Silver Falls Symposium Instructors 2012

..and the instructors
that will make it an
unforgettable experience.

Kazutaka Uchida  

We are most pleased to welcome Kazutaka Uchida, an internationally known contemporary Japanese stone sculptor, as our guest artist at the 18th Annual Stone Sculpture Symposium at Silver Falls.

The Uchida Sculpture Exhibit presented at the Museum of Art at the University of Oregon in 1994 made a significant impact on stone sculpture in our region. The workshop he initiated with Professors Laura Alpert and Tom Urban was to continue at the University of Oregon and other colleges for over a decade and a half. The artistic contributions made byKazutaka Uchida at symposiums and workshops in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida have educated and inspired many – transforming the lives of some.

This year we eagerly await Uchida-san’s presentation, instruction and insights. We celebrate his enduring legacy to each of us.

John Fisher  

A Master marble and limestone carver living in Fort Bragg, California but, with roots in Italy, John Fisher is returning for another year of monumental, figurative carving. And, yes, we can expect to watch him finish another inspirational limestone sculpture before the symposium is over.John, with his fertile imagination in high gear and using a relentless work ethic to demonstrate his quick ‘profile’ carving technique, is a marvel to watch.

We look forward to John’s evening presentation of his latest public works and his sharing with us his carving methods, tool choices and his approach to stone. 

William Pickerd  

Bill currently lives in the McKenzie River valley east of Eugene, Oregon. Again this year at Silver Falls, he will be demonstrating his stone turning skills on the lathe, turning big chunks of alabaster into unbelievably thin walled, translucent vessels.

Lottery winners and one lucky auction bidder will be walked through the making of their own alabaster bowls. In an evening, PowerPoint presentation, Bill will share photos and stories of his delicately beautifulwork that he shows in galleries all over the western United States. 

Eric Higgs  

Eric is an internationally renowned sculptor based in Tampa, Florida who considers Uchida-san his mentor and the stone sculptor who has most influenced his art.

One of Eric’s recent and best known pieces is the steel, 30 foot tall “Crossroads” on the grounds at the Charles Schwab Corporate Office Park in Pleasanton, California. Half painted steel and half naturally weatheredCorten steel, “Crossroads” juxtaposes Pleasanton’s aging past with its hope for a bright future.

Working in steel, stone and bronze, Eric Higgs obviously likes to work big and will be sharing pictures and dissertations on his style and technique. 

Lee C. Imonen  

Lee has for many years been an art instructor at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. Along with his duties there, he finds time to sculpt in the large. Freely using steel, entire trees and stone, his work is oftenthematic of mankind’s relationship to nature.More than once he has cut apart a large tree trunk, only to reassemble all of the parts in some unexpected and thought provoking way.

On one of our evening get-togethers, Lee will be showing pictures of his currentwork and sharing with us the unique way he goes about it.