Thoughts & Opinions

Members’ Thoughts & Opinions on a wide variety of topics.  Also check out:  Articles on Travel, Book Reviews , Presidents Messages, and Letters from the Editors that have been published in NWSSA Sculpture NorthWest.

2014 Camp B Instructors

Deborah Wilson Acclaimed contemporary jade and granite sculptor Deborah Wilson is one of the few remaining veteran jade artist in

Nooksack Dream – Pat Barton

“Nooksack Dream”Pat Bartonbartonstonework.comprice: NFSContact Pat Barton(425)[email protected]: Pat Barton’s Stone Work  Forms in nature and the interior beauty of the hard stones inspire

CampB 2014, July 12-20

27th Annual International Stone Carving Symposium

“The artist must create a spark before they can make a fire, and before art is born, the artist must be ready to be consumed by the fire of their own creation.” – Auguste Rodin   BrochureImage

Join the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association at the Cascadian Center at Camp Brotherhood in Mount Vernon, Washington for eight days of playing with stone, communing with nature and fun with old friends and new. All meals are provided and no household chores – now that is freedom! Each year this pastoral venue is transformed into a field of tents with smiling people covered in stone dust. And if the day turns unbearably hot, the swimming pool is right there waiting. 

Bring yourself, your creative energy, your humor, your tools and a favorite piece of stone. We have stone and tools for the begiinners and if you want, you can buy them from our helpful vendors. Instructors are available for everyone from beginner to expert, and sharing ideas and advice is something we always do. 

There are slide shows, informational talks, and wonderful campfires in the evenings.  Our Auction to raise funds for education is a night of hilarious fun, second only to our last night party. Another highlight is our Sculpture Walk on Saturday, July 19th, open to the public.

2014 Vancouver Spring Event

An instructional event for advanced stone carvers.     A five-day course of instruction at Pothier Enterprises’ place of business

Spring 2014 Hand Carving Retreat

Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park    April 25, 26 and 27, 2014 This three-day sculpture workshop is designed to

NWSSA Workshops

If as a NWSSA member, you could take 3-4 hours in one day to learn something about the carving of

Trivia Q&A Sept Oct 2013

Trivia Question

Q: Who was the youngest sculptor to receive a commission from the United States government to carve a statue of a president? (A record that still stands today) And who was the President?

Inspirational Art: Hirotoshi Itoh

INSPIRATIONAL ART:  What draws you to a sculpture? What puts your creative juices on the boil? In this, and future

June July 2013 Trivia

Question: Where is the largest sculpture park in the world?                     The picture to the right has a clue

Serendipity Hits Bedrock

How Persistence, Foresight and Serendipity Paid OffBy Leon White In the happy Chorus Line are, from left to right, Leon

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Recent News & Updates

Crate Building Workshop

Learn to Build a Crate for Your Stone Sculptures Saturday, November 7th, 202610 am – 4 pm  The Stoneyard Sculpture Studio  6521 5th Ave S Seattle, WA

2026 Oregon State Stone Carving Symposium

Join us in Central Oregon August 9-16th for up to 8 days of stone carving with guest Artists Nicholas Fairplay (Relief Carving), Julianne Kohn (Jade Carving) and Alison Jean Cole (Intarsia). Fire up your creative spirit in a supportive environment!

2026 Washington State Symposium July 11-19th

NWSSA’s annual Washington State Stone Carving Symposium will be hosted in Port Orchard, WA. July 11-19th, 2026. Visiting Guest Artists Amy Brier, John Fisher, and Sharon Fullingim will create a collaborative group project, in addition to our jade carving, beginning and intermediate stone carving workshops. Join us!

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