“The Lore and Lure of Carving Stone”, a workshop in Relief Stone Carving that includes some extras for RI teachers, will be offered in cooperation with the Blackstone River Theatre’s Heritage Arts Studio on November 21-22. Beacon Charter High School for the Arts in Woonsocket RI has generously offered to host the event in one of their art classrooms.
Throughout most of the world, art works in stone embody importance and permanence, honor deities and the dead, and mark transitions of every sort. To carve stone is to understand timelessness and tenacity. The methods used today are nearly identical to those employed throughout history, and while practice and persistence are required, the basics are relatively easily explained and learned.
During the classes, we’ll take manageable pieces of limestone and carve them in relief, using direct methods and straightforward tools. Bring your own sketches or ideas, or access the large range of materials readily available. Beginner or advanced students can be accommodated.
For this class, students should bring: personal goggles or other eye protection, sandbag made from sand and a pillowcase; all other materials and tools are included in materials fee. This class is for age 14 and up; a great chance to take a class with the teen artist in your family! The course fee is $125 plus a separate $25 materials fee which is payable directly to instructor.
While the workshop is open to everyone, this workshop has been added to the RI Dept of Education web site at www.ricert.ride.ri.gov as a Professional Development Opportunity which counts towards the I-Plan, of interest to teachers around the state, especially visual art and history teachers and teachers interested in differentiated learning. Details are available for educators at a dedicated web site for the workshop at: http://campus.digication.com/traviscurric/
Laura Travis (BS Art Ed, MFA Sculpture) has been teaching art for twenty years, currently at Hope Arts in Providence and in RISD’s Young Artist program, Every summer she ‘hits the road’ to teach stonecarving to adults and teenagers from here to Canada and back. Her own work in stone explores ideas from the ancient to the contemporary. More of her work may be seen at campus.digication.com/lauratravis.
To register, contact the Blackstone River Theatre at 401-725-9272.
For information on Beacon, as well as directions, see their web site: http://www.beaconart.org
FINANCE FOR ARTISTS - FREE WORKSHOP! 
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Jenn Dlugos 