Northwest Stone Sculptors Association

05/29/2026

3 More Days for our members to Save $100 off Full Time Registration for our Washington State Stone Sculpture Symposium!
Early Bird Discount expires at midnight on May 31st.

Hosted in Port Orchard, WA July 11th-19th with visiting Guest Artists Amy Brier, John Fischer & Sharon Fulingim, we'll also have workshops for beginners, intermediate and jade carving.

Come Join Us for a day or three or up to the full week of hand carving, pneumatics & power tools or lapidary carving!

https://carvestone.org/2026-washington-state-symposium/

05/23/2026

The countdown has begun... 7 DAYS for members to receive the EARLY BIRD Discount on your full time registration for our Washington State International Stone Carving Symposium!

Hosted at Pilgrim Firs Camp & Conference Center in Port Orchard, WA. Join us July 11th - 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 wor...

05/15/2026

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.

https://carvestone.org/2026-washington-state-symposium/

Join us for up to 8 days of stone carving fun!
Your registration includes a comfy bed in the lodge or one of the cabins (or bring your Tent/RV), tasty filling meals, Guest Artist demonstrations, presentations & mentorship, hook ups to our air, water & electricity for your portable studio, or space in our Jade, beginner Dojo or intermediate carving tents!

05/04/2026

GiveBIG is Back! Support NWSSA May 5, 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/58883762c055/givebig-is-back-support-nwssa-may-5-2026 DONATE to support NWSSA's reach our goals to help our stone carving community thrive and grow during WAGives "GiveBIG" 2026 Campaign.

04/25/2026

How will you celebrate International Sculpture Day?

I know many of our members will be:
Signing up for our Washington State Stone Carving Symposium July 11-19th
or our Women's Hand Carving Retreat June 4-7

Visiting Marymoor Park in Redmond where several members have public art installations

Visiting a gallery:
Tom Small at Chatwin Arts
Stephanie Robison at Foster White in Seattle
Calayst Fine Art in Kenmore where several members have works on display: Sabah Al-Dhaher, Cyra Jane, Ben Kimura, Kentaro Kojima, Alexandra Morosco, Dave Halset

Seeing the Gathering of the Guilds at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR; Pacific NW Sculptors, Ian Madin
or the Art in Bloom Studio Tour in Seattle where Carl Nelson & Jeremy Kester will have works on display at one of the stops.

What will you do today?

04/13/2026

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

NWSSA's Youth Soapstone Carving Classes at Best of the Northwest Spring Show hosted over 40 kids in carving their own soapstone figurines over the weekend during Northwest Art Alliance's Spring "Best of the Northwest" Art Show & Sale.
Thanks to our members who helped set up, stepped up as instructors, and to the kids and parents of all those who attended. We hope you enoyed it!

So many of the kids left with big grins on their faces, and a new treasure they created themselves!

Thank you's also go out to Studiostone Creative for your soapstone carving supplies and instruction sheets,
And to 4Culture for your support to make this event possible!

03/27/2026

Next time you're in Redmond, we hope you'll visit . There are 6 NWSSA members' stone sculptures on display. It is a beautiful setting and we're excited to see art in public spaces where everyone can enjoy them!

Sue Taves – “Three Faces”
Kirk McLean – “Seedling”
Verena Schwippert – “Vessel Group”
Lloyd Whannell – “SunTracker”
with Jeremy Kester – “In Communion, secular & spiritual thought flourishing"
Bruce Richardson – “Squirrely”

Thank you King County Parks - Your Big Backyard for sharing this story!

03/09/2026

Visited with Pat, Carl, Nicky and Dan to admire the sculptures on display at during , also
saw some cool rocks & sculptures by

02/27/2026

Throwback Thursday - who still has one of these gems in their studio or on a bookshelf?
NWSSA published a few editions of this Source Book between 1989 to 1995 including sections on stone and tool suppliers, services & repairs, instructors, art associations, books, and public art (where our members had public art on display). How cool is that?!