MARCH

Date : Mar 16, 2013 To Mar 17, 2013
Introductory Stone Carving
Instructor : Bill Nutt
Fees : $295
Two days of hand-carving technique and stone carving lore introduce the beginner to reductive art-making and three-dimensional thinking. Use of the Studio’s tools and a moderate piece of Vermont marble are included in the fee. Discussions of safe studio practices and stone and tool sourcing help make this two-day course an excellent initiation to the craft of stone sculpture. 

APRIL

Date : Apr 20, 2013 To Apr 21, 2013
Carving in Alabaster
Instructor : Leonidas Chalepas
Fees : $325

Have you ever wanted to carve by hand in soft stone or alabaster but felt that the idea was a bit daunting?   Beginners will discuss how to simplify the challenges of working with a piece of stone.  Participants will be taught how to use basic stone carving tools and techniques to create a simple and elegant sculpture from a moderate piece of alabaster provided by the Studio.  Safe stone carving practices plus stone and tool sources will round out the weekend and leave you wanting to come back for more.  (beginner/intermediate)

MAY

Date : May 4, 2013 To May 5, 2013
Letter Carving for Beginner and Intermediate students
Instructor : Adam Paul Heller
Fees : $350

This class is an excellent introduction to carving traditional Roman V-cut letters in stone. We will be covering carving techniques for both incised lettering and simple bas-relief forms. The goal of the class is for you to come away with a basic knowledge of hand carving stone. We will begin with a brief discussion of letter forms and the history of hand carved letters. You will never look at stone carving in the same way after this weekend!

For intermediate carvers, you are welcome to bring a project to work on.

Hot lunch to be served both days (included with tuition).

Date : May 25, 2013 To May 26, 2013
Calling all Steam Punks
Instructor : Mathieu Poster
Fees : $295
This class will explore the creation of small fine art objects, using any found materials, copper, brass and wood.  Students will use a variety of connecting processes to combine their works, such as soldering, welding, riveting and gluing.  The use of a moving element will be encouraged to enhance the excitement and visual dynamic of each work.  Proper use of tools and equipment, as well as safety techniques, will be covered.  Hit those yard sales now and bring in any and all interesting parts and pieces you have laying around (brass gears, nuts, bolts, pipe, clock parts, stamped metal, etc…).  Bring in pictures, drawings and ideas.

JUNE

Date : Jun 1, 2013 To Jun 7, 2013
A Stone Sculptor's Dream Vacation
Instructor : -
Fees : $650

Imagine, spending your days in a secluded quarry carving some of the rarest marble in the world, then retiring at night to a 6,000 square foot house on the shore of Lake Champlain, and be served diner by a gourmet chef.

With generous permission from the Vermont Marble Company and owner, Ollie Danforth, the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center is able to offer a week of stone carving in one of Vermont's oldest non-working quarries. Participants will gather at the beautiful Swanton quarry each day to carve the famous Swanton stone that rests in piles around the quarry. The stone varies from a mottled green to mottled red to solid red. This red marble is found in only two locations, Swanton, Vermont and Spain. One cubic foot of stone is included. You are also welcome to bring your own stone if you have an active project. There will be air, electric and yes, a porta-potty for your convenience. A technician/facilitator will be on-site to take care of the generator and compressor. Participants must be independent artists and are responsible for bringing their own tools. Additional stone may be purchased from the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center location in West Rutland including white, red, black and green marble as well as many types of alabaster and granite.

When not spending time carving, participants will be able to rest and relax in a beautiful home overlooking Lake Champlain and enjoy evening meals prepared by a gourmet chef. The home sleeps 15 so there will be ample room for the maximum of ten for this week. You can enjoy the sunsets while relaxing on the screened in porch overlooking 600 feet of private beach.

The house will be limited to ten people and the total participation will top out at 15.

Come share in this special camaraderie with fellow stone carvers and enjoy the quarry sight in the hills of Vermont. The Swanton Dream will be held June 1-7, 2013.

Date : Jun 7, 2013 To Jun 9, 2013
What a Relief!
Instructor : Tim de Christopher
Fees : $395

Between drawing and sculpture- relief carving has a rich history that spans more than 20,000 years, from prehistoric cave dwellers to modern day sculptors around the world. Making a relief carving is a process of translating a 2-dimensional image into the “illusion” of 3-dimensions.

