Penza stone symposium, Russia September 2009

When I was accepted to go to Russia for the Penza sculpture symposium I imagined an industrial city and cold weather, I could not have been more wrong!  We were situated by a lake in beautiful countryside and the weather was so warm I came back browner than I went, and that was after a Spanish summer.  We were a total of 47 artists from all over the world.  Eight artists working in metal, six in wood, one in bronze and everyone else in marble.

My block was smaller than I had asked for so I obliged to make it with a stand under but in the end as we lost one day to travel one to rain and one to lack of power it may have been a good thing in the end.  As it was I worked from 8am  to at least 7pm everyday, yes even Sunday!  The machines were big the stone was hard and I am now too big around the back for several of my T-shirts but it was great. Ii have to say a big thanks to all the other sculptors who gave me advice and lent me their tools especially to Pedro who introduced me to working with wedges and has even made me a set since.  Also a big thanks to Yuri and Valentina who organized it all and looked after us so well.  Not only that but they provided local music to entertain and a record 5 birthday cakes in just 3 weeks.  Overall I learnt so much and meet so many good people I can´t wait for the next symposium now, bring it on!!  If you would like to see more pictures from this symposium and everyone else´s beautiful work please go to  www.symposiumsculpture.ru