From the President....
Dear Sculptors,
I am enjoying the afterglow of our Virtual Symposium. As I write this, we still have a last day of events with a closing campfire. It has been just so great to see everyone’s face, trade ideas on studios, stone, or tools, and get to tour the carving spaces of friends. I really appreciate Cyra for raising the idea and then following through with the team of Ellie, Renee and Trevor.
Last night we had a really good general membership meeting. I almost preferred virtual to our in-person membership meeting, since I could see everyone’s face up close and it was easy to hear questions and comments. There have been two things that we can’t replicate so far – the hugs and the auction. If you have virtual ideas for either, please let Cyra or Ben know!
At the general meeting Bob Leverich proposed that we change the name of our Washington symposium to the Salish Sculpture Symposium. The membership approved this change and the Board is researching this possibility. Bob and Rick Johnson also raised the issue of organizational diversity. We will be reaching out further in order to diversify our membership and attendees. If you know good candidates, please send them our way. We’ll turn them into stoners.
This will be my last Prez letter. I have reached the end of my term limits and we will have fresh leadership. I have enjoyed being part of the team and contributing what I can. I got involved with this group because each of us are so caring and sharing. I felt enveloped in love when I first arrived at camp 23 years ago, not a stranger but a new dusty friend. This is such a unique organization for this exact reason.
The new leadership team is Ben Mefford as Prez, Denny Tsang is VP, Trevor Contreras as Treasurer and Ellie Hochman as Secretary. We have a strong board and I feel good that this team will continue on the best course.
Many of us renew our membership in conjunction with one of the symposiums. Our system sends out reminder mails but sometimes these go to your spam folder. If you are uncertain about whether your membership has expired, please email the office (email is on our website) and we can sort things out. We are still producing the Journal and have reduced but still ongoing administrative expenses even though we are not producing revenue from our events, so your dues will help us pay for this.
Carve well, have fun, wear a good respirator and stay safe!
Ken Barnes
--- Ken
From the President....
Dear Sculptors,
I’m sitting in a warm house looking at snow-covered ground outside as I write this (not in Seattle). By the time you get this the holidays will be over and our post-holiday party will be approaching (February 8th, 4pm at Marenakos – Click Here for details).
We had a nice time at a get-together in my studio a few weeks ago. We talked about textures and had a few examples in front of us plus a bunch of images to discuss. I like textures as much as the next person, but the best part was seeing my carving friends in December.
Many members have complained that they do not get notices of these events and would have liked to come. If you don’t get these email notices you aren’t in our listserve. Look at our website and click the “join the listserve” button in the lower right corner of the front page. We do not spam you and you will get notices of these events and other random interesting stone topics on an every-now-and-then basis.
http://www.nwssa.org/membership-nwssa?id=381
If you have an idea for a fun get-together when the symposiums are not in session, drop me a line.
Carve well, have fun, and wear a good respirator,
Ken Barnes
--- Ken
From the President....
Dear Sculptors,
We are now in the “tween” period for the organization. By the time you get this the holidays will be upon us and our post-holiday party will be approaching.
Before I had a studio roof over my head, the carving season was over, called on account of rain and cold. Now I can keep at it all year, but I miss my stone buddies. Community is what makes this organization such an amazing group. Carl Nelson was in Eugene and he got lucky enough to coincide with a potluck with a bunch of our crew there. Up in the Seattle area we had a get-together at Dan Colvin’s studio to talk about using the natural rind of the stone to enhance the sculpture’s design. In early December we’ll have a get-together at my studio to talk about textures. Sure, I want to hear the cool stuff that others have done with texture, but I also relish the chance to be with my community.
The energy we all feel at the symposia seems to reside in each of us, every day.
If you have an idea for a fun get-together when the symposiums are not in session, drop me a line.
Carve well, have fun, and wear a good respirator,
--- Ken
From the President....
I’m sitting with the afterglow of wonderful events at both Pilgrim Firs and Suttle Lake. We had excellent participation, good guest artists, and our typical strongly supportive community. I take it for granted that everyone will be friendly, open, helpful and enjoyable. But then I remind myself that we have a unique community at NWSSA.
I recently dug out an older t-shirt from a prior symposium with the Stone Cycle emblazoned on the back. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. After this many years of carving I’ve come realize I have been moving through a Stoner Cycle. Ignorance, then metamorphosis as I matured in my art, now moving into senescence. May your stone cycle be blessed.
--- Ken
