What tools will I need?
If you plan to attend hand carving workshops all tools will be provided. You will need to bring a pair of safety glasses, and wear shoes with closed toes.
If you are attending any of the other workshops it depends on whether you plan to work by hand or with the air hammer. Working by hand is the best way to learn about stone and the carving process. If you choose to work by hand during Session I or II you should bring a 1.5 or 2 pound hammer with a head of soft steel (hand tools are supplied for the Hand Carving Workshop). Tempered steel is fine for limestone; you do not need carbide hand tools. You will need chisels, and will start with the point to remove excess stone and find the form of your sculpture. You will move to a tooth chisel for further refinement, then to flats for finishing. You will need both a straight and a curved flat chisel. You will also need a sharpening stone. Amy recommends a diamond sharpening stone, medium grit.
If you will be working with the air hammer, Amy’s favorites are the Italian Culturi hammers. Type U is a good size for limestone, and operates smoothly with the least amount of vibration. Type V is smaller and very good for delicate work and soft stone. The American-made hammers, Trow & Holden, and Dallett, are also good, and can be easily serviced if needed. You will need M type quick release fittings on your air hammer or air hose (a male M type quick release is required to connect to our air hoses). An angle grinder fitted with a 4″ or 7″ dry cut diamond saw is very useful. If you have the blade flush-cut mounted you will be able to cut more. A bench grinder with one wheel for carbide and one for tempered steel will be on site. Anti-vibration gloves are strongly recommended.
Tools will be available for purchase onsite during Session 1.
When should I arrive?
Plan to arrive at Bybee for breakfast and orientation at 8 am on the first day of your workshop.
What will my work space be like?
The site is in a rural setting across the street from the Bybee Stone Co., a historic working limestone mill. You will have an outdoor work area, roughly 10 x 10 feet square. A banker (a heavy wooden workbench) will be centered on your site. You will have airlines and electricity. Your stone will be placed on the banker as you specify.
What else should I bring?
You will be working outdoors rain or shine. The site is partially wooded, but we cannot guarantee that you will have a shady spot. You will need a 10 x 10 foot pop-up style canopy to place over your work area for protection from sun and rain. One without a center pole is best. Bring a folding chair or stool, a small folding work table, and whatever else you need to be comfortable. You will need a 25 foot outdoor extension cord, safety glasses, sturdy shoes (not open toe) or work boots, work gloves or anti-vibration gloves, hearing protection, insect repellant, sun block, and a hat with a brim or a visor. If you forget something, nearby shopping areas include Lowe’s, T.J.Maxx, Michaels, Walmart, etc.
Download a Packing List (PDF).
What if I don’t know what I want to carve when I register?
Not everyone knows what they want to carve when they register. If you are not ready to send dimensions for your stone with your registration, you have until May 24, 2010 to send them. Please email them to Amy Brier (amy@limestonesymposium.org). If your dimensions are not received by the due date there will be insufficient time to cut your block. If you are really not sure what to order, specify either a cube, i.e. 2’ x 2’ x 2’ or a rectangle, i.e. 4’ x 2’ x 1’, and sketch ideas within this format. You must tell us in advance which side of the stone should rest on the banker.
How will my stone be oriented on my banker?
Your stone will be set on the banker to your specifications. Think about how you want the stone sitting when you begin work. If you think about your first cuts, it will help you visualize how you want the stone set. Please provide that information when you send your dimensions.
How do I turn my idea into a sculpture?
You can make sketches, a model, or both. Make a 1:1 scale sketch of at least two sides of your sculpture. You can transfer the measurements from the drawing to your block of limestone. Alternatively, you can make a 3-dimensional scale model out of oil-based clay or another medium. Some sculptors use actual objects as their model, such as small statues of figures or animals, or an object from nature. The model need not be actual size.
What will my stone look like and how much will it weigh?
All of our limestone is dimensional—sawn on all six sides from a larger quarry block. Limestone weighs approximately 150 pounds per cubic foot, so your 8 cubic foot block will weigh about 1200 pounds. If the mass or weight of the block intimidates you, you can start with a smaller piece by dividing it. We cannot divide your block in advance, but on the first day we will teach you how to split it yourself quickly and easily. If you wish to do this, please bring feathers and wedges (also called slips and wedges) and the drill and drill bit needed.
Can my block at the symposium be larger than 8 cubic feet?
No. Available equipment limits us to this size.
Can I purchase more blocks of limestone?
You can purchase additional blocks from Bybee Stone Company for about $45 per cubic foot. Blocks will be ready for you at the end of the symposium to take with you or to ship.
Will there be other activities?
There will be one evening social event to introduce the participants. On Sunday night there will be “Meet and Greet”; each participant will have a chance to talk about their work. Please bring images of your work in hard copy, digital or slide form to share. During the week there are often informal dinners at local homes and restaurants.
How will I get my sculpture home when the symposium ends?
If you do not have a vehicle in which to transport your sculpture, please arrange for shipping by a freight company. We will see that your stone(s) are properly palleted and labeled. Specify that the trucker pick up the pallets at Bybee. You will have to arrange off-loading at your home address.
