Here's something to do in February. Have you ever thought about exhibiting in a gallery? Especially you beginners! Would you like a captive audience of about 100,000 nature lovers with no entry dues, no commision in a professional setting? Well, the Northwest Flower and Garden show (in a new window) in Seattle is your cup of tea. The show is one of the world's leading garden shows. There are six acres of inspiring gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 300 exhibits related to gardening, outdoor living and gardeners.
Every February NWSSA puts up a booth at the Flower and Garden Show. The goal of our booth is to teach people about stone sculpting, how it is made and how it is displayed. We also try to teach patrons that sculpture endures a very long time, does not need to be made of cheap plastic and can usually be repaired. We have two booths, one of which is for demonstrations.
NWSSA members volunteer to work the booth and in exchange get to display their own work. It is a wonderful opportunity to talk to people who are fascinated by what we do and how we do it. Your piece of art need not be for sale and sales are not our goal, yet in spite of the prices not being posted, there have been years when we have sold up to 5 pieces out of our booth.
One reward for helping at the booth is that you get to see the second largest flower show in the USA for free. Your shift can be talking to people and working on a soft piece of stone, chipping, sanding or polishing.
In the past, we have drawn large crowds who really enjoyed watching and trying out the tools. Also. the louder the chipping, the more people who want to know what in the world we are doing!
Download or view the Brochure for May 8-11, 2008 Symposium for this years information. Signup by April 21, 2008.
The spring time hand tool stone carving symposium is held in an old growth forest setting at the Pack Forest Conference Center at the foot of Mt. Rainer just east of Olympia near the little town of Eatonville, WA.
This hand carving symposium is open to anyone who is interested in the art of carving stone and the camaraderie of a group of people in conversation with stone and each other.
Please bring: Goggles, Respirator or dust mask, Ear protection; Work shoes, gloves, and apron; Workbench & Stool or chair; Enthusiasm!!
New carvers are welcome to join us and learn the craft from the first step of choosing a stone through figuring out what to carve and then how to carve it. For more experienced carvers, this is a chance to get back to the basics. Allow your mind to explore the stone and enjoy the gentle chinking sound of steel on stone as your ideas become reality. Come and enjoy this beautiful setting while increasing your knowledge of the fine art of stone carving with hand tools.
You get 3 nights lodging, 3 meals a day, experienced teachers (Tracy Powell and Sharon Feeney), demostrations on safe tool use and carving techniques and individual instruction, work under a covered pavilion, loaner tools for beginners, and you can buy needed items from the vendor of tools and stones. There are evening slide shows, so bring your presentation to share.
Tuition for members:
Non-members: add $80 to 3 night stay (or just become a member for $60!)
Download or view the Brochure for the July 12-20, 2008 21st Annual International Carving symposium. Early registration due June 1st, 2008 for a substantial discount.
This mid-July Symposium is one of the largest events of its kind. It is held in a remote and scenic wooded retreat a 90 minute drive north of Seatle.
From 50 to 100 Sculptors and friends gather for a week of carving, teaching, learning, slide shows, and socializing. Full power and air is supplied for those who bring their tools and most everyone does. Stone suppliers bring truckloads of stone. Tool suppliers bring the latest tools for sale. There are always special guests, often international, who teach and join in.
Lots of extras. A masseus or masseur is usually available to rejuvenate those over-played muscles. A great swim pool open most of the time. A farm yard full of emus, goats, donkeys and other animals that wake you early in morning. A magnificent 50 acres of trees and fields to hike through. A river nearby where you can find a great rocks to carve on. Less than a half hour away is a mid-sized town for supplies and amenities.
Carve for the entire time or pick from diverse classes and workshops. Pick a mentor for guidance or be one for others.
Good food and modest lodging are included. Right there is also plenty of space to pitch a tent or park your RV.
There's lot's of social activities including a riotous auction one night and a social and dance night at the end of the week. Most nights revelers gather around an open fire. For the early to bed, there is sometimes an early morning rock hunting trip before breakfast.
The Silver Falls Symposium is held at the Conference Center in the Silver Falls State Park nestled in the foothills of the Cascades, about 20 miles northeast of Salem, Oregon.
The 2008 symposium cost is $465 for students, $565 for members (annual membership is $60) and $665 nonmembers for 5 full days of carving! That is a little more than a hundred dollars a day for 3 full meals, overnight accommodations, and all day instruction!
The symposium is open to all levels. This is the event for you to learn new things and work some stone. You will make new friends, renew old friendships and fire up the creative spirit. The symposium is a fun, spontaneous, supportive environment for creativity. Each participant is exposed to a wide variety of information and techniques from the instructors and other attendees.
All meals, lodging, work area, air and electricity are provided. The food is great and the sleeping quarters are even better (like camping with hotel digs). The setting is beautiful with hiking, waterfalls, horseback riding and even a heated swimming pool.
This year, 2008, the symposium will feature individualized field instruction by Lee Imonen, David P. Miller, Laura Alpert and Rich Hestekind. Evening slide presentations will include work by Michael Creger and Kate Ali, Oregon Arts Commission Fellowship Grant recipient.
The University of Oregon offers 1-3 credits with Assoc. Professor tfurban@uoregon.edu or call Tom at 541-741-4117.
Bring projects that you have started, or buy new stone on site, and get one-on-one attention with the instructor of your choice. Bring your tools, stone, and canopy with table and don't forget a long power cord and water hose. Suppliers will sell tools and stone.
There are plenty of social moments including a really fun auction to raise funds, nightly fireside gatherings and hikes through an awe inspiring trail of waterfalls. Remember to bring some whacky or useful items others can bid on.
The campground office is available at Silver Falls State Park (800-452-5687)
For further information about the symposium or instructors please contact Stephanie Robison at 971-222-4743 or visit www.silverfallsstonecarving.com.
[TBD]
Edmonds is a hidden gem full of interesting shops and galleries and has a beautiful waterfront area overlooking one the best views of Puget Sound. Edmonds Art Gallery has been showing stone sculpture from NWSSA artists, with a special feature highlighting one artist each month. Joan Longstraff, the owner, is a fantastic promoter, even having bands and refreshments during the monthly Edmonds art walk. All the promotion has helped them sell 20 stone sculpture pieces in the first half of 2007. Just in case you make it a day trip, there are several outstanding restaurants to keep you going.
contact:
Joan longstaff 425-773-1274
Leon white 206-362-2231
Jim heltsley 425-640-8777
Hosted by Marenakos Rock Center- Seattle Stonearium
3220 1st Avenue South
Seattle Wa. 98134
206.340.0081