I must admit the Netiquette has prevented me from setting off "flames" after
the two interjections made by power tool-wielding stone carvers.
I have great respect for a guy called Mauro Spaddaccini. He is an Italian
carver, not a sculptor and not an artist. He has worked for 40 years in
Pietrasanta. His speciality (they're all specialised in a particular field)
was to execute the first raw sketch in stone, e. g. when doing a 1:1 copy of
David for some millionaire. Setting the axis, determining the proportions
inside the raw block, basically making the first, irreversible decisions for
all the others to come after him, who were specialised in body and limbs,
hands, hairs, noses and mouths and eyes. When Mauro made an error, the whole
block had to be discarded.
Anyway, I have spent many hours with this man talking about the mysteries of
marble, its inner life, and also about the meaning of art, the meaning of
crafts vs. art., and about all the things that were mentioned here in this
group by one or another. I mentioned Eliade to him and it made him very
thoughtful. He commented - this is a very nice thing to hear after 40 years
breathing dust.
The point I'm trying to make is - I.M.H.O the question is not whether
>
> Is a stone carver an artist?
> Is a sculptor who works in stone a stone carver?
>
but rather: does a person respect other people's views, is a person open to
the outside world, is there any curiosity left? or has a person shut off and
is treading water?
I feel sorry for all who tread water. Perhaps it is making some money, but
certainly not a living.
Andrei
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