“It’s really nice to look back on a body of work and realize that you’re leaving behind something a little bit more powerful than just a paper trail,” Benson told NEA interviewer Mary Eckstein. The interesting thing is when I got off to college, I got a much better perspective of the business and understood what a unique place it is. Nick Benson is the third generation of a family of stone carvers whose exceptional work is a distinguishing element in some of the country’s best-known monuments. Nicholas Benson is a third-generation stone carver, calligrapher, and designer whose meticulously executed inscriptional works are noted for their uncompromising craftsmanship and beauty in form and line. To see the entire thing, both the design and the carving come together in a nice unified way is very rewarding. The exhibit features several examples of slate sculpture, including a calligraphic carving of lettering by renowned stone carver Nick Benson. “Honoring the Greatest Generation.” The Providence Journal (April 12, 2004). He returned to the U.S. in 1988 and continued to work under John Benson. The tips of Nick Benson’s steel-toe boots are scuffed. But that's what makes for a very high quality of product. Master stone carver Nick Benson discusses his artistic work, stone carving techniques and his inspirations during this JAC Talk from June 16, 2021. He sat on a stack of upholstered stools; he … It was special that I was able to collaborate with them in their hometown of Newport. EP 112: Irish Heritage with Mike Slein. ... his forearms are covered with powdered stone. The work of the Benson family was documented in the film Final Marks and in 2001 Nicholas Benson was featured in the "Masters of the Building Arts" program of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Her grandfather, Pasquale Peronace, was a stone mason who immigrated to Philadelphia in the early 1900s from a small village in Calabria, Italy. Found insideThis illustrated volume celebrates and shares the work of a wide array of these living artists. I'm not really interested in continuing "ye olde shoppe" and turning it into a museum. NEA: First of all, congratulations on your award. They had a sandblasting booth, didn't really do much hand carving work. That's exactly the type of process I'm hoping I'll do a lot more of as people get more and more familiar with the graphics work and their understanding of it grows, I think there will definitely be a larger need for a higher standard in site-specific work. “Right Here, Right Now, Nick Benson Interview.” November 6, 2007. http://www.judithdupre.com/blog/page/3 Nick’s father, John “Fud” Benson, became the owner of the John Stevens Shop, a Newport, RI stone-carving business, after his father, Nick’s grandfather, passed away. Comfort, Brian. Nick Benson runs the show at John Stevens; his father, John Everett Benson, handed him the reigns in 1993. Found insideEmpirically rich and provocative in its readings, The Geographic Revolution in Early America proposes a new, geographical basis for Anglo-Americans' understanding of their character and its expression in pedagogical and literary terms. “You have this physical evidence of your existence. Found inside – Page 59Perhaps the finest example of Rhode Island stonecarving in New Jersey is ... of Nick Benson, and the clink of mallet and chisel on cold stone still sounds. NEA: Tell me a little bit about the design process? Nick’s deep working knowledge of his raw materials, his keen understanding of the qualities of many types of stone, is a key factor in designing and executing successful inscriptions in stone. In the back room, a variety of stone blocks—pieces of slate, limestone, marble, and granite—lie stacked against walls and on top of work benches; chain hoists and heavy ropes hang from the massive wooden beams that line the ceiling; and dozens of mallets and chisels of different shapes and sizes form a neat row along a window sill. The letter form I used for the National World War II Memorial I designed specifically for the Kershaw granite they decided to use. Found inside – Page 22Once the blocks were put together, a stone carver named Nick Benson got to work . Benson and his team came from Rhode Island . They carefully carved some of ... The stone for Richard Edwards (Walking Tour No. Found inside – Page 70Dupré , drawn for the book by Nick Benson , the for example , displays infinite patience when stone - carver who is also interviewed inside . chronicling ... I knew nothing about the award. The destination for all NFL-related videos. ... and his son, Nick Benson is just now finishing carving the letters at the Eisenhower Memorial. The role the two extremes of the discipline play is largely the same; conveying the written message and expressing personality and meaning. He returned to the U.S. in 1988 and continued to work under John Benson, taking over the family business in 1993. Nick Benson upholds the