Workshops (not symposia)

2024 Women’s Hand Carving Workshop

2024 Annual Women’s Hand Carving Workshop
June 7th - 9th 2024
Come join the fun of carving together, learning together and showing our work during the art walk.

Why Hand Tools :
It is quiet, peaceful, we can easily talk among ourselves and dust is limited. If you aren’t a hand carver, bring a partly finished piece you can rasp, chisel, or sand.
We have two set up locations adjacent to each other: There us room for 8 people to set up under the covered patio. This is on a sign-up basis, first come, first served. Please let us know of this preference. There is room for 8 canopies on the lawn. Folks have shared a canopy comfortably for this event.

Location: Old Alcohol Plant Inn, 310 Hadlock Bay Road, Hadlock, WA. (6 miles south of Port Townsend)

Hotel Reservations: Accommodations arranged separately and are paid for by the participants. Please see below for room types and rates available at the Old Alcohol Plant. The earlier you register, the more options are available to you for size, price and ability to pick a room that is good for sharing (if that is what you wish).

Weekend Agenda
Friday 11:00am – dinner time -
Sat. 9:00am – dinner time
Sun. 9:00am – 1:00pm

Continental Breakfast and coffee provided by NWSSA.
Lunches- On Your Own.
Dinners- Pot Lucks.

ART WALK: Saturday: 10AM-4PM

Tool Tuesday

Tool Time Talk with Myles Schachter of 2Sculpt!
Pinning & sleeving

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - 6:30-7:30 PM
Topic: Virtual Workshop on Mounting Sculptures to a Base, Drilling Techniques, and All About Adhesives

Please join us as we kick off a monthly virtual discussion focused on power tools with Myles Schachter of 2Sculpt! Each month we will gather on Zoom. Myles will be spending the first half hour of our workshop sharing his knowledge on power tools. The second half will be open to all participants to ask questions, share and discuss. Zoom will be open to participants at 6:00; Myles’ session starts at 6:30 pm. PST

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83280384423

Looking forward to seeing you there!

2023 Women’s Hand Carving Workshop

2023 Annual Women’s Hand Carving Workshop
June 2nd - 4th 2023
Come join the fun of carving together, learning together and showing our work during the art walk.

3rd Annual Women's Hand Carving Event

Eighteen women attended the 3rd annual Women’s Hand Carving Event which took place June 3-5. Due to the pandemic this event had been cancelled for the past 2 years. It was no surprise then that enthusiastic carvers showed up from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, Canada to enjoy one another’s company, share ideas and new tools. Everyone was excited to try out some flexible diamond sandpaper that Julianne Kohn demonstrated.
The setting of the Old Alcohol Plant Inn in Port Hadlock, WA was splendid. Canopies had plenty of room to set up on the lawn which is surrounded by the Inn’s beautiful gardens overlooking Port Townsend Bay. There was also a covered patio for a handful of carvers. The Inn’s owners and staff couldn’t have been more hospitable and supportive of the event.
As usual with the NWSSA gatherings there was some great food! A potluck taco bar was enjoyed by all on Friday night thanks to the participants’ delicious contributions with plenty of leftovers for the next day’s lunch. Eva Kozun coordinated the meal planning and provided us with her culinary expertise, bringing healthy breakfast fare and a most decadent and delicious chocolate cake.
On Saturday the public was invited to attend and watch the women in action as well as view their finished sculptures on display indoors. There was a sizable turnout for this! Visitors were treated to quite a treat showcasing the NWSSA’s work since the Rolling Pin Challenge went on display that same weekend in the lobby of the Inn. Rumor has it that a few people who visited the artists in action will be attending the Pilgrim Firs camp. It was a fruitful weekend with participants even asking about the possibility of doing a similar gathering mid-winter!

Youth Soapstone Carving at Evergreen Arboretum Saturday, August 20th

Soapstone Carving Workshop for Youth

The Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens is hosting a unique, community arts experience on Saturday, August 20th brought to us by the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association (NWSSA) who will lead local youth, ages 8-17 in discovering the art of crafting a sculpture through soapstone carving. Instructors will guide participants through the process of shaping this beautiful, natural material into a figurine to take home. Participation is $30 per person; the necessary tools will be provided by NWSSA, Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens and Studiostone Creative.

Space is limited, Registration is required.

There are two, 90-minute, workshops (one beginning at 10:00am, the other at 1:00pm), with a limit of 15 youth in each workshop. Participants will be working with soapstone and water and soapstone dust will get on participants clothing, so dress appropriately.

Morning Registration sign-in 9:30 am; workshop 10-11:30 am

Afternoon Registration sign-in 12:30; workshop 1-2:30 pm

* Please arrive early to sign-in-opens 30 minutes before workshop.
* Parent or adult must accompany child to registration in order to sign permission slip and waiver for photography.
* Adults bringing children ages 12 and under are encouraged to stay with them during the workshop.
* Bring your own drinking water and snack if needed.
* This activity will take place outdoors, so dress for the weather. (Rain jacket or sunscreen!)

This event will be a wonderful opportunity to combine handiwork, mental focus and three-dimensional thinking, all while enjoying the stunning surroundings of Everett's beautiful Arboretum and Gardens. The event is open to the public for viewing and runs in conjunction with The Schack Arts Center's Fresh Paint event.