A belief set in the mind of many beginner dry stone wallers is that a wall is what it looks like on the outside, when it actually is what is not seen, on the inside. To accept a wall stone at face value is to believe that what shows is most of what that stone is, but in a well built wall, most is concealed, securely trapped inside the construction.
Read MoreDry stone walling can be defined in its simplest terms as the act of placing one stone on two. But no sooner is that act completed when a much broader world view opens to the stone worker. This understanding was the basis of the one-day workshop held last Saturday in Dummerston, Vermont. Eleven participants from around New England came together to hear talks on forestland and geology, and build dry stone features alongside town hiking trails. Visiting walling instructor and DSWA Mastercraftsman Dave Goulder, from Rosehall, Scotland, joined me in taking the group on an exploration of the local cultural landscape.
Read MoreAngela Antle, Producer/Host, Weekend Arts Magazine for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, interviewed Dan last week about the workshops at the English Harbour Arts Centre.
Read MoreOver a period of ten months, with three weekend workshops and three practice days, the Dummerston Town Pound became a reality. Forty-four volunteers traveled from near and far to be part of the re-creation and to hone their dry stone walling skills.
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