CHANGES TO 2011 SOAPSTONE CARVING DATES

The dates have been CHANGED for the 2011 soapstone classes - I urge you to register early if you want to attend as the classes always fill up quickly - I'm told that people have already registered for some courses!
Call DBG 780-987-3054 ext 2226 for registration & info

Beginners course (Intro to Soapstone Carving) March 25 & 26
A Refresher course all day May 22nd (9 AM to 6 PM)
Beginners course (Intoduction to soapstone carving) June 10 & 11
Beyond Beginners - advanced carving course Jun 17 & 18 NOTE: (You MUST have previously taken the Beginners Course)


This will most likely end the courses that I have been privileged to do at the Devonian Gardens over the past few years. We are looking at selling our acreage and moving sometime in 2011.

Carving Therapy Art Show in St Albert

A wonderful evening was Nov 15, 2010 at the Arden Theater in St Albert when the first ever Adjunct Carving Therapy Art Show was held displaying some of the work of miliary personnel diagnosed with PTSD. We were honoured to have the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta The Honourable Donald S. Ethell and Her Honour, Linda Ethell and several other dignitaries present for this event. Special thanks to Dr Marilyn Hundleby, Marilyn Rolingher, the staff at the St Albert Mental Health Services for their efforts and support as well as donations from various Edmonton and St. Albert businesses and organizations. An impressive show!

Weekend Carving Class a Success!!

Beyond beginners at the Devonian Garden produced some great pieces of sculpture. Here is just a sampling of some of the excellent pieces that were made by some of the participants. Always a full class but none scheduled now until late spring of 2011. Good idea to sign up early - contact the DBG or give me a shout and I can give you more information

Christ the Teacher - completed!!

Happy to let you know that the restoration of "Christ the Teacher" is now complete and the remaining tarps will soon to be removed as the landscaping is finished. This piece of sculpture now stands part of the beautiful grounds of the new St Joseph Seminary/Newman College in Edmonton. It has been close to three years since I was first contacted to do the restoration and has been my main focus this summer and fall. Everyone seems most pleased with it and it has been such a privledge to have been chosen to do the work, certainly a highlight of my carving career.

Christ the Teacher nears completion

It's been a long time getting done, but it seems finally at hand that the Christ the Teacher restoration project will be done - perhaps today! My brother-in-law, Ken Corbett is up from Phoenix and has been giving me a hand to get this project wrapped up while the good weather remains. We poured more concrete, did some sanding and today expect to finish off the base and feet, one more spray of Superkrete Micro-Bond and then it is ready for the top sealer coats to be applied and then the job is done! YES!

Soapstone Carving SANGUDO AB - Oct 1/2

What a pleasant way to spend a beautiful fall weekend. Carving soapstone bears in Sangudo AB with an energetic class with six participants will likely create a new carving group in that community. Lots of talent, eager particpants and a community that supports this effort and is looking at doing more for the arts. Neil, Hilde, Kat, Jamie, Jackie and Judy each carved a bear for the first time. Thanks to all who were involved in making this weekend such a success and wish you all the best as you make plans to make this a vital part of the community. Great achievement, keep up the good work!

Soapstone Carving - DBG - NOVEMBER

JUST A REMINDER that if you plan on taking the second level soapstone carving course at the Devonian Gardens this fall you had better register real soon as this class is certain to get fully booked. It is Nov 12 & 13th (Fri night and all day Sat) and you must have previously taken MY Introduction to Soapstone, the Beginners Course as a pre-requisite. If you took a course from someone else, too bad, it does NOT count. This is a very fast moving workshop and you will be able to carve whatever you want to carve. Will have lots of stone on hand to choose from and it depends on what you choose to do if you will complete it in the classroom or be taking it home to finish. Contact Emma at the DBG right away for more info. 780-987-3054 ext 2226

Introduction to Soapstone Carving - Sept 2010

Soapstone Carving at the Devonian Botanic Gardens this past weekend resulted in an array of beautiful carvings of bears. We had a great class, lots of laughs and fun and found some really talented particpants who no doubt will continue to carve now that they have discovered what they are capeable of doing. Impressive!! Special thanks to Emma, Penny and David for their help in setting up for the class and packing up the materials once the class was over. Next we have to get ready for the Beyond Beginners course in November at the DBG and hope to see some of the same people back again.

Christ the Teacher - Update

If you have been following the restoration project that I have been working on for the past couple of months, the Western Catholic Reporter did an excellent article on it 9/6/2010 and I would invite you to read it. I found the easiest way to find it was to search - Western Catholic Reporter Waidman - and it came right up. Just a few more days and it ought to be complete. Even a picture with me sitting on His shoulder!

