Silver Falls

Silver Falls 2014

Silver Falls Stone Sculptors Symposium 
August 23rd - 28th, 2014 - Oregon

20th ANNIVERSARY!

If you would like to join us next year, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to our mailing list so you will receive notice about our next Silver Falls Symposium event!

Stone carvers are invited to convene at the Silver Falls State Park Conference center for 5 days of sculpting fun. Under the lush canopy of Douglas fir trees, this inclusive community sets up a circle of tents to carve, share, learn and be invigorated. From the beginner's tent to the professional's tool chest, there are ample ways to advance one's ideas, talents and learning. Please join us to connect with other artists.

Extensive carving sessions are interspersed with informative classes and stimulating sculpting lessons. Field instructors are always available to help noodle through your challenges. Bring your gear (if you are a beginner, we have tools you can use), connect to our power, water and air sources and peruse the tools and variety of stones being carved and available for purchase.

We provide meals and comfortable lodge rooms to relax in between activities. Our evenings bring professionals to show their images and expertise in a broad range of sculpture. Revel under the stars at the campfire before turning in for a well-deserved rest.

 FEATURED INSTRUCTORS   

East Meets West; From Classical to High Tech  This year, the Silver Falls Stone Carving Symposium brings together world class sculpting masters for a unique opportunity to provide instruction and discuss where we are today. From classical Roman figurative sculpture, to modern minimalism and the new high tech tools and techniques, our instructors provide knowledge and inspiration for all attendees. 

Kazutaka Uchida: Uchida Sensei from Japan returns as guest sculptor. He will share his insights on the clean lines, subtle beauty and harmonious balance of sculptural forms, nature and Japanese aesthetics. 

Matt Auvinen: Classically trained in Italy, Matt’s figurative sculptures focus on cultural artifacts and composition in his statuary and bas-relief marble installations.

Tracy Powell: Tracy is a self-taught master in wood and stone carving. He has taught numerous hand tool carving workshops on Whidbey Island and uses his naturalistic style to tell stories, create memorials and public art monuments. 

Stuart Kendall: Stuart, founder of the Solstice Studio, blends art, fabrication and engineering to create technically advanced custom stone cutting equipment for large scale projects, including the Ten Thousand Year Clock.

Tool & Safety Talks with Dan Michael: Dan of Olympia, WA will display an array of power carving tools and methods while explaining safe operation. 

Celebration of Life; Paul Buckner: On Sunday afternoon, August 24th, NWSSA is hosting a gathering of former students and friends to celebrate the legacy of Professor Emeritus Paul Buckner (1933-2014). Paul is remembered for his work in stone, metal, and wood and his legacy of fine arts teaching. Please join us to celebrate a man who epitomized the “highest ideal of the word ‘teacher’ ”.

Evening Presenters & Field Instructors:

Saturday: Tracy Powell & Matt Auvinen
Sunday afternoon: Celebration of Life: Paul Buckner
Sunday evening: Kazutaka Uchida & Ken Barnes
Monday Suart Kendall & Kentaro Kojima
Tuesday Scholarship Auction FUN for a CAUSE! 
Wednesday Slide Presentation & Campfire

Symposium Tuition: 
Sign up early to reserve your spot for an international hit this summer! Work study positions and University of Oregon college credit are available by application.

Tuition includes: instruction, beginner’s tools, workshops, mentoring, meals and accommodations. Upon registration, you will receive a package of information; your confirmation, information on Silver Falls Conference Center, a list of things to bring and more.

Once again, we're offering an early arrival option for those of you who wish to come on Friday, August 22nd. Come for dinner or arrive later Friday evening & have breakfast with us. Otherwise, regular check-in starts at 9:30 am on Saturday, August 23rd, and lunch will be the first meal served (last meal: breakfast Thursday, August 28th).