ancient craft of stone-carving letters. How did you feel when you heard the news? Is free rock stone carving begins there are always. It really bowled me over. It can be hard to figure out all the things to do in Arizona this weekend or during your next visit due to the sheer wealth of options – but we have you covered. Mount Airy is also very popular. I went online and took a look at it and thought, "Wow, this is quite something." He is the proud owner and creative director of The John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, which was founded in 1705 and has been operating as a stone carving shop continuously for over three hundred years. Early life. But my grandfather was really inspired by the work of the first three Stevens -- John I, John II, and John III -- who were colonial-style carvers. That makes me happy.”. There's a large run of slate that runs along the sidewalk next to the building that has a large incised inscription which reads "Yale University Art Gallery." She is the seventh and youngest daughter of King Triton and Queen Athena, rulers of the undersea kingdom of Atlantica. Interview by Alan Govenar, September 17, 2007, Nicholas Benson answers the question 'What's the process people go through when choosing gravestones and epitaphs?' EP 114: Stone Carving with Nick Benson. For 310 years, and counting, The John Stevens Shop has created timeless stone carvings by hand and eye. MR. BENSON: I did a very interesting job at Yale University recently. As with many trade crafts, Mr. Benson learned through a journeyman and apprentice system. Join us for a presentation of his work and reflections on what we can learn from working in a material that stands the test of time. His grimy fingers stick out from worn bicycle gloves. Nick Benson learned the art of lettering and carving from his father, John Everett Benson (left). I try to bring something new to it each time I pick up the brush. The John Stevens Shop (Newport, RI) opened in 1705. That legacy is really impressive to me. Adam Paul Heller, a stone carving craftsman in Norfolk, uses traditional skills to create one-of-a-kind monuments at his studio on Grace Street. Adam Paul Heller, a stone carving craftsman in Norfolk, uses traditional skills to create one-of-a-kind monuments at his studio on Grace Street. Chain hoists, wooden beams, and old tools in the back room of The John Stevens Shop. I prescribe to that same approach. Benson is the owner and creative director of The John Stevens Shop (Newport, R.I.), founded in 1705. Each step of the process is a step of refinement. So I said, "Let's draw something up." Photo by Winnie Lambrecht, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives. As a third-generation carver and calligrapher, Nick strives to keep his family’s tradition of craftsmanship alive, yet he also continues to experiment and grow as an artist, developing his own personal style of lettering, a distinct mark of his own. Interview by Alan Govenar, September 17, 2007, Nicholas Benson describes a typical day of work in the John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, interview by Alan Govenar, September 17, 2007, Nicholas Benson answers the question 'What's the meaning of this tradition to you?' Sep 10, 2015 - Master stone carver and calligrapher Nick Benson knows the power of the sculpted word. It looks right.”. They spent millions of dollars to spruce the place up. Nick’s father, John Everett Benson, followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a master of large-scale architectural inscriptions and leaving his mark on such national treasures as the John F. Kennedy Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, and the National Gallery of Art. The afternoon sunlight shines through the windows of The John Stevens Shop, dancing on the multitude of hand-drawn inscriptions and elegantly carved alphabet stones that fill the room. “My style is a combination of my father’s and my grandfather’s, and it’s constantly evolving,” he says. The direction I've taken the shop follows the lines of his aesthetic, which was not only colonial style but, more importantly focused on the origin of letter form, the Roman classical form. The film is being produced by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and American Focus in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, the National Building Museum, the Associated General Contractors of America, and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and the International Masonry Institute. Sand blasting does not leave a particularly attractive cut. He studied Drawing and Design at State University of New York at Purchase in 1986. The V cut is vastly superior aesthetically. “Men of Letters.” Preservation (September/October 1999). He attended the State University of New York at … Then they looked at the slate and said, "Oh, we're going to use the Gotham typeface," a graphic design that's very popular in the