Farewell to Jeanna at the Alberta Craft Gallery

Friday evening many artists gathered to bid farewell to Jeanna who looked after us so well at the Alberta Craft Gallery. A good number of friends/artists were there and wished her all the best as she is going to England. She will be missed as she was such a good team member and did a great job for us in promoting my sculpture. Bon Voyage Jeanna!

BUSY WEEK AHEAD

Have been spending almost all of my time on "Christ the Teacher" restoration and the good news is that it is in the final stages and I expect to have it completed within the next three weeks. Pictures will follow soon as to the current state it is in.

A very busy week ahead, resuming the Arts In Medicine program teaching soapstone carving to soldiers this coming Monday for the remainder of the year, on Tuesday leave for Yellowknife NWT for a soapstone carving workshop coming back on Friday and then getting ready for a Beginners Carving course at the Devonian Botanic Gardens on Sept 10 & 11th. Don't try to register as the course is already totally full and so is the Beyond Beginners course later in the fall. Too bad.

Base coating of concrete July 20, 2010

Made some progress on the sculpture, have filled in all the bad areas with new cement, patched the holes that were made and made repairs to the many cracks. Working on a new finger, now have to let the cement cure and then start up with the Super-krete applications. Nothing can stop us now!

FIRST CONCRETE POUR

Up to now all the work has been in preparation so that the actual reconstruction could actually begin. Today was mixing concrete to remedy the problems on the base and these pictures show the area that I was able to work on. The sculpture looks pretty big and it is. I do not like heights but feeling quite comfortable climbing up and down the small ladder. Next week doing some patching. Next Thursday the media are coming in to take a look! Have to put on a big smile.

CANADA DAY AT THE DBG

Bonnie and I had a full fun packed day at the Devonian Botanic Garden, participating in our second Canada Day with them. It was a grand day and we had our tent canopy along with several other artists. Ours was one of the busiest with kids and adults alike sanding soapstone hearts for pendants. Promoted upcoming soapstone carving classes and even make a few sales of sculptures. All in all, it was a success and we all had a good time. Thanks to the help of all the great help from the staff of the Devonian Gardens - we really appreciated their efforts!!

SOAPSTONE BOOTCAMP

What a terrrific day for carving! 17 participants at Soapstone Bootcamp today at the Devonian Botanic Gardens and what a time we all had. Only stopped for a bar-b-que at noontime thanks to Bonnie and Jeff. Everyone liked my toys (power tools!). The creativity of these particpants never ceases to amaze me, lots of talent and a few who really surprised themselves as to what they could create, no limits here. From Camrose, Blackfalds, Sangudo and Wabamum for a full day of carving starting at 9AM right through till 6 PM.

Christ the Teacher Project underway

Off to a good start on the restoration of the 16ft tall sculpture of Christ the Teacher at the new St Joseph Seminary/Newman Theological College in Edmonton. This is a big sculpture and it will require a lot of work to bring it back to better than new condition which is exactly what I intend to accomplish over the summer. Lot of prep work that has to be done prior to actually doing any reconstruction.

Another gallery picking up my work

Good news to share. I am pleased to announce that GUST GALLERY in Waterton Park AB will be carrying some of my stone carvings just as soon as I can get a shipment off to them. Waterton is a small community, the gallery is open from May to September and has been there for the past ten years. I am delighted to be one of the artists that they represent and look forward to a great season with them. If you are in that area then a visit to Gust Gallery will be a "must see" on your travel.

Summer Boot Camp at the DBG

Just a reminder that the summer boot camp is only a month away - Sunday June 27th. This promises to be a real fun time as people are registering right now and getting ready for lots of carving, new materials, new techniques, lots of stone and a great chance to just socialize and swap stories. One day, all day until we have to leave, and then just get ready to do another full one on Canada Day July 1st. Come on and join in on the fun. If you are already enrolled and want me to get something special roughed out or whatever for you, call me now 780-470-3214 and I will try to do it for you. We will only have some equipment there, not the "big" saw, and want to squeeze in as much time for everyone as possible. Bring your lunch unless you want to eat at the Devonian Garden fast food. I will provide bottled water and soft drinks. I will have soapstone, alabaster, serpentine and chlorite stone plus some tools for sale too. See you there!!

Award for Goldcorp Inc

Just finished eight little prospector/mule awards for Goldcorp. These are made of green Brazilian soapstone, about 7 inches tall. Goldcorp provided the Mesquite wwod bases for the awards, the bases are made in Mexico, Goldcorp supports the local industry and was instrumental in the formation of this group. Still have several more soapstone bears to finish for Goldcorp.

Work started at the Seminary

After months of waiting the sculpture restoration project at the new Catholic Seminary is finally happening. The sculpture of Christ the Teacher is now in place and the two pieces have now been joined together. Over the next few weeks the repairs will take place and the outcome will be a sculpture that should be better than new and thanks to all the new products available will be better able to withstand the elements and last many many years. I feel most priviledged to have been awarded this project.

