SCULPTURE PLAY 3D

Working Oamaru stone takes a similar effort to working timber. Yet with the stone there is no grain direction to consider. You can use ordinary tools readily available in hardware or 2nd hand shops. This make Oamaru stone so accessible and a wonderful medium to experience reductive sculpting.

Much of my sculpting story has been about sharing this medium with others in my Sculpture Play 3D studio at Newbury, just out of Palmerston North

I was engaged to deliver this work in the old adult continuing education scheme, till just weeks after I started the global financial crisis changed things overnight. Armed with 20 ton of Oamaru stone and buckets of tools I began offering sessions at my home.

It is the moment when a guest does that “aha!” that drives what I do. People find it hard to believe they will be able to change this flat block of stone into anything. I take them through a process. Then, they suddenly get it. It is very cool to be there for these moments.

My own story with stone in my hands is one of intuitive response. I like the sense of finding what the stone wanted to be, rather than designing and expecting the end result. This gives me times of turning down the noise.

Designing for meaning also resonates with me. I have developed pieces of work that capture a moment or story for the client.

Whether your own Oamaru stone story is in experience, sculpture or commission you can find out more in the links below