2023 - 35th Annual Stone Carving Symposium - Pilgrim Firs

35th Annual International Stone Carving Symposium at Pilgrim Firs Camp, Port Orchard, WA July 8th-16th 2023

Early Bird Registration - Save $100 on Full Time Member Registration Through May 31st

Artists & Workshops: Relief Carving – James Horan (Ireland), Elegance in Jade – Deborah Wilson (Canada), Big and Tiny Heavy Cutting and Intricate Detail – Tom Small (Friday Harbor, WA),  May the Circle be Unbroken – Ruth Mueseler (Bellingham, WA), and Beginning/Intermediate Stone Sculpture in the DOJO with Tamara Buchanan (Lopez Island, WA)

The Symposium
We invite you to join us at Camp Pilgrim Firs for up to eight full days of playing with stone, communing with nature and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow stone enthusiasts. Bring yourself, your creative energy, your tools, and a favorite rock (or four!)

If you’re new to this whole thing and don’t have stone or tools, we have the Dojo set up for beginners with everything you need to start.

This event will run from July 8-16, 2023 in Port Orchard, WA. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Guest Artists and Workshops

Relief Carving – James Horan
Back from Ireland for a second round as our Guest Artist is James Horan. Mainly working in Italian Marble and Irish Limestone, James creates expressive figurative sculpture with a strong sense of humour and humanity. Each sculpture is unique, and hand carved with no editions or reproductions. His sculpture is represented in private collections around the world. and is regularly on exhibition throughout Ireland.

Elegance in Jade - Deborah Wilson
Acclaimed contemporary jade and granite sculptor will be offering a workshop in jade. Her work reflects her love for organic forms and her ongoing interest in utilizing the characteristics that define this “stone of heaven.” A good selection of precut Canadian and US jades will be for sale to create small scale sculpture and pendants. Class limit is 10 people, so register early and watch your registration confirmation for details.

Big and Tiny: Heavy Cutting and Intricate Detail – Tom Small
Hailing from one of the mountaintops on San Juan Island, Tom Small has been working in both monumental scale and small scale for his professional works in basalt, granite, cedar, bronze and glass. During the week, he’ll be demonstrating techniques on a large piece of either basalt or granite and musing on the juxtaposition of scale and his signature meanderings of stone noodling.  Tom’s work can be found  in private collections and public art installations across the Pacific Northwest.

May the Circle Be Unbroken – Ruth Mueseler
An experimental intuitive carving circle, this workshop creates space for the possibility of a tribal community experience and the quiet inner work that can come from the language of stone. Ruth is a conglomerate of art education teacher, silversmith, art foundry worker and 29 year stone carving veteran. Her heartfelt work ranges from miniature to monumental.

Beginning Stone Sculpture in the Dojo - Tamara Buchanan
The Dojo is a large communal workspace that includes our extensive NWSSA tool library and dedicated instructors to guide those of you who are new to this whole carving thing or are looking to expand your skillset into power tool use. Our Beginners Workshop headed by Tamara Buchanan, provides space, stone and instruction on carving and safe hand tool usage. Tamara has been sculpting for over 35 years and her work has won several awards. She loves sharing the process of carving. A first this year, we will have  a Dojo Power Tools area for a dedicated  workshop on Intermediate Power Tools. 
Click here to learn more about participating as a beginner at our symposium

Sculpture Walk on the Meadow Saturday, July 15th
Our outdoor art gallery is the perfect opportunity to show your work in a supportive and appreciative environment. We encourage everyone to bring up to 2 finished pieces to display and to invite your friends! Bring pedestals if you have them. Additional smaller items are welcome too.  NWSSA takes a 20% commission.