I had the great fortune this weekend of spending lots of time with Walt Rickli, a brilliant sculptor of stone. He was in for the weekend to participate in Common Ground‘s Fall Festival, an open house celebrating the community, the arts, and the environment. He was there to demonstrate stone-carving, and to give others, especially children, the chance to chisel a bit of stone themselves.
Walt is a close friend and collaborator with Virginia Burt (see my spotlight on VisionScapes), and now he has become one of our close friends as well. They bring great richness to my life, and I am unbelievably blessed.
Walt works primarily in granite, but also in sandstone and other stones. His work ranges from rough-hewn and tribal, to polished and classical, but all of it is profound, and his skills and artistry are simply amazing. Many are designed to be placed in gardens, often with water bubbling through and down them, and Virginia uses them very often in her designs.
Watching him work this weekend, I was in awe. The soft but gritty sandstone melted beneath his hands. The beautiful column of tulip tree leaves, energy rays, and spirit signs emerged – rough but clearly – within minutes under the deft strokes of his tools. There is a sensuality to his movements and actions with the stone. Large chunks and smaller chips fly, dust surrounds and covers him, and the piece emerges to reality.
Walt, I love your work, and you are a wonderful person.
Here are some examples of his work. There are many more at his web site. I will post some pictures of the unfinished work at Common Ground when I get a chance.
