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Last Updated: Sunday, 05 August 2012 19:12
Our past F&G show booths have offered various ideas and designs to enhance and educate the public on stone sculpture and about NWSSA. These have included winning a “Best Design Educational Booth Award.” Thank you, Nicky Oberholtzer.
This year’s design hit the nail on the head, as far as showing who we are and what we are about - “Stone Carvers,” and in promoting our Symposiums. Alex put sculptures on folding work benches as if they had just been carved. She also displayed a variety of tools and promotional material. Using our large photos of symposiums on the backdrop enhanced the look of a “carving environment.” The atmosphere said exactly what we at NWSSA want to say.
She also purchased with her own money, a flat screen TV/CD player for NWSSA to use at all functions. This continually ran with a great CD from the 2005 Lake Oswego Exhibit.
The only missing ingredient, because of space, was the demo booth. Regulars commented, “That was a show highlight, to watch carvers at work and to have the opportunity to try it ourselves.”
I agree with Alex’s comment to me. She said that volunteering for this should not have been, “Three weeks of my life.” This was mostly due to our belongings being scattered everywhere. It took a lot of her time hunting items down. The board has agreed to rent a storage unit to safely hold the Association’s regularly used items all in one place. This will be accessible to members to sign in and out using an inventory sheet.
Alexandra’s volunteering, commitment, follow through and donations of financial support show her love as a member to promote and sustain the life of NWSSA. She is an exemplary example of what we need from all members to participate in some capacity to keep us growing and in control of our future. That in mind, this is our 20th anniversary. Lots of things are planned for Camp B. Join the excitement to make this symposium one to really remember. If you have an interest in volunteering, contact our Camp B Director, Arliss Newcomb at 360-385-7150 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Last Updated: Sunday, 05 August 2012 19:12
At first, I thought I must have been the only person in history whose life had been changed in such a dramatic and exquisite way by a first brush with stone carving. No one could possibly understand my childish delight or my immediate addiction to actually be able to remove stone from around the desired object. My naiveté, however, was short-lived. Indeed, everyone around me knew exactly how I felt and had had similar reactions to their own first experiences with stone carving. I was introduced to and welcomed into a whole new world.
I stumbled upon NWSSA by accident, just in time to register for the May Retreat. Lane Tompkins called me to make sure I understood all the details and to offer support to a newcomer. He assured me that everyone was friendly, open, and willing to share knowledge, which proved to be a wonderful understatement. I was so impressed with the delightful variety of people—all ages, backgrounds, and personalities—speaking the same language: stone. Right off the bat, Terry Slaton gave me a beautiful piece of coral alabaster. Both George Pratt and Ruth Mueselor seemed to pay extra attention to me (probably the teacher in both of them—making us all feel special). Everyone worked hard on their own projects but took time to look at others’ projects and to ask for and offer advice. It was interesting to observe the pleasure of old friendships and new ones developing. The evenings were filled with good wine and conversation in a perfect setting—beautiful, quiet, and peaceful, at least until the Saturday night auction. The highlight of the auction, of course, was the sight of Lane Tompkins and Scott Hackney dancing for us in their kilts.
One of the things I noticed immediately after the Retreat was that I began to observe the world around me in a much more detailed way than ever before. I think about the shapes of things rather than just seeing the shapes. I find myself daydreaming about carving a cloud captured in my mind at the perfect moment, and I find myself actually carving something that takes a very different turn from my original intent, as my new friends told me I would. Listen to the stone, they said: it will speak to you. And it does.
I have acquired new tools, some very nice Italian rifflers and some hardware-store saws, as well as a small carbide-tipped welding tool called a scribe—like a tiny ballpoint pen. My purist days are behind me; I plan to order some power tools soon, acquiescence to my impatience and my arms and hands. I’ve decided that I’d like to have some hand and arm movement left at the end of the day to at least be able to cut flowers for the dinner table!
Thanks to all of you who made my first encounter with the “stone life” such a pleasure. I am hooked for life.
