Sandpudding Workshops

Because of the success of the Workshop circuits of 2008 and 2009 I plan on doing Traveling Concrete Carving Workshops on a regular basis. Again the greatest challenge in each location was finding suitable sand but in every case something suitable was always acquired. A mix of institutions, artists' studios and individual workshop hosts has generated a full and adventurous Workshop Circuit for 2010.

Through contacts, introductions and web inquiries most of the locations are now established. Once again The Garden Art Forum has been a rich source of concrete enthusiasts. Some of this years locations are repeats from 2008.

All locations have the same basic agreement. Each host provides a suitable location and the workshop participants. Carvers can be gathered by getting friends, posting on line or placing fliers in suitable locations. For this the host receives thier workshop for free. Those locations where lodging (motel swap, spare room, tent in the yard) accomodations are provided, the host gets the demonstration piece that I make during the workshop. It is usually a planter and is named the "Hospitality Pot".

For individual hosts locations the fee is $200 a person. I bring enough equipment for a maximum of eight participants with me making nine. This is about as large a group as I can adequately devote individual instruction to during the carving session. Organizations and Art Centers usually charge more to cover their expenses. The Workshop Description page gives details of the workshop procedure. The Concrete Carving Workshop Gallery has pictures with explanations of the workshop stages. For anyone interested in hosting they should contact me, elder@sandpudding.com, to start the discussion and as things develop we can always talk on the phone. The same goes for Art Centers, Schools, Garden Organizations or similar venues, but with modifications if needed.

As the 2010 Workshop Circuit developed the scheduled locations kept leading me away from Montrose, CO. I had hoped to do a workshop at the Ferrocement Educational Network www.ferrocement.net. I had met and discussed this with founder and director of FEN, Paul Sarnstrom, back in 2008. For 2011 I intend to do workshops in the Central West(NM,UT,CO,WY) region. For 2010 FEN is presenting workshops by the masterful faux bois artist Donald Tucker. In early June I got to meet Don when he was teaching a workshop near my home at the studio of Sherri Warner Hunter. The man is talented and very knowledgeable about all things concrete. He is also the generator and administrator of The Garden Art Forum. Follow the link above for more information about his FEN workshop.