A Flash Course in Dry Stone Walling

Paul Bowen brought his Marlboro College sculpture class students to my work site today for a flash course in dry stone walling, and an outdoor "gallery" tour of nearby installations. My normally quiet scene became very lively for an hour as the group practiced building a field-stone retaining wall. They quickly grasped the concept of laying a stone with its length in, and covering a joint below. Developing hand/eye coordination and paying attention to detail are essential skills in both craft and sculpture making. My thanks to Paul for the invitation to be a guest instructor and to the students for their interest and enthusiasm.