About the seminar

August 22nd through September 3rd 2022
For more info call 518-989-6356 or kevinvanhentenryck@gmail.com
Or visit the Hunter Stone Carving Seminar on facebook

The HSCS is an annual FREE, two-week, hands-on stone carving class taking place every summer in the Mountain Top community of Hunter, New York, led by sculptor, Kevin VanHentenryck. The primary goal is to teach as many people as possible-as much as possible about the ancient art of stone carving during the two weeks of the class. All are welcome. All aspects of the process will be covered, from concept and layout, to surface finish. The class may also work on "The Spirit of the Mountains", a new figurative bluestone allegorical figure at the front of the Bluestones Park. Both hand carving and pneumatic (air-powered jack hammer) techniques will be employed to work the native Catskill Mountain Bluestone. Students can join us for an hour, or and afternoon, or the whole two weeks. HSCS becomes a temporary studio/school facility, supplying everything necessary, including supplies, tools, compressed air, and stone on which to carve. Students are only responsible for their own personal safety equipment; dust mask, eye and ear protection, and work gloves.  For the beginning student these can all be the cheap disposable sort, which are available locally at a discount.

Written in the stones is a record of every student who ever passed through the class. The stones remain on permanent, free, public display in the Bluestones Sculpture Park, in Hunter NY. As each stone no longer has room for any more student carvings, they will be placed throughout the Town of Hunter. A map will be published showing their locations. The ultimate vision for the HSCS will be to have a bluestone sculpture competition, with sufficient cash prizes as well as trophies to insure international participation. The competition will include sculptures, carved in place throughout the town, and judged by both "art professionals", and the public. This last day would also include a gala reception with food, drink, music, and auction-a big town-wide party. All sculpture entered in the competition will remain on free public display where it was carved for one year, thus insuring the Town of Hunter and community in general, a year-round supply of "Art collectors" and tourists. Sculptures sold would generate a commission for re-investment in the HSCS.