Stone Carving Workshop Aug/Sept 2023, Galicia, Spain

This opportunity allows up to 5 Fine Art students (UG and PG) to engage in a 12-day intensive stone and wood carving workshop, led by architectural and artistic master carver Paul Lewis. The workshop will take place in Galicia (North-West Spain) during the summer period (28 August- 9 September 2023). The students have the opportunity to join a professional stone carving workshop in a taller / apprenticeship setting developing their skills set by start working on individual projects.

Costs for travel, accommodation, and transport within Spain will be covered.

The place of the workshop is significant: the region has a long tradition of ornamental and prehistoric stone carvings (petroglyphs), going back  4,000 years. Paul Lewis set up his workshop in the Pontevedra region 15 Years ago. Students will experience prehistoric stone art and the opportunity to source local stone  (granite) from a local quarry. Lewis has experiences of working in stone through artistic and architectural carving in cathedrals, historic properties, private houses and public buildings. 

In the first briefing session we had a strong response of over 20 students joining us which indicates a a demand.

Focus of Workshop:

Students would be selected through an open selection process by submitting an expression of interest form (see details below);

The workshop will cover opportunities to:

  • Introduce students to the stone carving workshop: tools (including handmade tool making), materials of wood and stone carving practice;
  • Familiarise to the carving process from initial ideas, design, choice of materials, discussion/agreement with (potential) clients, execution, the finished piece
  • Awareness of the physicality of working – ergonomics of movement/ body and mind in harmony with the materials difference word/stone carving;
  • Raise awareness of the long tradition of carved stone in Galicia and prehistoric stone carvings (petroglyphs); source regionally stone in local quarry; 
  • Working on site with Master stone and wood carver alongside ‘live’ projects in the workshop;
  • Start a practice that could then be continued in Newcastle (e.g. cage working area/ woodworkshop);

Time Plan:

2 Feb 2023                 First briefing session with students;

16 Feb 2023               Deadline of Expression of Interest.

2 March 2023            Interviews of shortlisted students (on Zoom) with Paul Lewis;

Mid-March 2023            successful candidates will be contacted ; 

28 Aug -9 Sept 2023: Workshops Dates: Galicia, Spain.

How to take part in the workshop?

Send an Expression of Interest by answering three questions (max 200 words total):

  • Why would you like to take part in the workshop?
  • How would the workshop benefit your work?
  • Are you available during the weeks during the summer period (28 August – 9 Sept 2023)?
  • Add 1-2 images of your related work.

Deadline of Expression of interest: 16 Feb 2023

E-mail: Christian.Mieves@newcastle.ac.uk

Use Subject Heading: Stone Carving

Interviews of shortlisted candidates will take place on 
Thursday 2 March 2023.