A new year. As the Long Dark recedes, each passing day brings more light and the promise of warm long days in which we can more easily indulge in our passion of stone carving. In my environs the hum of a water polisher on stone must wait some unless I am interested in becoming an extra in the next Ice Age movie. But with the Winter Solstice behind us, I start to wonder when the first Chinook will come and release my stones from their white blanket. They'll be all new again, reborn, awaiting, and full of silent energy. I wish you all the joy of a creative life!
Now for some issues. Email. When you change your email provider you must follow Bill Gallagher's instruction which Rich has sent out numerous times. The office does not do this. This is DIY. It is important that we all keep in contact. So if there is an issue, send Rich an email and he'll forward the instructions to you.
Update on the Public Arts Project started back in 2005 at Camp B. The sandstone columns proved to be an overwhelming financial burden on the small town of La Connor because of foundation engineering costs. The BOD released the town of La Connor from the contract and the columns back to Marenakos. Not and easy thing to do, but NWSSA's good name was at stake. The good news is that the beautiful tug boat is done, as well as the ship’s wheel. They were both installed in La Connor Dec. 27th. The canoe will be installed later this spring. The BOD will have a synopsis on file if you have thoughts about a public arts project. ‘Twas a learning experience for all and in the end it is a testament to the hard work of our members, the heavy lifting by Marenakos and the flexibility to work together on a project (albeit changed) to a successful conclusion.
Your prez,
-Elaine
Hello All, tis that time of year again. Our Christmas/Holiday Party is 9 December at Shoreline Community Center, at 185th and First St. in N.E. Seattle. Happy hour starts at 6pm. What to bring: A-G- desserts, H-M-appetizers, N-Z- main dish sufficient for 8 stoner appetites. Rich Andler has been volunteered to be in charge. Bring some donations for the raffle. A new change this year will be any art created by you can be entered in the art exchange. You may trade with another if you choose, but there will be no unwilling swiping.
We will have a BOD meeting starting at 2pm at Shoreline. Please feel free to attend. If you wish to address the BOD let me know ahead of time so I can fit you into our schedule.
We have a couple of very exciting mission related developments. Sharon Feeney has initiated collaboration between NWSSA and the Residential Training Center for the Blind in Seattle. Volunteer members of NWSSA will conduct the first class 8 November. We will get the students familiar with the elements of stone sculpture and then we'll see how it goes from there. I would love to have this develop into a continuing liaison.
On that note, we will start our gallery at Camp B. on the first Sunday, and the Blind will be invited to view our sculptures thru their hands. The Director of the Facility said that it has been an issue as they mostly are not allowed to touch art. What a shame! I realize it is an issue, but I sincerely hope we have enough members willing to endure the travesty of touching so that others may see. Sharon will write an article for the next Journal, so I don't want to steal her thunder, I just want to give credit where it’s due.
Also, Camp B. is going to be involved in the Elderhostel program this year, providing instruction to members of the Elderhostel community. This will be a good outreach connection and I couldn't be more excited or pleased!
Last, but not least, to the volunteers of the Group Project started in 2005 at Camp B. who are working their fingers to the bone while not attending to their own business in order to finish the piece by the December deadline. Ideas are great, but resolution takes time, sweat, and undying commitment to achieve the goal. As an association we will all gain future benefits from this installation. But I urge you not to think of this project as glory for a few. It is all of those who get involved and work to accomplish the dream that will move NWSSA into the future. Our humble THANKS!
Your pres,
Elaine
News, you have a new board of directors who are listed on the page opposite this one. And all previous officers were reinstated, including me as the pres.
During the general meeting at Camp B, and while I had a captive audience, I took advantage of the opportunity to check the pulse of the association. We all have different opinions of what is best, but it is my intention to insure the BOD responds to the membership’s concerns.
Some of the issues brought up were financial. We have overhead costs which dues alone do not cover, including: bookkeeper, accountant, phone, and insurance for board members who might be sued.
So, we need to make some money from the symposia to keep the association running and to maintain a fall back reserve. It takes front money to put a symposium together. Now as my seer advised me, "It wouldn't cost as much if we all camped out on your rock flat, didn't wash for a week, all used hand tools, and ate dried beans and rice.” Are there any takers? In the future you will receive a year end financial report from me.
Another issue that came up was our mission statement. We have a vision and mission statement, and we on the BOD are working to expand on it. Our mission statement must include room for visitors and new stoners just learning about stone; as well as old hands sharing new breakthroughs with each other, and picking up today as though yesterday was not a year ago, this is our vision statement in action.
These things are embodied in our hearts as we mix old friends with new amidst swirls of stone dust on the field of dreams while creating art with a passion.
We carve to live, and live to carve, to create, to give meaning to our lives and the lives of others through our art. This is our mission.
Your pres,
Elaine
By the time you read this, Camp B. will have come and gone, and you will have a new BOD. The results of the election will have taken place whilst at Camp B.
So, if you're anxious to know the results and were unable to attend Camp, you can contact me and I'll give you the results. I will do this whether I am re-elected or not.
On that note, I am in somewhat of a state of flux, so I’ll lay out no great visions for the future at this time. However, our own personal thoughts on the future, for many of us, are measured in smaller increments of time and physical ability - especially when it comes to stone carving.
Aging brings change: downsizing to an apartment or a condo, no place to carve, stones too heavy to move, reduced income in retirement, etc. all these impact our membership.
What I would hope is that while we seek youth to fill our places on the field, that we also work to provide a place in our association for the active minds of our aging stoners.
There are so many activities which require little physical ability and or expense that can enhance and grow our association. If re-elected, I want to actively pursue this avenue, I think they call it networking now a days.
On a somewhat related note, I read Leon White's "The times, they are a changing" with an avid interest. This is my personal opinion. I think he hit the nail on the head, at least for those of us who remember when we were all together in Fisher Hall. For those of you who are newer to the association, does the picture of camaraderie he presents in his article seem an inviting scene? It was. Do the changes in our facilities at camp affect the body? Personally, I believe they do.
The first time I came to Camp B., I was reticent, shy even. I know many of you may find that hard to believe, but it’s true. I didn’t know anything about art and it was all I could do to gather up the courage to go just so I could learn to cut stone.
I picked up my tray and looked about anxiously trying to find an un-obtrusive corner to eat my dinner. Then someone waved me over with a smile.
I had my dinner conversation and gained confidence to spread my wings amongst strangers who would later become my friends, that was 10 years ago.
In the first few days, I had learned enough to cut stone, which was my mission at that time. I more than likely would have come back home with a rudimentary level of skill, but without that opportunity for fellowship, I might not have found the grace of stone art nor the enduring friendships that have formed me in one way or another for the past 10 years.
This happened because we were all bunked in one building mostly and most importantly we ate together, chatted together all in the same building. So there are questions which Leon pointed out most succinctly in his letter. Can we fix it? Is the change in the facility the issue, has our group gotten too big, or do we just need to adapt to inevitable change?
Perhaps, it is only a longing of what was and, therefore, is a non issue. For those of you who remember, please take a few minutes to think about this, and for those of you who don't have all those warm and fuzzies about Fisher (forget the bunk beds) please contact me with your thoughts. After all, it’s your association, and your voices can make for changes!
And remember: mentoring does not just stop once you leave the field. We must all work together to insure the continuum of fellowship, the grace of stone art, the bonds of friendship formed both on the field of dreams and in the breaking of bread together.
Let’s demonstrate that it is not the building, but the people who constitute the essence of NWSSA.
Next BOD meeting is at Silver Falls.
Your pres,
Elaine
