From the Editors Oct-Nov-Dec

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 13 January 2021 19:13

Dear Sculptors,
We are at the verge of a new year !
In this issue we are pleased to shine the Artist Spotlight on the sculptor Carole Duree. Take an especially close look at her sculptures Reflection, and Old Married Woman, where she has brilliantly imbued single stones with dual figures; the relationships they describe express something both personal and archetypal.
Delving into the interdisciplinary world, sculptor and biologist Lee Gass shares the development of one of his passion projects, Cedar Flower, as he considers how to incorporate bronze and white marble elements with a large sculpted cedar that has been years in the making. Utilizing modern technology, he has taken a 3D scan of the cedar to help him design the final elements.
Finally, we wanted to share a story by sculptor MJ Anderson about her journey to visit new friends and sculptors in Japan after meeting at the NWSSA’s Oregon Symposium at Suttle Lake in 2018.

  
Benjamin & Maya

From the Editors July-August-September

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 13 January 2021 19:15

You may have noticed that this issue encompasses July/You may have noticed that this issue encompasses July/August/September rather than just July/August. With support from the board, we decided to present quarterly issues for the latter half of 2020. We look forward to sharing the next issue for October/November/December where we turn the Artist Spotlight to shine on the works of Carole Duree. Thank you to all of our contributors to this issue; they went the extra mile to help us share their works with you in color. This issue, our Artist Spotlight helps us get to know Stephanie Robison and her work. Playful and confrontational, her use of form, material, texture, and color will leave you feeling a little bit energized and maybe even a little wobbly, like catching your balance after the earth just shifted under your feet.John LaFortune gave a wonderful studio tour and presentation of his calcite carving process during our August Virtual Symposium, and we are pleased to share excerpts and  additional pictures of his sculpture “Fire Storm”. We also get some insight into Fletch Waller’s limestone sculpture “Vladmir”, and Leon White’s experience creating art in response to Covid-19 with his mixed media sculpture “Warning”

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Benjamin & Maya

From the Editors May/June 2020

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Last Updated: Monday, 27 July 2020 22:20

Dear Reader,

So…  Here we are.  It feels as though we’ve stepped through a portal into an alternate reality, or perhaps awoken washed up on the shores of Lilliput completely surrounded by tiny creatures who may or may not do us harm. 

By the time you read this, you may have heard the news that the coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of most planned NWSSA events in 2020.  This includes the Kubota Garden Youth Carving Workshop, the Women’s Carving Workshop, the Volunteer Park pop-up exhibition, the Washington International Sculpture Symposium (at camp Pilgrim Firs), and the Oregon International Sculpture Symposium (at camp Suttle Lake).  This brings new feelings of loss and sadness.  It will be the first time in three decades that either of the symposiums have been cancelled.  Through our events, we keep the stone sculpting art form alive and vibrant.  Our members rely on these events to collaborate, and to inspire our studio practice through the rest of the year. 

The question is, how do we choose to respond to this situation?  Please, first and foremost, take care of your health.  That includes giving yourself carving time!  Apply your creative problem solving skills; in many ways we are better equipped than most to deal with this situation.  Stay in contact.  Call friends and see what projects they are working on.  It will lift you up!  Even though NWSSA activity will be limited, we are still here, and we will get through this.  We had a great exhibit at the Northwest Flower & Garden show in February, for which we are grateful to Ed Salerno for taking up the mantle from Nicky Oberholtzer.  Our new pilot project, the rotating public art exhibit at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA, is still active and soon will be seeing lots of summertime visitors.  Finally, every two months this journal will keep bringing images, stories, and articles on the art of stone sculpture direct to your home.

To all the members of the tribe, be blessed with good health and good fortune and know that you are not alone.  Better days will be here soon; let’s get to work on creating them.

Signed,

Ben, Maya, Kentaro, Ellie, Doug, Cyra, and Ken

From the Editors Jan/Feb 2020

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Last Updated: Saturday, 25 January 2020 22:25

From the Editors…

Happy new year!  The days are starting to get longer and that means more carving time every week.  This issue we are highlighting NWSSA member Eirene Blomberg, who shares with us how her work as a sculptor has been developing and becoming a more central part of her life. 

