The STONE FOUNDATION,in association with
the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THE BUILDING ARTS
presents:

STONEWORK SYMPOSIUM 2004
NOVEMBER 13 - 15

as well as a
STONEMASONRY WORKSHOP
NOVEMBER 9 - 19

and a
STONE CARVING WORKSHOP
NOVEMBER 9 - 19

COST: $250 (Stone Foundation members, $225)

This, the Stone Foundation's fourth annual symposium will feature interesting and informative presentations by professional stonemasons, architects, artists, historians, and folklorists.

Lively discourse, demonstrations and camaraderie are to be expected. As in previous symposiums, Stonework in Architecture will be a topic of discussion. There will be some sort of stone building "event" with opportunity for hands-on participation.

Among the Symposium Presenters will be:

IAN CRAMB, of Scotland, a fifth-generation master stonemason and the author of what many believe to be the best how-to book about the craft available, "The Art of the Stonemason."

JOHN MAINE, British sculptor who has used his training as a cathedral mason to manifest large-scale public art projects that demonstrate the creative use of structural stonework. John has also made a study of stonework around the world and throughout time that he will share with us. His presentation at the first Symposium in 2000 was one of the high points of that event.
Click here to view his website.

SIMEON WARREN, another traditionally trained British cathedral mason and the head of the stonework department at "American College of the Building Arts" (formally "School of Building Arts") will participate in the program. The American College of the Building Arts is a training center for traditional building crafts. Its College curriculum will begin in 2005. Leading up to the opening of the college are a series of workshops in the six trade disciplines the school proposes to teach (stone, plaster, brick, iron, timber framing and carpentry). This event will introduce the stonework aspect of the program. Click here to view their website.

MARJORIE HUNT, folklorist and education specialist at the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; she was the director of the documentary film,"The Stone Carvers", which won both an Academy Award and an Emmy Award, and the author of a book of the same title. Click here to read a review of the book.

RICHARD SAMMONS, AIA, an east-coast architect noted for his use of traditional materials and traditional techniques in residential structures. Click here to view his website.

PATRICK MCAFEE, of Ireland, stonemason and author of "Irish Stone Walls" and "Stone Buildings". Click here to view his website.

AND OTHERS, including TADEUSZ WODARCZAK, the instructor of the stone carving workshop who will present a survey of the stonework, masonry and carving of his native Poland, and VINCE LEE. Architect and scholar of Peruvian stonework who elucidated upon the subject in NOVA's "Secrets of Forgotten Empires".

THE STONEMASONRY and STONECARVING WORKSHOPS

These two workshops will run concurrently from NOVEMBER 9 to the 19. Workshop participants will receive a 50% discount on the Symposium registration fee.

STONEMASONRY WORKSHOP
Fundamentals and Fine Points
cost: $500 ($475 for Stone Foundation members)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

An intensive hands-on course taught by the same skilled, experienced stonemason/instructors, who taught at the first workshop 20 years ago, the Stone Foundation's founding fathers, George Gonzalez, Joe Kenlan, Tomas Lipps, Toru Oba and its Irish uncle, Patrick McAfee. These five friends and fellow stonemasons have more than 150 years of combined experience in working with stone. They will, by means of discourse, demonstration and supervised work, provide a condensed "apprenticeship" in the craft. Students will have the opportunity to gain essential knowledge and skills. More than a few of those who attended the Stone Foundation workshops in the'80's became professional stonemasons and landscape designers.

Topics to be covered:

The theory and practice of:
Dry stone masonry
Site preparation
Selecting stone
Shaping stone
Tools and tool skills
Fitting stone to stone
Bonding and patterning

STONE CARVING WORKSHOP
Principles and Techniques of Traditional Relief Carving
Instructor: Tadeusz Wodarzak, a talented, traditionally trained European stonemason/carver.
cost: $500 including stone ($475 for Stone Foundation members)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

The Green Man, a folkloric figure representing, some say, the primal nature spirit was a favorite motif of medieval stone carvers, particularly in northern Europe where he appeared in diverse forms adorning the architecture of cathedrals as well as municipal and private structures. He usually appeared in the aspect of a mascaron, or mask, a human face composed of, or peering out from, articulated foliage, thus combining two of the favorite elements of stone carvers -then as now. Depending on the geographic location and specific building traditions, green men can be anything from profoundly beautiful to down right ugly and disturbing. Sometimes they smile, other times they threaten.

The Green Man offers a splendid medium for developing carving skills as well as an opportunity for artistic interpretation, fantasy and the exploration of the natural world and humor. As a decorative element in today's architecture the green man can be incorporated admirably into stone walls, fireplaces, fountains, keystones, etc.

This, the Stone Foundation's stone carving workshop will offer the creative and educational venue for participants to fashion their own green man under the watchful eye of a classically trained stonemason whose passion is teaching and creating together with other masons. In particular, participants will develop direct stone carving skills without a point machine, using only drawings and eventually templates or patterns. They will learn how to "set free" their own green man from a stone block. For this workshop we will be carving in soft stone. Emphasis will be placed on using and adapting hand tools to develop carving techniques specific to creating unique and expressive green men.

A list of tools needed will be provided and a supplier recommended. Though this is basically a hand tool class there will be opportunity will be provided to practice carving using pneumatic hammers. Clay or plasticine will also be available for those who wish to create a model instead of working from drawings.

If you are not participating in either workshop, the cost of SYMPOSIUM 2004 is $250 (Stone Foundation members, $225)

The Stone Foundation is an AIA Approved Provider of Continuing Education Credit (AIA/CES # Z206).

TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE,
NOTIFY tomas@stonefoundation.org

Click here to view information on PREVIOUS SYMPOSIUMS.