cultural relevance?

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Norman,
There was a time when I thought I wanted to be a geologist\scientist. After
2 years of college level science courses, I realized that I was
undisciplined, impulsive, and acted on emotions, and intuition rather than
facts and logic. Also I didn't particularly like mathematics. This is not
the foundation to build a career in the sciences on. So please don't think
that I'm being cruel   when I say that I've enjoyed  watching you try to
learn all you can about stone sculpture, and art in the largest sense. How
it fits in our world today, in the past and future. Your questions clearly
show the working of a thoughtful, logical, organized mind that is skilled in
learning and gathering information, and analyzing and answering questions.

You have very quickly come to the crux of the problem, which is that great
art cannot be directly learned from another. It cannot be quantified and
organized so that one can count on always being able to do "great art ". To
get all the different aspects of sculpture working together , at the same
time is like trying to herd cats. Some will love you, some will hate you,
and others will just wander off.

So I, the would be geologist in college got lucky , and rediscovered what I
had been doing as a child , carving.  You , the researcher, need only make
the small step towards  carving just for the fun of it, to tap into realm of
impulse and instinct. Don't worry about what others think of what you are
carving, don't even worry about what you think. Enjoy the childish pleasure
of making something  out of a piece of stone.

As you have seen, there is not one sculptor who works the same way as
another. We all have different methods, materials, tools, attitudes and
experiences. There is no right or wrong way  to go. Just a personal way to
learn and grow. If you have it in you to be moved to tears by piece of
sculpture , and are carving stone as best you can, then just keep doing what
makes your spirit sing. With your normal mode of learning, combined with the
sensitive soul of an sculpture lover, you will grow as a stone carver by
doing, and learning from your mistakes.

And so , brothers and sisters, sharpen your chisels, and be in an attitude
of sculpture!

Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Hmmm, this may be the best pep
talk I've come up with yet. I gotta start saving this stuff!

George