There are several exhibition opportunities to be aware of, whether you just want to see colleagues sculpture on display or would like to exhibit work yourself.  See Cyra Jane’s article about the Seattle Erotic Art Festival (SEAF) to learn about how to get involved.  If you would like to have a sculpture considered for the 2020 exhibition, get in touch with Cyra right away; she is still accepting submissions to be juried up through January 25^th, 2020.  Over the longer term, we expect to need large works for exhibition in our new rotating public art exhibit at Marymoor Park.  See the article about the launch of our King County Public Art in the Park to learn more.

Last but not least, the 4^th annual Women’s Hand Carving Weekend and Show will be the weekend of June 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th this year.  It will continue at its usual venue, the Old Alcohol Plant in Port Hadlock, WA.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Ellie Hochman by phone/text at 206-419-3499.

Be well, read about art, talk to other artists, and make something to soothe your soul.  See you soon at the Winter Gathering on February 8^th.

~Benjamin & Maya

From the Editors Nov-Dec 2019

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 04 December 2019 20:44

From the Editors…

The International Sculpture Conference was held in Portland this year, and NWSSA participated by way of a joint exhibition with Pacific Northwest Sculptors.  Thanks to Jeremy Kester for documenting this venture and sharing his experience as both an artist and volunteer for the event.  Our Artist Spotlight for this issue is Kirk McLean, who has generously shared his most recent series, Love and Loss.  We are grateful to Kirk for his openness, and for exemplifying just how powerful the process of sculpting can be for communicating grief and stimulating healing.

It is hard to accept that the year is already drawing to a close.  The hours of daylight get less and less and the need to get out and chisel some stone seems to grow and grow.  This season is a good opportunity to reflect and express gratitude for our friends and colleagues who persist in this quixotic dream of stone sculpting.  Whether you have a place to carve this winter, or will be counting the days until it’s warm and dry enough to be outside sculpting again, we wish you all the best in your health and creative pursuits.

~Benjamin & Maya

From the Editors July-August 2019

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 July 2019 01:38

If it were possible for us to pool our collective gratitude into writing, the words “THANK YOU!” would burst from the page with thunderous applause for our two former editors, Penelope Crittenden and Lane Tompkins.  You are two of the most considerate and generous members of the NWSSA, and that is saying a lot.  As you embrace your next adventures, know that your decades of contributions will continue to have a lasting impact.  We wish you all the best.  Now that you will have some extra time on your hands, we expect you to spend most of that time sculpting!

Penelope Crittenden and Lane Tompkins

From the Editors Sept-Oct 2019

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 18 September 2019 20:36

From the Editors…

I am very pleased to announce that Maya Kilmer has officially joined me on the journal team as Copy Editor.  Maya teaches English and Creative Writing courses at Oak Harbor High School, and has joined the strong community of NWSSA sculptors on Whidbey Island.  If you were at the Washington symposium you probably got to see her sculpting an ambitious stone octopus.  Welcome Maya!

Pilgrim Firs and Suttle Lake were whirlwinds of creative energy.  If you had the opportunity and privilege of attending, then I expect you are charged up with new insights and ready to apply them. 

As you size up that next project, or that old project that’s suddenly demanding completion, perhaps consider some words of creative wisdom.  This quote from sculptor Edmonia Lewis seemed like a fitting sentiment after getting to carve among the trees at the symposiums during the days, and watch the sky for shooting stars at night.  I find it gives permission to accept that there is a reason for tolerating certain modern discomforts, and that the reason is worthwhile:

There is nothing so beautiful as the free forest. To catch a fish when you are hungry, cut the boughs of a tree, make a fire to roast it, and eat it in the open air, is the greatest of all luxuries. I would not stay a week pent up in cities if it were not for my passion for art. 
- Edmonia Lewis 

- The Death of Cleopatra, 1876, marble

Credit: Smithsonian American Art Museum

~Benjamin & Maya

From the Editors May-June 2019

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 07 May 2019 01:10

It was a little more than twenty years ago when you began seeing ournames as editors of Sculpture NorthWest. Sometimes there have been names other than ours, but we go way back.

We've loved every moment of it. Sometimes gathering stories and photos could be a challenge, but somehow, often at the last minute and always with the help of our talented layout artist, Nannette Davis, an issue appeared. Usually more or less on time. There is no way we could have done that without members sending us what they wrote about their sculpture as well as photos, so we could share their work with everyone. We are grateful to each and every one of you for your hard work and your kindness.

