Finally, Some Progress

Josh Henderson is one of two Academy students learning the ways of stone carving during a summer residency at the Studio Corsanini in Carrara, Italy.  The residency made possible by ABC Stone aims to promote the use of stone in artistic practice by pairing young artists with master sculptors for experimental learning through intensive mentoring.  As a neophyte stone carver, Josh's learning curve is as steep as the mountains that surround him. While it may seem that time no longer qualifies as a valid measurement of progress, Josh's biggest triumph has been learning the lesson of patience. 

Get a glimpse of life in Carrara as Josh takes us through one stone cold day at the studio:  

Joshua Henderson (MFA 2015) writes: 

Finally! After many days of carving stone at Studio Corsanini in Carrara, Italy,  I've made enough progress to show something. However, it's still really rough.  It's probably the equivalent ten minutes of drawing or some ridiculous thing like that.  Just imagine how much longer finishing the carving process would be.  Here's how it all begins:

 

Steve, Leo, and Andrea move the stone from the stone yard to the saw.

Andrea and Leo place the model on the stone in order to take more accurate measurements for cutting. This is where I think Andrea said something sassy to Leo and then Leo gave him that "I'm your boss look" I don't really know if that happened for sure because I don't speak Italian but I think I'm close.

 ...and then the first cutting happens...

 Once the stone is cut to size the carving process begins. Points (measurements) are taken from the model and marked onto the stone with what is called macchinetta di punta. This machine was perfected by the old master stone carver Antonio Canova and is still used today. It is only used when carving 1:1 This is called the indirect method to stone carving.

  This is how it looks today after just over a week of roughing out. You can see that it is far from resolved. In Bargue's drawing method I've pretty much just started. 

 

And then after a long day of carving ...you go to the beach :) to rest up and do it all over again in the morning.

 

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Throughout the summer, Josh and classmates will be sharing their experiences on the Academy's blog.  Stay tuned for more updates.