How to Build an Art Studio in Your Backyard – July/Aug 2008

Let’s say you live in a quiet residential area and would like your own sculpting studio. Let’s further assume that your neighbors are unwilling to tolerate stone dust or grinder noises. Golly, you think, it can’t happen. It just cannot be done.
On the contrary, brothers and sisters, it is possible. Just follow Ken Barnes’ and his wife Adele Eustis’ straightforward no muss no fuss example.

Adele and Ken have over the last twelve short (ahem) months, put together  a υ studio – not too far from being finished now – over which you can lick your chops or drool, your choice. It’s soundproof, dustproof, has a 20 ton crane named Girlie, plus a water recycling system and other whatnots with lots of whistles and bells in all the right places.

They did it all in their own backyard overlooking Lake Washington south of Seward Park, a primo and dense residential area.

Alright, I admit, there was, and still continues to be, a great deal of muss and fuss. This was a gigantic effort on their part, not a single part of which was easy. Plus, there was an unbelievable amount of tenacity involved, not to speak of the research and planning necessary for such an effort. They did the greatest part of the physical work themselves, blisters and all. Ken and Adele have proven that it can, in fact, be done.

You may follow their progress on the following blog:http://abekabstudio.blogspot.com

Of course we look forward to the studio warming party and, of course, to Ken’s first 19.5 ton OYO sculpture carved from a 20 ton stone with a half ton hole through the middle of it, yes?

Congratulations and adulations to you both, Adele and Ken. Your studio is, truly, a great and amazing piece of art.