And for this, our last issue, we are happy to say that it will be an all color issue. Thank you NWSSA for the color cover. And thanks to our contributors: Jocelyne Dodier, Cyra Jane Hobson, James Horan and Kentaro Kojima, for your willingness to fund color images of your amazing work.

Whoever takes the helm next, will have our support as needed along with our wish that your efforts will be as rewarding to you as ours have been to both of us.

We hope you enjoy this issue.

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors March-April 2019

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Last Updated: Saturday, 02 March 2019 01:57

As we write this, there is still snow on the ground with promises of more to come. But we are a hearty lot and it would be no surprise to learn that many of us are out there carving in snowsuits. Art knows no season!

As if we haven’t had enough of the cold weather, this issue will take us just a bit further north for a visit with long time, Canadian carver, Daniel Cline. Working small or working big, he puts his artist’s touch on everything he does.

Then we head south with a stop in Portland, Oregon to see a show called CROSS+OVER. And, yes, each piece started with a cruciform.

Even further south now, to Art City in Ventura, California, home to our amazing JoAnn Duby, who gives some polishing how-tos we can all benefit from, beginner and experienced carver alike.  

In closing, remember that old adage: Stone may have forever - but we don’t. So let’s get busy out there.

May it ever be so.

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors Jan-Feb 2019

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Last Updated: Saturday, 12 January 2019 00:46

We start off the New Year with a return to a black and white cover. Don’t let that bother you. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine shows pretty well in gray scale. We enter the cathedral at the invitation of Joseph Kincannon who worked for twelve years on the extension of the south tower for that building. His is a story of luck, persistence and creativity; leading him to an ever expanding world of stone carving.

In another approach to sculpture, we are treated to a review of Bob Leverich’s project to produce outdoor granite furniture for high school students. Congratulations, Bob, for the final completion of this work.

Speaking of projects, a fortunate thirty NWSSA members enjoyed a Whidbey Island tour of Hank Nelson’s twenty acre extravaganza he calls Cloudstone. Erin Rants breaks it down for us to begin an understanding of the very long journey Hank has taken to produce the wonder that is Cloudstone.

And we meet a young man at the beginning of his stone adventure, Luke Nalker. The joy in his voice is infectious.

May it ever be so.

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors Nov-Dec 2018

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Last Updated: Friday, 26 October 2018 19:43

W

Welcome to the last issue of Sculpture NorthWest for 2018! 

Heading into winter we can look back and enjoy the memories of our two summer symposiums. In this issue Director Doug Wiltshire reminds us of the delightful events enjoyed at Suttle Lake this year.

Those who attended Pilgrim Firs in July, had the good fortune to meet Oliver Harwood. For those of us who missed this opportunity, here is Oliver in our Artist Spotlight. The spectrum of his work is wide ranging: moving from the most delicate of figurative to massive, towering constructions. 

And it’s time for another 1 X 1 X 1 (One Artist, One Piece, One Page). Eun Parker shares her thoughts on one of her sculptures of simple elegance. 

Our Introduction of newer members continues with "Let’s Meet….”  This time we introduce two members: Jessi Eaton from Ashland, Oregon and Grant Bowman from Seattle, Washington. 

Welcome all - newer members and members of longer standing - to this issue of Sculpture NorthWest. Enjoy!

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors September October 2018

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 September 2018 00:21

We all wait for summer, and even though this one came with higher temperatures than we’re used to, it was wonderful to be able to get out and carve. It helps if you have shade or are carving with water. Fortunately for Dale Blankenship, all of his jade carving requires water. 

If you’ve not seen Dale’s work, you are in for a real treat. He tells us in this issue just how he goes about carving his jade wonders. Look, read and be amazed.

When you read this, our two symposiums will be over for this year. But, if you missed Pilgrim Firs, Cyra Jane Hobson, director for this year’s hullabaloo, gives us a recap about some of the delightful things that happened there.

This issue introduces a new feature, 1 x 1 x 1: One Artist, One Piece, One Page. This column will be featuring artists who may or may not have a large body of work, but who have one piece they would like to feature. They send us a photo of the piece, a photo of themselves and short answers to five questions and voilà: 1 x 1 x 1. To kick off this feature, Julianne Kohn shares her jade octopus pendant and five short facts about it.