Date : Jun 10, 2013 To Jun 14, 2013
Steel Sculpture
Instructor : Joseph Montroy
Fees : $625
In this workshop participants will learn the fundamentals of gas, arc, and MIG welding, oxy-fuel cutting, bending, and forging, and surface treatments of steel. Participants will acquire a working technique of welding that can immediately be applied to the creation of art. Additionally, an ongoing discussion of the history of sculpture and the origins of welded sculpture will inform the class and serve as a point of departure. The class will take advantage of the environment the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center offers - its large resource of scrap steel, and the open-air studio to work freely in various sizes. While experimentation and collaboration will be encouraged, the objective of the five-day course is to enable the participant to confidently execute basic welding techniques to construct sculptural objects. (beginner/intermediate)

Date : Jun 17, 2013 To Jun 21, 2013
Carving in Stone
Instructor : James Zingarelli
Fees : $595
Stone Carving is one of our oldest sculptural traditions. The acts of percussion and abrasion in stone with the intent of removing the "excess" in order to find the desired core form is a primal act as we are working with the very substance of the earth itself. This course will serve as an introduction to the subtractive methods of carving where you will complete an "in the round" sculpture in marble which explores the three-dimensional language of mass and space by employing traditional and contemporary carving tools. Elements of sculptural form discussed and applied to our study will include mass & space relationships, volume, surface planes, transitional forms, and textural variety. This workshop is open to all levels of skill. (all levels)

Date : Jun 24, 2013 To Jun 28, 2013
Cold Cast Sculpture
Instructor : R. Elliott Katz
Fees : $595

The variety of techniques and media available to today's sculptor makes the range of possibilities for mold making and casting an exciting adventure.  This workshop will explore everything from the most traditional technique of relief casting with plaster to the more sophisticated process of building two-part rubber molds for works in the round.

With the flexible mold, we are able to realize complex forms that would not be possible with the rigid mold, and these new materials lend themselves to the further production of "multiples."  Multiples enable us to make variations on an original or in a repeated installation.  Plaster is the most traditional and efficient way to instant gratification but we will also experiment with a range of non-traditional materials and add-mixes to create our own customized casting compound that can be finished in various patina effects.  (beginner/intermediate)

Date : Jun 24, 2013 To Jun 28, 2013
Sculpture in Stone
Instructor : Carlos Dorrien
Fees : $595

Participants will explore and practice different approaches to working, carving and composing with marble and granite. Daily discussions and artist presentations dealing with the abstract in sculpture and its relationship to the environment will be the focus of this workshop. The idea or concept shapes the stone and the environment by means of the technical effort, which can best facilitate the making of a sculpture.

Date : Jun 29, 2013 To Jun 30, 2013
Flint Knapping
Instructor : Brad Salon
Fees : $295
The first evidence of human beings using rock tools is between two and three million years ago. Over such a long time the process of tool making has advanced from simple sharp edges and choppers to an art form of complexity and beauty that provided people with knives, axes, adzes, chisels, arrow heads and spear points, saws, scrapers, and many other tools. The flint knapping class will begin by looking at how rocks break and which stones will provide the best tools. We will cover the two main methods of shaping stone in flint knapping, direct percussion and pressure flaking, and briefly look at indirect percussion. Tools and materials will be provided as we work on spalling, preforming, finishing and sharpening stone tools. Hand axes and large projectile points will also be demonstrated and taught. Flint knapping is a skill that predates Homo sapiens, and has helped to develop the way our minds work, our cultures, and human technology from its beginning.

JULY

Date : Jul 1, 2013 To Jul 6, 2013
In the Jungle! (for ages 7-10 years old)
Instructor : Zoe Marr
Fees : $145

In the Jungle! This five-day workshop is open to students age 7-10 and will run July 1-6, 2013 (skipping July 4).  Instructor, Zoë Hilliard Marr will lead students on an exploration in art inspired by the flora and fauna of tropical rainforests as well as by the natural “jungle” surrounding the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center. 

Date : Jul 6, 2013 To Jul 7, 2013
Slate Lettering and Relief Carving Weekend
Instructor : Frank Anjo
Fees : $295

Slate is often overlooked as a potential carving material due to its association with more utilitarian uses such as: roofing, gravestones, floor tile or going back a few years, blackboards. In fact, slate has a wonderful tight grain that accepts fine detail and can be worked up to a matte shine. Its relative softness allows ease of carving with standard fire-sharpened steel hand tools and very quickly with pneumatic powered carbide tipped chisels. The flat nature of slate makes it an ideal media for relief carvings; think what the Egyptians did with incised line and shallow cutting.

