symposium on the lovely grounds of Pilgrim Firs Camp in Port Orchard. Invited Guest Artists this year are James Horan, from Ireland, Deborah Wilson from Canada and Tom Small from Friday Harbor, WA. We will have an expanded Beginner's tent, with handcarving 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. Click to Register

Saturday, July 15, 2023 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 36th Annual Sculpture Symposium culminates. This outdoor event is open to to public.

AUGUST 28 -SEPTEMBER 4th 2023: Suttle Lake Symposium in SIsters, Oregon
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. This year, we will welcome invited guest artists from Japan and Zimbabwe. 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 19 & 20th, 2023 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.

Save the Dates 2022

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

Save the dates and plan your summer for one or both symposia planned for 2022!
In each, extensive carving sessions are interspersed with informative classes and stimulating sculpting lessons. 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.
The symposia are open to all levels from beginners who have never carved stone before to the professional sculptor. These events are one of the most supportive and inclusive environments you will ever encounter. Make new friends, renew old friendships, get inspired, pose your question, answer someone’s question, and fire up the creative spirit in a rich, sharing environment.

Currently In Session: JULY 9th-17th, 2022: Washington Summer Symposium At Camp Pilgrim Firs, Port Orchard, WA
Watch for registration to open soon for this eight-day symposium on the lovely grounds of Pilgrim Firs Camp in Port Orchard. This year we welcome guest artists Candyce Garrett, Stephanie Robison, and Deborah Wilson. We will have an expanded Beginner's tent, pinning and sleeving station, the NWSSA general assembly meeting, campfires, inspiring conversations and, hopefully, you!
Work Study Applications are Open! Please email the Director at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an application. Registration is Closed

AUGUST 7-14^th 2022: Suttle Lake Symposium in SIsters, Oregon
After two years of silence, the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association is excited to hold our annual Oregon State Stone Carving Symposium at Suttle Lake Camp!! Suttle Lake Camp is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains 14 miles west of Sisters. It is a special place where the vivid green of Western Oregon mingles with the sunny beauty of the eastern part of the state. This is the 6th year we are returning to this venue that has become our ‘home’. Guest Artists will include: Sabah Al-Dhaher, Matt Auvinen, Mark Herrington and Lawrence Stoller.
Registration will be open soon. Questions? Contact Symposium Director Kentaro Kojima at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Registration s Now OPEN

AUGUST 20-21, 2022 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 (pre-covid) and we anticipate that many of those attending this year’s Fresh Paint will wander up to visit this year’s Sculpture Walk. Keep your eyes open for the “call for artists”. All members are invited to display your outdoor and indoor pieces at this event. We also will be looking for volunteers for this event. We will send out a request for volunteer sign up closer to the date.