From the Editors
This summer offered several opportunities for carvers to get together. Not only opportunities to carve and to show their work,but perhaps most importantly, to charge their creative batteries to get them through the inevitable winter.
Even if you didn’t get to any of the gatherings this summer, we hope reading a little bit about them will act as a tonic to remind you that you are part of a large, inclusive group of friendly and talented people.
In this issue, we cover three of these events: The annual carving symposium held at Camp Brotherhood in Washington, as seen by two newcomers; the Seattle Art Walk at Occidental Park, reported by our Event Organizer, Cyra Jane Hobson, and an editor’s account of the newly located Oregon Symposium at Suttle Lake near Sisters, (formerly held at Silver Falls near Salem.)
Also from Camp B is Ken Barnes telling us about putting together something he calls five sculptors, five stones, five days. If you have ever dreamt about roughing out one sculpture a day for five straight days, this article is for you.
We also have a Bonus this issue: A Quick Look at sculptor Tom Small who tells the a story about the evolution of a piece called....“Storyteller.”
There is still time to get out in the fresh air to carve before the winter drives us back inside. Let the summer fun continue yet awhile....
Lane and Penelope
Summer is hear and the carving weather is back. Nice to be able to work without down jackets, snow suits and over-thick gloves.
But, if you feel like you'd like to put your feet up and relax for an hour with some art, here is what this issue has for you.
Somewhat relevant to our last issue regarding ownership of art, is the interesting article from NPR about the Venice Biennale Modern Art Show. You can make your own decisions about Kenya's pavilion. Is it theirs or is it China's?
In place of the spotlight section we are introducing "Quick Look". Our first look will be at Lloyd Whannell.
From the Touchstone website, Jill Snider Lum shares her love of the "Subtractive Art Form." It's a simple statement that we can all relate to.
What? There's a new gallery in Bellingham?
And finally, our Centerfold belongs to Camp Brotherhood. Take a virtual walk through this year's Workshops. We're sure you'll find something to interest you. We hope to see you there.
In the meantime, let's go have a conversation at a nearby stone.
...Penelope and Lane
Greetings to you all and to daylight savings time. The days are already noticeably longer and that’s good news for carvers.
We are doing something different with this issue. While reading another of Chip Cooper’s articles about Rodin (online at his coopertoons.com) we pondered once again the question of “How many of his marble pieces did Rodin actually carve himself?” That’s when we decided to put a question to a few our members. “How much of your work is required on a stone before you feel comfortable signing it?” Of course the question has no right or wrong answer. But, our six fearless contributors were willing to plunge in and tell us how they personally think about the subject and how, and if, it affects their carving.
Also in this issue, you will see that Verena Schwippert has been selected as the 3-D artist for 2015 by The Snohomish County Arts Council. Congratulations Verena! We are proud of you and proud to put one of your sculptures on our cover.
Happy carving,
Penelope and Lane
When, occasionally, Spotlight interviews with our members are not available, we like to take a look around the NorthWest sculpture scene to find artists whose work we can feature in Sculpture NorthWest.
In this issue, we include the work of Marie Sivak, a Portland based artist who is a NWSSA member and has been the Lead Faculty of the Sylvania Campus Sculpture program at Portland Community College since 1997.
And technology being what it is, our looking around is not limited by geography, as we cyber-zoom to England to have an up-close look at the delightful animal carvings of Pippa Unwin.
And for the answer to that question that you’ve all been asking: What on earth would Bernini be doing hanging out in tattoo parlors? Check out some astonishing pictures of Bernini’s art, old and new, on page 10.
We are already well into January, but it is never too late for a chorus of Auld Lang Syne and to wish all of you a year filled with creativity and joy.
Happy carving,
Penelope and Lane