All levels of skill are encouraged - just bring: ideas, text samples, sketches and of course, enthusiasm.

Date : Jul 8, 2013 To Jul 12, 2013
Stone Carving - Making Big Rocks Smaller with Style
Instructor : Frank Anjo
Fees : $595

Turning a found rock into a worked stone takes Intent and Craft. Intention combined with Craftsmanship is the will and skill to bring an idea/concept to take form in one of Nature’s most durable materials by using the knowledge and tools of the stone carver.

Class begins with: identifying participants’ goals, choosing an appropriate stone and making stone chips as fast as possible.

After stone choice - we start with traditional tools (pins and feathers/wedges) to split the stone, hand pitches, tracers, chippers and point for rough shaping. Over course of the week we move onto electric grinders with diamond blades, pneumatic hammers with carbide tipped chisels and a variety of abrasives to continue refining and shaping the stone towards its final form.   Along the way, we will be discussing the stone removal process, various ways of achieving a result, whether process marks could/should be left as a mark of the maker or if form takes precedent. As a small side detour, there will be a quick tool making demonstration, gilding and using sandblast as a texture/aging tool.

There will be a variety of stones to work with: Danby marble, Fairhaven slate and Indiana lime-stone among others. All levels of skill are encouraged - just bring: ideas, small maquettes and/or sketches and of course, enthusiasm.

Date : Jul 15, 2013 To Jul 19, 2013
Bronze Casting
Instructor : Glenn Campbell
Fees : $625
Learn about the wonderful world of molten bronze. Participants will produce three bronzes using a different method for each. Techniques demonstrated will be: Lost wax - make your own wax original the first day of class, to be cast in ceramic shell; Green sand casting - each participant will make a 3” x 5” plaque, to be cast using cope and drag green sand casting. Experimental resin-bonded sand-cutting, drilling and gluing sections of bonded sand together, then casting the negative spaces, resulting in a unique assortment of unknown forms and shapes. In keeping with tradition, the workshop will culminate with a blast from the shop cannon! (beginner/intermediate)

Date : Jul 19, 2013 To Jul 21, 2013
Welded Steel Assemblies
Instructor : John Tidd
Fees : $395
This course is designed to challenge the artist's imagination to create sculptures from steel and stainless steel shapes that were once industrial scrap. Commercial stamping, cutting and shaping processes produce fascinating and fanciful pieces that are often discarded in the manufacturing process. Participants will learn basic welding (MIG, "stick", Oxy-Acetylene), cutting, bending and finishing techniques by assembling these shapes into magical new forms.

Date : Jul 20, 2013 To Jul 21, 2013
Introductory Stone Carving Weekend
Instructor : Ryder Owens
Fees : $295
Two days of hand-carving technique and stone carving lore introduce the beginner to reductive art-making and three-dimensional thinking. Use of the Studio’s tools and a moderate piece of Vermont marble are included in the fee. Discussions of safe studio practices and stone and tool sourcing help make this two-day course an excellent initiation to the craft of stone sculpture. 

Date : Jul 22, 2013 To Jul 26, 2013
Granite Sculpture
Instructor : Gary Haven Smith
Fees : $625
Learn how to carve granite or enhance technical skills for carving this stone. Through group demonstrations & individualized attention, students will explore their own forms & share the conceptual basis for each work through class discussions. Splitting, blocking the form, surface awareness & finishing techniques are essential hands-on learning for this durable outdoor material. Shared evening experiences will be used to broaden one’s awareness of contemporary issues surrounding the world of sculpture through slide presentations, readings and open discussions.

Date : Jul 22, 2013 To Jul 26, 2013
The Figure and Portrait in Clay
Instructor : Christopher Gowell
Fees : $625
The Figure and portrait in clay may serve as a departure point for carving or a finished model to be fired or cast in other materials. Ms. Gowell shares her experience as a professional sculptor through frequent discussions and critiques, with an emphasis on modeling technique. Life models are used throughout the course to aid in the teaching of proportion and basic anatomy. Gestural sketches and more analytical studies are produced from direct observation of the figure and structural and anatomical emphasis informs the portrait.