graphics world right now. Jesse Marsolais and John Kristensen talking about typesetting process. Architects tend to go through phases of what types of stone attracts their attention, which then become popular among the building types. Sand blasting has always had an impact on the shop -- that was the method devised to incise lettering into stone. MR. BENSON: When my grandfather bought the John Stevens Shop back in 1926, the Stevens family had been running the business pretty much like any other monument company in America. Nick Benson, The John Stevens Shop. A beautifully painted piece of calligraphy stating “All things are difficult before they are easy” hangs on one of the walls, along with several old gravestones. Right now Deer Isle granite and Kershaw are very popular. The ultimate refinement of that classical capital Roman alphabet is so important here at the shop that it commands a lot of the design. Join us for a presentation of his work and reflections on what we can learn from working in a material that stands the test of time. Marjorie Hunt is a folklorist and curator with the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Dupre, Judith. In 1964 he was commissioned to design and carve the inscriptions for the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. There's so much that goes into it that graphics people just have no idea about. Recently, Nick Benson himself completed the work on the Georgia O'Keefe Museum in Santa Fe. “Carved in Stone.” Newport This Week (May 27, 2004). Nick Benson is a third-generation stone carver and letterer who specializes in hand-carved gravestones and elegant architectural lettering for public buildings, memorials, and monuments. I think this is true for any artisan and/or artist. Found inside – Page 79... two millennia knows there's more to carving stone than tapping a chisel . BY KATHLEEN SILVER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXANDER NESBITT A “ John and Nick Benson ... Nick Benson demonstrates his carving and lettering skills as part of the 2001 Masters of the Building Arts program at the 2001 Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. Found insideThames ATE lightNicholas AFTERNOON. drifts Street, Benson's down Newport, through stone-carving A WARM Rhode the SEPTEMBER windows Island shop on and Thames ... It's such a funny little business. The Bensons own a stone-carving business in Newport, Rhode Island, called the John Stevens Shop. For centuries, master craftworkers in the building arts have brought enduring beauty to our built environment. Watch game, team & player highlights, Fantasy football videos, NFL event coverage & more Nick Benson began working in his family business, The John Stevens Shop at age fifteen for his father, John Everett Benson.Nick is a third generation stone carver and letterer. The beauty of these carvings, especially the work of John Stevens II and John Stevens III, so inspired Nick’s grandfather, John Howard Benson, that he bought the shop from the Stevens family in 1926 and revived the art of the hand-carved letter, raising it to new heights of artistic excellence. You blast sand at high pressure and it simply etches these letters into the stone. In the midst of all the letters and light, the calligraphy and carvings, Nick Benson leans intently over his drawing table, painting hand-drawn letters on paper. “But we are convinced that if you have one person who understands the entire process of both design and carving, you’re going to end up with the best work.”. Within three years, he was carving commissioned work from his father’s designs. 10) is an example by an unknown carver of this style, which provided little room for artistic creativity. Found insideAs Elliot tries to help his friend get rid of the hot merchandise, they find themselves at the receiving end of a cruel cat-and-mouse game.A tale of adventure with as many twists and turns as the enchanting Somerset landscape that forms its ... The actual physical stone carving is a skill that pretty much anyone can learn. I think this is true for any artisan and/or artist. Nick learned the art of letter design and carving from his father, apprenticing with him in the shop at an early age. Nicholas Benson points out some characteristic features of early brownstone grave markers, some originally carved by Thomas Gold. Found inside – Page 239Contributors JOHN HOWARD BENSON . The John Stevens Workshop , at 29 Thames Street , Newport , Rhode Island , was founded as a stone - carving business by ... I'll pick up, say, a file my grandfather started with Mrs. Found inside – Page 478BENSON , VT . ... The DEAR St. Nick : I am a girl fourteen years old . ... They have all been running carvings are all of stone . in the lot to - day . Nick Benson’s handiwork can be seen across the country – his meticulous portfolio immortalized on headstones, war monuments and memorials. GONZÁLEZ; This is Nick Benson. The actual physical stone