Showcase: Eleven Sculptors, Eight Days, Amazing Works

SHOWCASE-September 2011

by Rebecca Falzano

A preview of the talent behind the second annual J.C. Stone Sculpture Symposium

Maine's diverse geology has cultivated a thriving stone industry. For a century and a half, stone from Maine—limestone, granite, slate—has been shipped overseas to create architectural elements like building ornaments and columns. To honor Maine’s robust history with stone, supplier and fabricator J.C. Stone, Inc., based in Jefferson, organized a sculpture symposium last year. The goal was simple: showcase Maine stone carved by Maine artists.

This year, the second annual Sculpture Symposium will be held for eight days in October. Sculptors will again explore J.C. Stone’s ten-acre stone yard—a sculptor’s paradise—and select among a variety of trademarked granite. They will then create models using paper, clay, or Styrofoam, and using their models as guides, will get to work carving the stone. On the weekends, the symposium will be open for public viewing and lunch with the artists.

Kathleen and Jamie Carle, the owners of J.C. Stone, founded the Symposium last year in collaboration with members of the Maine Stoneworkers' Guild. "There wasn't anything like this in Maine,” Kathleen recalls." It was somewhat of an unpublished art. Our philosophy was to push Maine artists using Maine stone.

Below is a preview of a selection of the talented sculptors who will be participating in this year’s symposium.

The second annual J.C. Stone Sculpture Symposium will run from October 8 to 16 at 539 Rockland Road in Jefferson. For more information, visit jcstoneinc.com or call 207-549-4729.

Andreas von Huene

"My vision springs from forms in nature, constructions of the mind, and dreams of the heart. The energy necessary to work with demanding media comes from the playfulness of the process and the promise of the outcome. Each sculpture is an adventure in concept, medium, and technique. A rich range of scales—from the largest volumes to the most refined details—shows respect for and delight in the subject and the material."

For more Andreas von Huene: andreasvonhuene.com, June LaCombe Sculpture, Harbor Square Gallery

Dan Ucci

Dan Ucci is an established artist/craftsman working in natural stone. His individual sculptures celebrate the elegance of the stone itself, while his larger residential installed works reflect a respectful use of natural forms in a purposeful setting. Individual works are available through Gleason Fine Art.

For more Dan Ucci: Gleason Fine Art

Mark Herrington

"The act of creating is an attempt to understand connections. They can be between the conscious and the unconscious, personal and public, intellectual and emotional, or almost anything, perceived or not perceived. There is also the relationship between idea and concept, mind and body, body and tool, tool and technique upon medium, and project to place, which are constantly layered over the reasons for creating within the process of doing. Having a plan that allows for discoveries to be made and acted on along the way that will enlighten and enliven the result is one of the reasons I find great joy in my work."

For more Mark Herrington:markherrington.com, Greenhut Galleries, Littlefield Gallery

Kazumi Hoshino

Kazumi Hoshino was born and raised in Nagoya, Japan. She earned a sculpture degree from Tohoku University of Art and Design. In 2004, she met her husband, sculptor Jesse Salisbury, at the

Nasunogahara International Sculpture Symposium. They married in 2006 and moved to Steuben, his hometown. In Maine, Hoshino appreciates living close to nature. Her sculptures are carved from local granite and basalt with a focus on intimate shapes. She emphasizes the natural beauty and character of the stone.

For more Kazumi Hoshino:kazumihoshino.com

Dick Alden

"I enjoy the mentally and physically intensive process of carving and shaping my pieces to exude a rhythmic motion, balance, and harmony in the final composition. The challenge is to capture that special spirit which each stone possesses."

For more Dick Alden: Gleason Fine Art, Starfish Studio

Jesse Salisbury

"As an artist born and raised in eastern Maine, I grew up on the thin top soil that barely covered the hard granite and basalt bedrock. I have wanted to carve this material for as long as I can remember. I am now living in my hometown, where I have built a studio and a life dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind contemporary sculptures from the local granites of the region. I am surrounded by many quarries. This gives me the ability not only to start my sculptures at the source of the material, but to also observe the material in its natural state. My sculptures are an attempt to express the movement and energy of the bedrock and geological time."

For more Jesse Salisbury: jessesalisbury.com

Roy Patterson

"The creation of art is the antithesis of the destructive forces that cause so much suffering in the world. Artists, art collectors, and arts organizations share the responsibility to support and nourish creative energy. The channeling of creative energy is an act of peace."

For more Roy Patterson: pattersonstudios.us, June LaCombe Sculpture, Greenhut Galleries, Harbor Square Gallery

David Sywalski

David Sywalski has worked in the studios of two of North America's notable sculptors, Don Meserve and Albert Paley. He brings to his stone carving a very fresh perspective: that of an analytic mind with the authenticity of a scientific investigation. His forms resonate with an originality of purpose and respect for the materiality of the stone he carves. He also recognizes the necessity of perfection in craftsmanship. His devotion to aesthetics and inordinately committed work ethic ensure that every object he fashions is a gem of beauty and integrity regardless of scale.  

For more David Sywalski: Turtle Gallery, LaFollette Group