Date : Jul 29, 2013 To Aug 2, 2013
Your Portrait in Marble
Instructor : Steve Shaheen
Fees : $595
This five-day workshop will focus on the development of a realistic human face in marble. Participants will first be guided through making a fast, self-portrait life cast in gypsum with non-toxic alginate. They will then use this model with an Italian relief-carving system and calipers to transport basic proportions into stone. The essential forms, planes and anatomy of facial features will be discussed in-depth to give participants a better understanding of their subject matter and to encourage independence from the model. The use of various power and hand tools and techniques will be explored throughout the workshop. (intermediate/advanced)

AUGUST

Date : Aug 5, 2013 To Aug 9, 2013
Lightweight Armature for Mosaic Sculpture
Instructor : Lizz Van Saun
Fees : $595

Have you always admired outdoor sculpture and mosaic and wanted to combine the two but couldn’t find a course? Here’s your opportunity!

In this fun and informative class you first learn how to build a lightweight, yet durable armature for a small sculpture that will withstand any weather. Using rigid foam, fiberglass fabric and possibly steel supports, we’ll create a strong shell to support a cement outer layer. Once the armature is completed you’ll discover the art of mosaic.

We’ll be learning classic positioning of tesserae (pieces) and how to create andamento or flow, with placement. We’ll discuss basic color theory so you will have some understanding of how color impacts form. You’ll have a great choice of materials including recycled stained glass and broken china and are welcome to bring your own bits and pieces from home. There will be plenty of time for questions and hands on working. Resource materials will be available for inspiration and additional information. Don’t miss this chance to realize your vision!

Date : Aug 8, 2013 To Aug 11, 2013
Carve Animals and other Forms in Stone
Instructor : Bill Nutt
Fees : $595
This course will be focused on the techniques used to carve stone animals and other forms. The entire process from subject and stone selection to final surface finishes will be covered. Instruction will be given on various approaches such as direct stone carving and the use of templates. The where, when and how of using hand and power tools will be discussed and demonstrated. The course is open to students of all abilities. Ideally participants will bring numerous photographs of their subject matter. Advanced students should feel free to bring a maquette or even partially finished pieces. 

Date : Aug 10, 2013 To Aug 11, 2013
Striking an Arch between place and artist, technique and language
Instructor : Meghan Rigali
Fees : $325
The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center is an enchanting location for visitors new or returning, it embodies the stories which define it, evident in the uniqueness of its treasures such as found metal objects and structures.  We will take time to investigate and appreciate what qualities, revealed to a keenly observant eye, define this enchantment. Once each participant has discovered 1-3 qualities to which she/he is naturally drawn, these choices will serve as themes to guide the artist in her/his quest to begin or continue developing a language in the medium of metal. Full access to the open air metal shop and diverse riches of the metal scrap collection will be utilized. With the support of metal fundamentals regarding the use of oxyacetylene torch, MIG welder, angle grinders, drills and hand tools we will strike an arch between the sound laws of technique and the formation of language.

Date : Aug 10, 2013 To Aug 11, 2013
The Art of Carving Limestone
Instructor : Tim de Christopher
Fees : $325
This workshop will give you training and experience in the techniques and methodology for creating hand carved sculpture in limestone.  You will learn to understand 3-dimensional form, the nature and qualities of limestone, tools and techniques, layout, execution and finishing.

Date : Aug 10, 2013 To Aug 11, 2013
Papier Maché Sculpture
Instructor : Anne Brisson
Fees : $295

This two-day workshop will introduce you to the creative possibilities of sculpting with pulp paper. We will explore a couple of papier maché construction methods, building small armatures to create 3-D artwork, and a variety of finishing options. This workshop is designed to be an introduction to this method, in order to show you it is possible to use papier maché as a non-traditional sculptural medium. Using her own experience with papier maché and pulp paper, the instructor will teach participants about form, pulp paper materials, glues and surface treatments. Participants will have time to create a few small objects and explore finishings. Handouts for obtaining materials and outline of techniques will be provided.

Date : Aug 12, 2013 To Aug 16, 2013
Architectural Carving
Instructor : Allen Williams
Fees : $595
Throughout history, stone has been the preferred material for public buildings, memorials and ornament, chosen because it would endure the test of time. In this class, we will explore how stone is quarried, shaped and carved. Current and historical methods of working stone will be discussed and demonstrated. All skill levels are welcome.

