Stone Carving - Letters, Symbols & Patterns

Taught by David Heskin & Aloria Weaver Saturday, April 11th Full Day Class: 9am-4:30pm Viroqua, Wisconsin *Sliding Scale Tuition Includes Lunch and All Materials Overview Using only a chisel and mallet, ancient stonecutters produced some of the most compelling letter forms in stone, which have not only endured, but influenced the very fabric of all the formal text we see up until this day. Roman capital letters are our point of departure in analyzing the proportion and elegance of a timeless style of Western script, where letters are both drawn and brush painted. From this foundation, students will learn to cut a letter or a word into a flat slab of stone using mallet and chisels. Students will have the chance to develop their own monogram, words or symbols as their personal stone carving project. Learning Objectives - A basic understanding of the proportions of classical letters - Basics of drawn letters, brush written letters & spacing - Practical experience handling chisels & cutting stone - Mechanics of V-Incised Carving Practical Outcomes Students will carve at least one letter, word, monogram or symbol in stone, either Colorado Marble or East Coast Slate. The scope of each student’s projects may vary, expanding to encompass words, names, phrases or decorative patterns, depending on the pace and skill level of each individual. Preparatory sketches will include at least one finished drawing of a letterform suitable for carving, with indications of the beveled cuts that bring handmade carvings to life though changing natural lighting conditions. Although there are well preserved examples of historical letter carving in stone in virtually every cemetery and on early official buildings all around the country, relief carving in stone, particularly letters, is less common in craft schools in the US. This course aims to fill that void, offering inroads to an artform that has deep, ancient traditions as well as regional folk styles and applications. This course is open to all skill levels age 18 and up, and will be of interest to artists, calligraphers and sculptors, and to anyone interested in creating their own small memorial stone, while learning about historical practices that have shaped Western culture. This course builds a bridge to an ancient art form whose historical traces can still be witnessed in inscriptions on older architecture as well as on memorials and tombstones throughout the US and the world. Prior to the advent of sandblasting, a great deal of care was given to letter cutting by hand, although very little written documentation about these historic practices remains. This course aims to spark an interest in individuals as well as to help fill a void for handmade lettering and ornamentation as an essential aspect of our human cultural inheritance. Supporter Level Ticket: $135 If you move through the world with financial ease and the means to fulfill many of your wants as well as your needs – you are able to eat out when you want, abundantly meet your needs through employment or can comfortably not work, have access to family wealth, own property, etc. – consider paying at this level, which will help us ensure the long term sustainability of our programs while keeping our offerings accessible to those with access to fewer resources. Sustainer Level Ticket: $110 If you are able to meet your needs with relative ease while budgeting your educational and entertainment spending – for instance, you are able to take classes and eat out occasionally as long as you are mindful – consider paying at this level, which will help sustain the work of the Folk School at a modest level. Supported Level Ticket: $85 If you struggle to fund your basic needs and have limited access to resources in your family and community, or if you would not be able to access this offering without a discounted payment option, consider paying at this level. We value your presence and contributions to our community and do not want any economic circumstances to be a barrier to attendance!