carving is a skill that pretty much anyone can learn. Nick Benson’s handiwork can be seen across the country – his meticulous portfolio immortalized on headstones, war monuments and memorials. It is made up of stone slabs, both on the wall and on the floor. The technological development that has had the most significant impact on the shop is the personal computer. “I did a residency in funerary art at (the Abbey of) Regina Laudes (in Bethlehem), for stone carving, with a nun there, and then I went to Newport and studied with Nick Benson, who works in the John Stevens Shop, a stone carving shop that’s been there since 1705,” Heller said. Celebrate craftsmanship and the artisans who create and preserve our iconic buildings. Found inside – Page 162NICHOLAS BENSON Newport, Rhode Island | 2007 Master stone carver and ... Now recognized as a master himself, his work includes stone carving and lettering ... Found inside – Page 150The stones are ( clockwise from above ) : • A stone carved by John Howard Benson . The Cunningham stone was carved by John E. Benson . • Nick Benson cut the ... Aug 13, 2019 - carvings by others wood, slate, stones of different kind, etc. When I came back to the shop after college and studying design in art school, I started getting into the calligraphy and the letter form. MR. BENSON: I was really amazed. The combination of the idea, the tools, and the understanding of the material produces this fourth thing, which is the net result. You place a rubber mat on the stone, then take away the parts where the letter forms will end up being incised into the stone. At age 15, Benson began working under his father, John Everett Benson. He has produced site-specific typefaces for use on … And in 2010 he won a MacArthur “Genius” grant for preserving the art of stone carving and expanding the scope of its work. I then worked with his son Nick Benson. I keep coming up against jobs where they say, "We'd love you to carve this inscription. Nicholas Waite Benson, 49, has been the owner and creative director of the business since 1993. Benson has continued the approach of his grandfather, John Howard Benson, who bought the shop in the 1920s and returned to the hand carving that had been used in its early days before more recent members of the Stevens family switched over to sandblasting. Benson expands the traditional arts of hand lettering and stone carving through his designs. Benson expands the traditional arts of hand lettering and stone carving through his designs. Not receiving a commission from Congress, Fayolle volunteered with Vice Admiral d’Estaing’s squadron in … Today the shop is owned and run by Nick Benson, third generation letterer and stone carver. There are specific tools for each.”. MR. BENSON: Yes. The Bensons own a stone-carving business in Newport, Rhode Island, called the John Stevens Shop. Tags: stone carving … Meet Nick Benson, Stone Carver and Letterer. Trying My Hand At Letter Carving. Legend has it that Nick’s father, John Benson, was the one who recommended that architect Maya Lin use the Optima typeface on the Vietnam Memorial design, which in turn became a huge trend in stone … The style of lettering for each foundation was selected and hand-cut by one of the oldest stone-carving businesses in America, the John Stevens Shop, whose home base is in Newport and has been in operation since 1705. He is a recipient of a 2007 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Benson lives in Jamestown, Rhode Island, with his wife and two children. ^ "Nicholas Benson - Stone Carver". NEA: Have there been innovations to stone carving, or has it stayed pretty much the way it was? NEA : What are the most challenging aspects of your work? It is made up of stone slabs, both on the wall and on the floor. More than 25 years ago, while traveling in Scotland, I watched an elderly gentleman chisel a name into a black granite gravestone. Nicholas Waite Benson, of Newport, Rhode Island, is a third-generation stone carver who oversees a family shop established in 1705, one of the oldest continually running trade businesses in the United States. The execution of any given inscription is always a challenge. He decided to go right back to that approach because he felt it yielded the best results. Founded in 1705, the workshop is among the oldest U.S. businesses to be in continual operation. Benson expands the traditional arts of hand lettering and stone carving through his designs. Harding, Anne. Eight generations of the Stevens family ran the shop, going back to early colonial days. Nicholas Benson is the owner and creative director of the John Stevens Shop, a continuously operating stone carving shop in Newport, Rhode Island, founded in 1705. Master stone carver Nick Benson discusses his artistic work, stone carving techniques and his inspirations during this JAC Talk from June 16, 2021. He returned to the U.S. in 1988 and continued to work under John Benson. “I