We finish up this issue with Tamara Buchanan explaining the Japanese word Dojo and how it was applied to what we used to call the beginner’s tent at Pilgrim Firs.

Stay strong, carve stone and keep hydrated.

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors July-August 2018

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Last Updated: Monday, 02 July 2018 22:04

Larry Lawlor is from North Bend, Washington, a little town squeezed in between Interstate 90 and the base of 4,000 foot Mount Teneriffe. Though we have happily welcomed Larry at both the Oregon and the Washington symposiums, this is his first time to be featured in Sculpture NorthWest. Though relatively new to stone carving, he has, as you will see, been very busy with his hammer and chisel.

Marching into summer, we have presented the centerfold ad for Peninsula’s Camp Pilgrim Firs, and now we have for you the Central Oregon, Suttle Lake centerfold. Isn’t it wonderful to have choices? And, of course, your choice may be to do both.

George Pratt shares with us another one of his elegant little granite carvings. This time it’s banded neck ducks and a quartz crossed egg in a bronze cup.

A popular painter by the name of Bob Ross, the man with big hair and a television show, gives us inspiration we can adapt for our work with stone.

We finish up with the joy of getting together with friends and filling a pickup with lots of newly made wooden pedestals for sculpture display at NWSSA events.  

Penelope and Lane

Let's Do It In Color!

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Last Updated: Thursday, 03 May 2018 01:24

From the Editors May-June 2018

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Last Updated: Thursday, 03 May 2018 01:26

While the spring rains continue and you are making your symposium plans, we’ve got some things we hope you will be interested to read about.

Frank Rose, a new member from Whidbey Island, has done many portrait busts in clay, but now he will show us his first one he’s ever done in stone. You’ll gasp at his boldness in experimenting with color on the limestone, as well as his finely hand-chiseled, finished piece.

Pilgrim Firs director, Cyra Jane Hobson, will outline what we can expect during NWSSA’s 31^st International Stone Carving Symposium this July. There will be something for everyone; from the beginner’s tent to jade carving tables to a granite workshop.

Do you know about the storage shed that was recently built at Camp Pilgrim Firs? Much of the NWSSA equipment, such as tents and pedestals, can be kept here all year for easy access when needed. Pat Barton tells us how, with the help of many willing volunteers, it went from an idea to a reality.

It’s always stimulating to get a group talking about whether we like sculpture that is full of complexities or ultra-simple. We have for you a comparison of two artists that were at the polar ends of that spectrum. Bernini will represent the baroque and Brancusi, the minimalist.

Enjoy!

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors Mar-Apr 2018

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Last Updated: Friday, 09 March 2018 02:20

Are we done with snow yet? Let’s hope so. It’s been a late winter and one to make us all wish for heated studios. Bless those of us who already have them. Or more particularly, bless those who don’t.

That’s the nice thing about June. It should be lovely weather for the Second Annual Women’s Carving Retreat in Port Hadlock this year. Begun by Arliss Newcomb in 2017, this year the helm will be taken by Ellie Hochman, who is excited about directing the 2018 event. You can read the details of where, when and how to sign up in this issue.

In keeping with concept of Women Who Carve Stone, we have put together a brief article about the founding mothers of stone carving, even though the early women carvers used a lot of wax. Those women who by virtue of hard work, formidable talents and incredible perseverance, little by little chipped away with the long accepted gender bias in the field. Their success spurred changes that resulted in women carvers flourishing all over the world. (Not to belabor it, but not unlike those NWSSA women carvers gathering in Hadlock, Washington…and…all those women who bring so much talent and enthusiasm to our yearly symposia.)

And, finally, in this issue we will be treated to an insider’s report on the North West Flower and Garden Show which was just held in Seattle. Our guide will be Monika Hawkinson who directed the effort for the NWSSA booth this year. Thank you Monika

Penelope and Lane

From the Editors Jan-Feb 2018

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 30 January 2018 01:33

Letter from the Editors

Hello, everyone! It may be mid-winter, but what better time to get some chores done inside, stand next to a heater, or design some brilliant new pieces for the New Year?

And of course, it’s a perfect time to make a warm drink for yourself, put your feet up and read through this issue of Sculpture NorthWest.

