Newsflash

2025 Stone Carving Calendar of Events

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25th - NWSSA HOLIDAY PARTY - 4-8PM Stone Carving Folks, Family and Friends, our winter potluck party will be hosted at a new venue this year! The Lakewood-Seward Park Community Club in South Seattle. In the NWSSA tradition... it's a potluck, please bring a dish to share. Also bring something to drink or a favorite dance tune; we will provide the basics. Looking forward to a cheers to the new year and hugs in person!

APRIL 12 & 13 2025 - BEST OF THE NORTHWEST SHOW & SALE - Seattle, WA (two day event)
NWSSA will be featured in a special exhibit for this Northwest Art Alliance event. We will host a youth stone carving workshop and have a display booth of stone sculptures at the Spring "Best of the Northwest" Show at The Hangar 30 building at Magnuson Park 7400 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115

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 12-20^TH 2025: Washington International Stone Carving Symposium, 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 19^th 2025 11 am - 4 pm Outdoor Sculpture Show in Port Orchard, WA
Visit with artists, and view 100 sculptures on display and for sale as our 38th Annual Sculpture Symposium culminates. This outdoor event is open to the public. Hosted at Pilgrim Firs Camp & Conference Center 3318 SW Lake Flora Rd Port Orchard, WA 98367

AUGUST 24-31^st 2025: Oregon State International Stone Carving Symposium, near Sisters, OR
Suttle Lake Camp is our home for the week of our annual Stone Carving Symposium in Oregon. The Camp is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains 14 miles west of Sisters. Guest artists to be announced. Questions? Contact Symposium Director Rachell Jarvis
AUGUST 30^th 2025 11am - 4 pm Outdoor Sculpture Show at Camp Suttle Lake, 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 16 & 17 2025 EVERGREEN ARBORETUM SCULPTURE WALK Everett, WA (a two day event)
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. All members are invited to display your outdoor and indoor pieces at this event. We will be hosting a Soapstone Carving workshop for youth. Keep your eyes open for the “Call for artists” and volunteers as we get closer to the date.

SEPTEMBER 27 & 28 2025 - KUBOTA GARDEN FOUNDATION SCULPTURE SHOW & SALE - Seattle, WA (a two day event)
In collaboration with the Kubota Garden Foundation and the City of Seattle Parks & Recreation Department, we are excited to be welcomed back for a Two-Day Sculpture Walk & Sale at this lovely 20 acre Japanese inspired Garden in South Seattle, WA. We will send out a request for art and volunteers closer to the date. In the meantime, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any questions.

Other Stone Carving Events (Non NWSSA Sponsored)

APRIL 6-13 2025 - 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. Guest Artists: JASON ARKLES: Beginner and Advance Stone, ROBERTO BENAVIDEZ: Piñata Paper Mache and ALICIA PONZIO: Figurative Clay. It’s a place to learn, exchange ideas and recharge your creative batteries for both the novice and the seasoned artist. California Sculptors Symposium Registration is open NOW!

JUNE 27-29 2025, MATZKE STONE CARVING WORKSHOP: Camano Island, WA
This 3-day Hand Tooling Workshop is taught by master carver Kentaro Kojima at Karla Matzke's Gallery and Sculpture Park on Camano Island. The event is designed to accommodate beginning carvers as well as more experienced sculptors. Register by June 1st. Matzke Stone Carving Workshop

JUNE TBA 2025, TENINO CARVER'S GUILD SHOW & SALE: Tenino, WA
The Tenino Carver’s Guild has invited Northwest Stone Sculptors Association to show and sell sculpture during the Tenino Farmers Market and Craft show. Call for Art and Volunteers tba

SEPTEMBER 8-14 2025 VANCOUVER ISLAND STONE SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM: Lake Cowichan, BC Canada
A week-long stone carving symposium hosted by Daniel Cline and West Coast Sculpture Association More Information will be available: Vancouver Island Stone Sculpture Symposium

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.