Busy - Busy - Busy

Just to let you know what is going on, I finished up a big bear for my customer Goldcorp and am working on six more pieces for them that must be finished before the end of the month. Then I will be starting the restoration project of Christ the Teacher for the new Newman Catholic Theological College under construction in the Strathern area of Edmonton. Expect that to take several weeks of intense work and make the 16 ft sculpture look better than new. Have some new items at the Devonian Botanic Garden Gift Shop and these are exclusive to them. They have a nice display of my work and I would invite you to take a look at what they have in their shop. Also teaching an Art Therapy workshop with Dr Marilyn Hundleby and Marilyn Rolinger, will give some more details on that in the near future. Also looking at doing another soapstone carving course, art therapy for people dealing with cancer again in Mississauga and possibly in Yellowknife. Lots going on and can only share so much with you. A busy year ahead!

Soapstone Carving Classes

The dates have been set for the fall soapstone classes:
Beginners Soapstone Classes: September 10/11 - Devonian Botanic Gardens
Beyond Beginners Classes: July 23/24 and Nov 12/13 - Devonian Botanic Gardens
Contact Emma at DBG for Registration @ 780-987-3054 ext 2226
Will also be at the DBG on Canada Day July 1st doing demo carving and have items for sale

Will announce time and location for a soapstone carving course in Sangudo scheduled for Oct 1/2

Parkland County Bear

This is the piece that Parkland County purchased for their collection. Made from chlorite stone from B.C. it is about 20 inches long and 9 inches tall weighs about 60 lbs. New design that I came up with that seems to be well received.

Parkland County Municipal Art Program

Parkland County for the second time in two years choose my Bear in Black Chlorite as part of their 2009 Art Acquisition Collection. With financial support from SMS Equipment, out of the 130 entries, twelve pieces were purchased and will be displayed in Parkland County owned Facilities. The Art Work Unveiling took place Apr 15, 2010 at a wine and cheese social at the Parkland County Administration building.

Carving at DBG March 26/27 2010

Beyond beginner course, the results were outstanding. A nice eagle head by Lloyd G. from Sangudo, Emma working on a beautiful somewhat abstract sculpture and Tom just grinding away on a whale fluke. Lots of fun and some really nice pieces were made by those who attended! Next course is in April

Devonian Botanic Garden Sculptors Mar 5/6

What a blast we had last weekend at the DBG carving out bears! Great group of people who made some great pieces, had a nice variety of stone and each bear was outstanding. The class was full except for a couple who could not make it, we missed them, but will catch up again in the next advanced class. Thanks to all of you who attended, Marsha came all the way from Calgary for this and says she would do it again.

Maybe we will have a class in the Calgary area in the future, have been talking with the good folks at Shutterbugs in the CrossIron Mills mall in Balzac where I currently have pieces for sale.

LOOK AT THIS CREATIVITY

Lisa took a couple of courses with us at the Devonian Botanic Gardens and has made these interesting pieces to share. She says she likes to carve and plans to do a lot more of it, will be at the spring course again in March 2010 and I look forward to seeing her at the class. The top one is an intriguing abstract and the second is a mother with her children - both in Brazilian Soapstone.

Gone Fishing!!

These are the finished pieces that Bill in Lacombe made from some soapstone, look back at the rough cut soapstone piece and you can appreciate the work that went into making these nice sculptures. Very effective bases for both pieces. Nice work, keep carving!

Mountain Galleries #2 hotspot in Whistler

Mountain Galleries has been listed by CTV as the #2 hotspot in Whistler, right behind the Skiing. WOW! They carry a lot of my sculpture so this is really exciting and I wish them well. Check out their website and facebook page.

Making Soapstone Hearts

On Wed Feb3rd, Bonnie and I spent the afternoon with 14 residents of the Good Samaritan Home in Spruce Grove making soapstone hearts. Oldest participant was 100 yrs old and she kept up with the rest of them. Great time, a wonderful experience with a group of real upbeat and positive people. We will probably do it again as they had a great time and lots of particpation, and it was a good thing to do.

This is how you do it

BILL in Lacombe wanted to carve a salmon. Found a nice piece of soapstone, ran it through the bandsaw and blocked out this piece for him. We want a picture when it's finished. Bill is definitely "beyond beginners" in soapstone carving. The template is about 12 in long. Nice trophy fish and he didn't have to use any bait to catch it.

Whale tail

Take a look at these great pictures from the last class at the Devonian Gardens. Anna Albert did this great sculpture of a whale fluke, looks great doesn't it? It is about 10 inches high in beautiful Brazilian soapstone. Lot's of talent here!