Vic Picou takes us south of the equator into the sun for a visit with the renowned Peruvian sculptor, Alphonso Rodrigues Medina. Many of you have watched him carving at our summer symposiums. Let’s see what Vic saw and learned during his trip to Peru a couple of months ago.

Meanwhile, back on the home front, and as you see on this issue’s cover, “Crossing Point” is revisited as the City of La Conner moves it to another location in a new waterside park. Let’s hope that in the coming months, young and old alike, will come to the park to appreciate the history as well as the feel of these NWSSA granite carvings of the type of watercraft used by two cultures that have occupied this area for so many generations.

Speaking of generations, Richard Beyer, who died in 2012, appears in an historical note sent to us by George Pratt. Richard became well known for his metal casting art, but George reminds us that stone carving had also been a part of Richard’s artistic efforts.

Just a little south of Seattle, a few months ago, Leon White installed a sculpture in Olympia. “The Wisdom Seeker” is a part of Olympia’s 2017 Water Front Exhibit. If you get down that way, take a moment to impart some of your wisdom to the “Seeker.”

If you’re not looking to impart wisdom, but rather to gain a little, “A Conversation about Marble” may just have the answer to that age-old question: “Which came first, the marble or the limestone?”

Wishing you joyful and productive 2018!


Penelope and Lane

From the Editors Sept-Oct 2017

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Last Updated: Monday, 18 September 2017 18:21

Even though there are still some good carving-weather weeks ahead, we’re coming to that time of year time when we can reflect on the summer’s accomplishments and enjoyments. To help in this reflection, we have put together what might be called a “Symposium Issue,” which focuses on both our Washington and Oregon symposiums.

[Many thanks to Symposium Directors Cyra Jane Hobson (Pilgrim Firs) and Ben Mefford (Suttle Lake) for the hundreds of hours they put in to give us two wonderful summer experiences.]

Cyra Jane Hobson, spent some of her time at Pilgrim Firs collecting the thoughts of many happy attendees. She has assembled those in a virtual word storm of thankfulness and accomplishment. Sounds like they all experienced both the expected and unexpected joys of July’s gathering.

And a few weeks later Suttle Lake symposium came along with its international flavor, accompanied by the mind-blowing experience of a total eclipse of the sun. Four carvers volunteered to tell us about the stones they worked on while there. The pieces range in size from 12 pounds to 3,000 pounds; not so unusual a spread for NWSSA stoners.

We hope that you have been busy at your own work with stone and that you have had many of your own expected and unexpected successes while hard at work on what you just plain love doing. 

Keep on keeping on.



Penelope and Lane

From the Editors July-August 2017

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 July 2017 21:06

Hello summer, finally. Now is the time to get out there and get things done.

Ben Mefford has been getting things done. Not only a lot of stone carving, about which he has taken the time to write for this issue’s Artist in the Spotlight, but he is also this year’s director for August’s Suttle Lake Symposium. Check out the centerfold to see this year’s instructors.

And here’s a Symposium Bonus: during the symposium -- August 21 -- Suttle Lake Campground will be in the path of the total eclipse. We can’t always guarantee natural spectacles, so take advantage of this one! (Solar safety viewing glasses recommended.)

And perhaps you’ve heard about the great success of the hand-carving workshop Arliss Newcomb had in Port Hadlock on the Olympic Peninsula. Jonna Ramey, a long-time member has written about it and sent in some photos for those of us who couldn’t attend. All the men, for instance.

And finally, you will get the where and when about an exhibition of Tom Small’s stone sculpture and the release of his new book. Yes, we said book. It’s just out and we are so eager to have a look.

Think of all this carving and the fine weather as two good reasons for getting some of your own work going.

Lane and Penelope



Penelope and Lane

From the Editors May-June 2017

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 May 2017 19:00

It’s spring! And summer is not far behind. Coming up on July 8-15 is our 30th Annual International Stone Carving Symposium. This symposium (formerly known as Camp Brotherhood) will take place in Port Orchard, Washington this year. See our centerfold for more information.

And as if to show how truly international we are, in this issue we present the work of Senden Blackwood, our Aussie connection, and George Pratt from Canada.

So take a break from all that carving….and/or those thoughts of carving, and enjoy the work and words behind the work, of two of our most talented members.



Penelope and Lane