re; conversation

Quoted text begins.That said, I do mourn the loss of skill with hand tools with such an
ancient tradition as stone carving. However I'm sure there will
always be carvers the same way there's still painters. And like
painters, they will always be able to achieve an immediacy and
spontaneity impossible with machine production.
End of quote.

Have been following this thread, and decided I too wanted to
join the debate. My first exposure to CNC carving came about 6
or 7 years ago when I lost a bid to an outfit using such a
machine. Thats the way it goes in this business. I am one of
those who markets himself to that special individual (yes they
still do exist) who wants the uniqueness of a hand carved piece,
and are willing to spend the extra for that uniqueness. I have
been offered good deals twice now on CNC machines but I am not
at all interested in programming computers to run machinery.
Carving stone is a choice I made, and I do not want the hammer
and chisel taken out of my hand.
John Halter mentioned that one can not make a "generous" income
from creating one of a kind pieces for individuals, and I
suppose that he is right. If that were my goal, I would be
embracing all that modern technology has to offer. As it is, I
am looked down on by some traditionalist because I use pneumatic
hand pieces rather than the old fashioned mallet, but those same
traditionalist use steel tools rather than bronze or copper, and
I don't think anyone uses a harder rock to pound out shapes in
softer rock anymore. I have seen amazing granite inlays created
with water jet cutters; vertually impossible without that
machine. Technology will always move forward--so what.
I use the methods I use to create the work I do because that is
what I choose to do. I have no illusions about my sculpture
being great (or even good for that matter) art, nor do I have
any illusions about ever reaping a financial wind fall from it.
The bills do get paid, and there is food on the table, but most
important, my work is my bliss, (any Joseph Cambell fans in the
group?) and I have choosen to follow it. The sculptor who
literally gave me (a non- artist) permission to sculpt told me
the only thing that defines what is art is if I like it. The
great academic "art" debates will alway rage, and evolve with
the times, but the fundamental truth is that we all define what
art is to us through our own vision and experience.
JVC