PORT TOWNSEND — Stone sculptor Arliss Newcomb plans to open her studio and workshop to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for a glimpse of how a hunk of rock can be transformed into a graceful abstract curve, a flower or even a hummingbird.
Her studio is on a 4.5-acre property at 11968 Airport Cutoff Road located about four miles south of Port Townsend.
Admission is free.
Newcomb said she will delight visitors of all ages with explanations and demonstrations of her process, and that dozens of her pieces will be on display.
Work by artists Carolann Stabile and Ray Hammar also will be on display during the annual open house.
All three artists will be on hand to greet the public and answer questions about their works.
Newcomb uses angle grinders with both wet and dry diamond blades to carve her pieces, along with rasps, files and sandpaper, according to the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association
Way to cope
She said she began carving as a way to cope when her husband became ill, and now completes up to about 20 original pieces each year ranging from small enough to fit in the palm of a hand up to 120 pound behemoths.
Stabile is known for her pastels and photography, and will be showcasing works in a collage format as well as paper bead jewelry.
This year, Stabile said both she and Newcomb intentionally crafted smaller pieces.
Hammar, known as the “Blue Collar Artist,” creates art out of reclaimed and recycled materials.
Living in Gorst, Hammar said he sources materials from all over the Pacific Northwest as part of his quest to encourage people to buy handmade American pieces.
His pieces include tables, ladders and ornamental chandeliers made from industrial scraps.
The artwork will be for sale, with only cash or checks accepted.