Date : Aug 19, 2013 To Aug 23, 2013
Carving Wild Stones
Instructor : Rick Rothrock
Fees : $595

Learn how to hunt for and carve “wild” stone with stone sculptor, Rick Rothrock. This class will discuss how to look for and find the carving potential of wild stone using the stone’s grain, texture, color, and size for your intended creative outcome. Daily demonstrations and individual instruction will be given to guide your wild stone carving. The process will include a variety of techniques including core drilling, sawing, and stone stabilization. Class includes up to 160# of wild stone, primarily marble from the CSSC collection. Bring your own wild stone if you wish. Rick is experienced in a wide variety of stone material and will be able to assist you in your carving quest. This five day workshop includes the use of hand, electric, and pneumatic tools and a covered individual carving station. Morning coffee and communal evening dinner are also included in the price of the class. Join in after dinner get-togethers to talk about your work or to relax in the camaraderie of other art minded fellows. Information is available on discounted accommodations and local camping through the CSSC.

OCTOBER

Date : Oct 5, 2013 To Oct 6, 2013
Stained Glass: Color and Light
Instructor : Erica Johnson
Fees : $325

Glass is a versatile medium that cam be carved, painted, cast, cut, and soldered.  We will cover historical and contemporary uses for glass in art.  Students can expect to learn basic glass-working techniques.  We will cover glass cutting, fusing, and elementary copper foil stained glass construction.  We will also discuss incorporating glass elements into stone and steel sculpture.  Students will finish class with a basic grounding in contemporary flat glass technique and one completed project in fused, stained glass.  Students should come to class with sketches of ideas they would like to execute in glass.

Date : Oct 5, 2013 To Oct 6, 2013
Advanced Letter Carving
Instructor : Adam Paul Heller
Fees : $350

This two day course is designed for intermediate and advanced carvers looking to improve their letter carving skills. The class will offer:

Techniques and demonstrations for improving your finished letters.  What is that serif for again? Crucial tips for shaping and sharpening an excellent letter carving chisel. Time for personal instruction. How to approach letters in granite and other 'hard' stones. Students may bring a piece to work on.  

Date : Oct 7, 2013 To Oct 11, 2013
Open Studio/Alumni Week
Instructor : -
Fees : $325

If you ever thought you would like to utilize the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center as your own studio, this is your chance! This week will be ideal for anyone who has taken a workshop during the CSSC’s history and would like to finish a piece or start a new one. This will also be a terrific opportunity to reconnect with other artists and recapture the magic of earlier experiences. Technical support and knowledgeable advice from studio staff will be available throughout the week, and studio space may be reserved either indoors or out. Participants are encouraged to bring images of their own work to share.

Date : Oct 12, 2013 To Oct 13, 2013
Introductory Stone Carving
Instructor : Bill Nutt
Fees : $295
Two days of hand-carving technique and stone carving lore introduce the beginner to reductive art-making and three-dimensional thinking. Use of the Studio’s tools and a moderate piece of Vermont marble are included in the fee. Discussions of safe studio practices and stone and tool sourcing help make this two-day course an excellent initiation to the craft of stone sculpture. 

Date : Oct 12, 2013 To Oct 13, 2013
Introduction to Iron Casting
Instructor : Joseph Montroy
Fees : $325

Pour molten iron! In this workshop you’ll learn the fundamentals of iron casting, from making the form in clay to pouring the metal. You’ll learn multiple techniques for making molds, how to run a traditional cupola furnace, and how to make your own iron-melting furnace. Each participant will produce two iron sculptures and be given the opportunity to be directly involved in the pour.

Date : Oct 18, 2013 To Oct 20, 2013
Three Day Intensive Stonecarving Workshop
Instructor : Steve Shaheen
Fees : $395
New York-based artist and carving expert Steve Shaheen will run a special 3-day class with intensive, one-on-one instruction for all skill levels of stone sculpture. Enrollment will be limited to allow for focused guidance with each participant. From beginners to advanced carvers, the course will allow sculptors to work at their own pace on projects of their choice. Daily demos will be given that demonstrate a wide variety of tools and techniques, at all stages of a stone sculpture, from block to polish. Extremely rare trade secrets will be explained. Included in the package: · 3 full days* of instructed carving · full studio, compressor and electric power usage · free use of a wide variety of hand and pneumatic chisels and hammers, electric grinders and cutting discs · daily, prepared dinners served at the end of the workday *optional extra studio days may be added, without instruction, for $45/day Not included: travel to and from the studio, lodging, and stone. Stone prices vary per size and material (marble, granite, limestone, alabaster, etc.) and will be selected by each workshop participant. Starting price for local marble is $80/cubic foot.

Date : Oct 18, 2013 To Oct 20, 2013
Steel Sculpture (three-day weekend)
Instructor : Wendy Klemperer
Fees : $395