Full Time
NWSSA Member (double occupancy, 5 days)  $750
Non-Member(double occupancy, 5 days) $850
NWSSA Member Single Room $893
Student $550
Early Arrival Friday Night (Dinner, B&B) $105
Early Arrival Friday Night (B&B) $90

Part Time

Day Rate/overnight (includes 3 meals and lodging) $165
Day Rate (includes lunch & dinner) $95
Student Day Rate (no meals included) $50

* University of Oregon college credit available
1-3 Credits: $150 per credit undergraduate; $225 per credit graduate
Contact Tom Urban at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. refarding college credit

To Download & Print the Mail-In Registration form - REGISTRATION CLOSED
To apply for a Work Study position - POSITIONS FILLED

NWSSA Annual Membership $ 45
To become a member of NWSSA - [Click Here]
To Renew your membership "Login" and click on "My Subscription" from the Member Menu on the right side or - [Click Here to Login]

Silver Falls Centerfold 2014

WORKSHOPS AND INSTRUCTORS

In 2-14, the Silver Falls Stone Carving Symposium brought together several world class sculpting masters for a unique opportunity. From classical Roman figurative, to modern minimalism and the tools and equipment used to create small and large scale sculptural installations, there is knowledge and inspiration to be gained for the novice student to master sculptor.

		Kazutaka Uchida: Uchida Sensei travels again from his home in Japan to talk with us about his unique approach to stone art. He will be sharing, through Kentaro Kojima's translation, his insights on the clean lines, subtle beauty and harmonious balance of sculptural forms, stripped of all superficial qualities.
		Matt Auvinen: Matt has worked and taught for years in Europe. From Florence he ran tours into the marble quarries of Carrara. From 1988 to l992 he worked as an artisan for several Italian sculpture studios. He has lived and worked in Pietrasanta, one of Italy's stone carving centers, for 8 years.
		Tracy Powell: Tracy is a self-taught master in wood and stone carving. He has taught numerous hand tool carving workshops on Whidbey and Camano Islands and uses his naturalistic and fulsome style to tell stories and create memorials and public art monuments.
		Stuart Kendall: Stuart is CEO of Seattle Solstice in south Seattle. He blends art, fabrication and engineering to create technically advanced custom stone cutting equipment. He is currently working on the cutting equipment for the large scale Ten Thousand Year Clock Project in Texas.
		Daniel Michael:Hailing from Olympia, WA, Daniel will be instructing us on a wide array of the power tools commonly used to carve stone. His classes will feature hands-on instruction in the use and maintenance of these tools while teaching us how to use each tool effectively and safely.
		Paul Buckner (1933-2014): On one of our evenings, former students and friends will gather to celebrate the Legacy of Professor Emeritus Paul Bruckner, a man who epitomized the "highest ideal of the word teacher." Paul Buckner is remembered for his work in stone, metal, and wood and for his legacy of fine arts teaching.

Silver Falls 2014 - Review

Attendees enjoyed and learned a lot from this year's mix of hands-on carving, demos, and lectures.

Lee Imonen brought steel and a forge. He gave a hands on demonstration of how to make your own chisels for carving soft stone, gave everyone who wanted to, the opportunity to make their own chisels.

Lisa with her hand made tools in hand.

Matt Auvinen's experience as a teacher and years of working as an artisan provided everyone with both the details of efficient carving techniques and a broad overview of where they fit into the history of  carving. His presentation on chisels and history on tools used in marble carving (especially the violina) was very good.

He also covered and demonstrated pointing and enlargement techniques. Getting pointing right is the prelude to accurate enlargement. The use of these techniques (and his love of them) in his art is very obvious.

Tracy Powell welcomed several beginning stone carvers. Introducing them to the various types of hand chisels and by the end of the week to power tools and pneumatics.

The evening presentations gave attendees the chance to see the variations in style, approach, and inspiration of the work of Uchida, Matt, Tracy, Ken, and Stewart. They were great sources of information and paring to learn from.

Silver Falls 2014

Silver Falls Stone Sculptors Symposium 
August 23rd - 28th, 2014 - Oregon

20th ANNIVERSARY!

If you would like to join us next year, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to our mailing list so you will receive notice about our next Silver Falls Symposium event!

Stone carvers are invited to convene at the Silver Falls State Park Conference center for 5 days of sculpting fun. Under the lush canopy of Douglas fir trees, this inclusive community sets up a circle of tents to carve, share, learn and be invigorated. From the beginner's tent to the professional's tool chest, there are ample ways to advance one's ideas, talents and learning. Please join us to connect with other artists.

Extensive carving sessions are interspersed with informative classes and stimulating sculpting lessons. Field instructors are always available to help noodle through your challenges. Bring your gear (if you are a beginner, we have tools you can use), connect to our power, water and air sources and peruse the tools and variety of stones being carved and available for purchase.

We provide meals and comfortable lodge rooms to relax in between activities. Our evenings bring professionals to show their images and expertise in a broad range of sculpture. Revel under the stars at the campfire before turning in for a well-deserved rest.

Read more ...