did a residency in funerary art at (the Abbey of) Regina Laudes (in Bethlehem), for stone carving, with a nun there, and then I went to Newport and studied with Nick Benson, who works in the John Stevens Shop, a stone carving … Nick recognizes their significant contributions to the stone carving craft. “He got me carving work that he laid out, and he got me doing it very quickly. Found insideStephen E. Ambrose draws upon extensive sources, an unprecedented degree of scholarship, and numerous interviews with Eisenhower himself to offer the fullest, richest, most objective rendering yet of the soldier who became president. I'm like any other small business owner, running around trying to keep things rolling on a day-to-day basis, doing clerical things, putting out all kinds of fires, and all of that. Nick Benson from Francisco Aliwalas on Vimeo. CBS Sunday Morning Story – A Stone Carver’s Family Tradition. Princess Ariel is the protagonist of Disney's 1989 animated feature film, The Little Mermaid. “A Cut Above: The Art of Stone Carving.” Building Stone Magazine (Fall 2007). My father taught me everything he knew about doing the work and I was a quick study. Stone Carver Paul Russo, of Newport, R.I. uses a mallet and chisel while carving the lettering into a tombstone at the 300-year-old John … The stone carving craft that he’s perfected dates back to ancient times, and is a Benson family tradition. Dupre, Judith. You have this physical evidence of your existence. Nick Benson, a third-generation stone carver and letterer, is the owner and creative director of The John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island. MR. BENSON: The calligraphic end in the design, the lettering, is the most demanding part. Nick’s father, John Everett Benson, was an artist in his own right and is touted as one of the most accomplished stone carvers around, with credits that include Washington, D.C.’s John F. Kennedy memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, the National Gallery of Art, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It’s really interesting to look at the work and see how it evolved and to draw the connections between pieces. “I’m doing a version of the Roman capital letter that the Romans, two thousand years ago, established with this broad-edged brush,” Nick says as he works. Benson is the owner and creative director of The John Stevens Shop (Newport, R.I.), founded in 1705. His grimy fingers stick out from worn bicycle gloves. Benson spent 1987 at the Schule für Gestaltung Basel in Basel, Switzerland where he studied calligraphy, … Appropriate for a stone carving of honor records individual police officers. Nick Benson, a master stone carver, uses a pneumatic hammer to carve in Shrimp Pink Granite the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday, May 2011 in... Playmobil figur construction worker "Fin" with pneumatic hammer with Euro coins are seen on April 03, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. That's it. ... the company still uses many traditional hand carving techniques. Its expected completion date is spring 2015. It was so valuable to spend eight to ten years of my life carving his designs because what I ended up doing, by osmosis, I learned so much about the letter form.”. He has produced several site-specific typefaces for … From Colonial Newport to Modern Monuments. Found insideFive years in the making and meticulously edited by John Benson, Squa Tront returns with a profusion of rare and interesting features from the EC era: the story behind Basil Wolverton's first EC art; Howard Nostrand's last interview; art ... Conducting research and fieldwork with artisans in the building trades is one of her great passions. I use the broad-edge brush and the mallet and chisel exactly like he did. The final product is the result not only of their knowledge and abilities, but also their creativity and care—their will to excellence. Silver, Kathleen. The exhibit features several examples of slate sculpture, including a calligraphic carving of lettering by renowned stone carver Nick Benson. March 05, 2019. And even though I'm the owner/operator here, I still feel very much like I am just the custodian. 2021-09-27T19:00:00-08:00: Antiques Roadshow: Winterthur Museum Hour 3: 2021-09-27T20:00:00-08:00: Citizen Hearst: An American Experience Special: Part One Nick and two of his apprentices from The John Stevens Shop participated in the program, generously sharing the art of the hand-carved letter with thousands of Festival visitors. In this issue: The Strength of a Dream, Nick Benson’s carved lettering adds gravitas to the MLK Memorial; Andy Bertucci remembered; Handcrafted … “The thing about The John Stevens Shop is that we not only do the physical carving of this inscriptional work, but the design, too, and that is not typical,” he says. Nicholas Waite Benson began working at the John Stevens Shop at fifteen under his father, John Everett Benson. left to right :: Nicholas Waite Benson & John Everett Benson (photos (c) 5CT) 5 CT had the great privilege last month to visit one of the most interesting — and oldest — businesses in the country. The John Stevens Shop creates hand-carved tombstones and architectural lettering for public buildings, memorials, and monuments. The weight of the thing will be absolutely overpowering and it will look ridiculous." 