August 24th-31st 2025
29th Annual International Stone Carving Symposium
at Camp Suttle Lake near Sisters, Oregon
Early Birds! Sign up by July 25th to Save $100 on Full-Time Registration Fees!
Symposium season is underway! We look forward to hosting our annual weeklong symposium in the beautiful landscape of central Oregon. This year at Suttle Lake Camp the Oregon Symposium will have our welcoming field of carvers, workshops, evening presentations and of course a fun night of festivities after our Scholarship Auction.
This year, we want to focus on our community of carvers and how we age gracefully along with this medium we love. Stone is laborious and time-consuming work and how we tend to our bodies and tools enable us to keep sculpting effectively for longer. As always in this association, our connection to each other is what keeps us moving forward. It has been a challenging year for many of our members personally, politically and/or financially. We come together to the Oregon Symposium to take time away from our day-to-day routines and endure camp bunks and cafeteria food to bond over our shared passion of stone carving. We will connect in creativity, friendships and experiences throughout the week that will leave you feeling recharged and inspired.
This year we see the return of the Jade Tent for our smaller scale sculptures, NWSSA’s own Jeremy Kester, speaking on his stay at the Keizo Ushio sculpture dojo in Japan, Rockhounding and Geology talk with a local field guide, and the anticipation of international guest artist, Wimbai Ngoma offering field demonstrations and evening lecture. Not to mention our fabulous auction and party!
Symposium tuition includes double occupancy lodging in Wesley Meadows Lodge and triple occupancy in the rustic style cabins with new semi-private shower facilities with dressing areas. Cots with a mattress are provided, bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and linens. If you prefer more privacy and comfort, there are many hotels and B&B’s located nearby in the town of Sisters. Several Campsites are available nearby if you have a larger RV.
During the early mornings or afternoons, you might find the time for a swim, paddle a boat across the lake, take a leisurely bike ride or walk along the trails nearby.
Our inclusive community will set up a circle of tents to carve, share, learn and be invigorated. From the beginner’s tent to the professional’s tool chest, there are ample ways to advance one’s ideas, talents and learning.
Extensive carving sessions are interspersed with informative classes and stimulating sculpting lessons. Field mentors and instructors are available to help guide you through your challenges. Bring your gear (if you are a beginner, we have tools you can use), connect to our power, water and air sources and peruse the tools and variety of stones being carved and available for purchase from our on-site vendors.
Tool & Safety Talks – Jeremy Kester of Portland, OR Dan Michael of Olympia, WA will display an array of electric and pneumatic power carving tools and methods while explaining safe operation, potential hazards and proper safety protection.
Beginning Stone Carving: NWSSA provides free access to hand carving tools and tables, plus some pneumatic and power tools for beginners to use throughout the week. Instructors will guide beginning and intermediate stone carving students to explore basic sculptural form, processes, techniques, and concepts.
Jeremy Kester – Jeremy is a sculptor in the Pacific Northwest with a background in industrial stone fabrication, production art management, and music. His work is represented by clean, fluid lines, textural contrast, and impeccable finish. Drawing inspiration from gravity, space and the void, his forms are crystallizations of the subconscious and dreams to be interpreted. By producing work that feels simultaneously ancient and contemporary, his sculptures generate the emotion of discovery evoked by the mystery of objects of unknown origin.
Alison Jean Cole – Rockhounding and Stone Intarsia – Oregon has an extraordinary variety of local minerals, gems and fossils. Local field guide, Alison (author of Beautiful Rocks & How To Find Them: A Modern Rockhound’s Guide and A Rockhound’s Guide to Oregon & Washington) will discuss the variety of stones found in Central Oregon, and permissible, sustainable collection activities that govern where you can or cannot collect.
Wimbai Ngomo – We are very hopeful to welcome Guest Artist Wimbai Ngoma from Zimbabwe! He’s a sculptor whose journey as an artist started in 1997 as an apprentice, rubbing shoulders with some of the best sculptors of Zimbabwe. Since 2008 he has been regularly invited by a German gallery to represent “Shona Art”. In 2019 Wimbai was an “Artist in Residence” at the renowned Canadian gallery ZimArt, where he had a large exhibition and instructed sculpting workshops. His work can be found in galleries and private collections in several countries.
Beginning Workshop
NWSSA provides free access to hand carving tools and tables, plus some pneumatic and power tools for beginners to use throughout the week. Instructors will guide beginning and intermediate stone carving students to explore form, processes, techniques, and concepts while sharing experiences in working with a variety of stone.
Safety & Heavy Lifting
Stone can be laborious and time-consuming work. How we tend to our bodies and tools enable us to keep sculpting effectively for longer as we age gracefully and stay safely creative.
Jade Carving Workshop
Julianne Kohn & Steve Sandry will provide instruction on lapidary equipment in the Jade Carving tent. There will be an additional materials fee depending upon the size and quality of jade you select. There is limited space to participate, so be sure to register early!
If you have a special order, please contact the Vendor(s) prior to Camp:
Tom Urban – A selection of stone and tools from Neolithic Stone & Tom’s inventory. Alabaster, chlorite, limestone, Kansas fence posts and marbles. Tools include diamond blades, cups, burrs and files. Call for requests and info, 541-912-2197 or tfurban@uoregon.edu
Blind Stream Stoneworks – Honeycomb Calcite from Hanna, Utah www.blindstramstoneworks.com
Bronzestone Bases will be on site one day with a selection of polished granite bases.
Special Thanks to the directors and staff of Suttle Lake Camp for their hospitality, Rich Hestekind for his ongoing mentorship.
Mail In Registration Form Click Here
Printable Oregon State Symposium Brochure
Event Release Form (Please fill out and bring to registration check in)
Camp Suttle Lake is located at 29551 SW Suttle Lake Loop, Sisters, OR 97759
$1,070
Members: $970
(3 meals + 1 overnight)
$160 per night
(Includes lunch & dinner) $100 per day
(3 meals + overnight)
$80 per night
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