We offer a range of carving sessions for all ages & skill levels!
Prices are subject to change, but we will honor any registrations received at the posted rates.
The Art of Carving I & II
Each full session consists of seven days of immersive instruction in the art of carving limestone, including design, moving stone, splitting blocks, roughing out, using hand and pneumatic tools, and much more. Different instructors are featured each session. An introduction to using basic tools, roughing out, and working from a maquette or drawing is given on the first day. The week continues with techniques for carving and basic principles of sculpting. Instruction is geared toward each participant’s skills, needs and level of proficiency. Tools are not provided.
Included in each session: Up to 8 cubic feet of limestone per session (approximately 1,200 pounds), compressed air, electricity, water, forklift, snacks, beverages, official Symposium t-shirt.
Regular price includes one extra work-on-your-own day (a value of $65.00)
Berndt Savig
Trained in Italy, Berndt Savig is a visiting artist from Colorado with nearly 20 years of teaching experience. See Berndt’s bio ›
Ned Cunningham
Ned Cunningham is a Mastercarver and retired lead carver at Bybee Mill for the last 20 years. See Ned’s bio ›
Work on Your Own
Or $65 per day
Only for those who have completed Art of Carving I. Independent carving offers a chance to continue working in the stimulating Symposium atmosphere. Instruction is not provided.
Included: Use of power, forklift, drinks and snacks.
Adult Hand Carving
Note: Thursday, June 22 session is full
- $950 2 Full Weeks, Full Days (Mon to Fri)
- $550 2 Full Weeks, Half Days (Mon to Fri)
- $475 1 Full Week, Full Days (Mon to Fri)
- $275 1 Full Week, Half Days (Mon to Fri)
- $110 Full Day (single day)
- $60 Half Day (single day)
Beginning instruction in hand carving; work at your own pace. One or more days, pay as you go. Multiple days do not need to be consecutive. Workshops are half day or full day Monday – Friday. Participants must bring safety glasses and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes; no sandals or flip-flops permitted.
Included: Instruction, drinks, snacks, loan of tools, and stone. (Assorted sizes. Sorry, we cannot provide cut stone to order for the hand carving sessions.) Both weeks offer the same information. Classes limited to 15. (Some exceptions with approval may apply if you have your own tools. Please contact us directly.) Sign up for Full Week/Full Days and get an official Symposium T-shirt!
Half days are from 8:30am – 12:30pm. Full days are 8:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30 – 5:30pm.
Catered lunch is available only for Week 1 and can be purchased when registering.
Cheryl Anne Lorance
Cheryl is a former goldsmith working in stone and cast bronze. See Cheryl’s bio ›
Letter Carving
Ages 14 and up
Make your written message beautiful! Learn the fun and useful skill of carving letters with a flat chisel and mallet. We’ll cover letterforms, layout and design; and what works well for three-dimensional stone. First-time letter carvers learn the basic V-cut. Repeat letter carvers can work on additional lettering challenges.
Included:
Limestone, roughly 16” x 16” x 3”; loan of a flat chisel and mallet, tracing medium.
Students bring:
#2 Pencils, eraser, sharpener, 18”-24” ruler, pad of lighter-weight bond paper- minimum 16” dimension, scissors, painters or masking tape, 1”-3” wide brushes to clean off stone, a piece of 80- 100 grit sandpaper, one dark color crayon, one or two bright colored pencils such as Prismacolor. Safety glasses and closed-toe shoes are required.
Students may bring their own flat chisels and mallet if desired, or pre-purchase from The Compleat Sculptor, or John Neal Books (a calligraphers’ supplier). Please contact instructor before purchasing.
Janey Westin
Janey has been carving letters since 1985, beginning as a professional calligrapher. See Janey’s bio ›
Let’s Face It
Do you avoid faces? Are you stymied by the form of the human head? If you are interested in understanding anatomy and in carving directly in the stone, please register. In a step-by-step process you will learn methods of direct carving. Amy can demystify the process and share tricks of the trade to make carving faces a pleasure to look forward to.
Included: Instruction, drinks, snacks, loan of tools, and stone.
Amy Brier
Amy Brier, co-founder of the symposium, has been a professional carver since 1987. See Amy’s bio ›
Kids Hand Carving
Registration is underwritten by a generous grant from the Young Family Endowment. Beginners learn to carve on limestone blocks approximately 8 inches square. Children ages 10 – 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Included: Instruction, tools, and stone
Participants must bring safety glasses, work gloves, water, drinks and snacks, and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes, no sandals or flip-flops permitted.
This session is for kids age 10 – 18. Limited to 10 students.
Adult & Child Hand Carving
Spend a week carving with a grown up. Registration for children under 18 is underwritten by a generous grant from the Young Family Endowment. Parent and child will learn to carve on limestone blocks approximately 8 inches square.
Included: Instruction, tools, and stone
Participants must bring safety glasses, work gloves, water, drinks and snacks, and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes, no sandals or flip-flops permitted.
This session is for kids age 10 – 18, along with one accompanying adult. Limited to 8 students (4 pairs).
