The Stone Needs to Grow towards the Sky

Blue skies and sunny - the perfect weather for a visit to the quarry this Saturday, I thought. Apparently I was not the only one as  quite a few members of the society of friends found their way to the Kiefer quarry to learn more about it and take a first peak at the works being hewn at the stonemason's symposium taking place right there.

First, Clemens Deisl took us on a tour through the quarry, explaining how the stone had been quarried and how it's done now, but also went into the very nature of the stone, aided by Hubert Maier who happily talked about his favourite material. He also foreshadowed plans in the works for next year to let the visitor

s witness the cutting and ensuing fall of a wall. This year the goodie was the huge digger he took quite a few happy visitors on a spin on while the rest of peacefully relaxed in the shade with a glass of water or tea and enjoying the delicious cakes Sonja, a returnee to the course from last year, had prepared for us.

Then Hubert Maier took the group on a tour through their workshop, presenting every person dedicatedly working on their stone, explaining the progress behind it. He also showed his makeshift furnace where he repairs and sharpens chisels, something he wants his students to at least have seen once.

As we were walking away from the quarry back up

to the table in the shade, the weekend silence of the quarry was once again filled with the sound of the stone relentlessly being chipped away.

The stonemason's symposium are having their open day on the 20th of August from 12 to 4 pm. I for one am looking forward to seeing some pieces finished and others that have not even been thought of yet. [mp]