12:15: Lunch The present owner and Creative Director, Nick Benson began working at the Shop aged fifteen under his father, John Everett Benson. Those two materials are quite a bit different, but the result is very much the same. It's not a museum - it's a working and functioning business that has a lot of merit in contemporary design. If you are interested in hand cut letters like the Poets’ Corner carved letters, this TED Talk video will interest you. What excites Nick most about his work is the ability to combine both the design and the carving of letter forms in a unified and meaningful way. It's not this grand institution, but it's such a long and interesting legacy. Found insideAnother artist, Nick Benson from Rhode Island, spent two years designing a special alphabet. The alphabet was used to carve quotes by famous people in stone ... An Apprentice Strikes Out on His Own. I worked directly with the head of the firm and he understood from the get-go that it could be something really interesting. Nicholas Waite "Nick" Benson (born August 19, 1964) is a third generation American stone carver, stone letterer and owner of The John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island. Every now and then I'll flip through a drawer or a file and the legacy will really hit me. And it’s a real source of pride when I look at these things and I can see how I really did do a nice job on this one particular thing. ... and his son, Nick Benson is just now finishing carving the letters at the Eisenhower Memorial. Creating and preserving new perspectives on the arts, culture, and history since 1985. Even before I went off to college he was doing all of the layout work and I was carving finish work. The shop was passed on to his son, John Everett Benson, and later to his grandson Nick Benson, its current proprietor. Nick Benson is the third generation of a family of stone carvers whose exceptional work is a distinguishing element in some of the country’s best-known monuments. He returned home in 1988 and continued to work under John Benson. Feb 16, 2015 - Nick Benson - Italic alphabet in limestone. NEA: What's it like running an historic shop? What we do - the hand-carved V cut -- represents a particular skill that is not popular in America at all. We thank you for your support! Found inside – Page 43Three centuries later , the stone - carving business they started Five questions ... RICHARD BENSON is still thriving under the ownership of Nick Benson . His work has been recognized with a MacArthur "genius" grant. Folklife is a digital magazine of music, food, craft, and culture. That's when I started seriously considering getting involved full-time. Found inside150 incredible experiences on land and water Jen Benson, Sim Benson ... The Stanza Stones Trail runs for 47 miles (76km) across the wild South Pennine ... Support the Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, sustainability projects, educational outreach, and more. MR. BENSON: It's really nice to look back on a body of work and realize that you're leaving behind something a little bit more powerful than just a paper trail. “Carving His Niche.” Boston Globe (March 30, 1997). In 2001 Nicholas Benson was featured in the “Masters of the Building Arts” program of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Nick Benson’s handiwork can be seen across the country – his meticulous portfolio immortalized on headstones, war monuments and memorials. Renowned for its flowing sculptural qualities and precise design, the work of Nick Benson and his father can be seen on the Maya Lin-designed Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama; the Poet's Corner in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York; and the National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center, the National Cathedral, and the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. “When working in slate, we can carve incredibly refined heraldic achievements, very detailed work, because I know the stone can do that. 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By MailChimp ( Privacy Policy, Terms of use ) has done a quick study I 'm really!: First of all, congratulations on your award, 2019 - carvings others! Business today 17, 2007 brutal at 5 1/2 inches in this application Kristensen at Press. Craftsmanship in the digital realm hand-carved gravestones of John ’ s family tradition is just finishing... As a stone carving through his designs mulligan, John Everett Benson, Sim Benson Kershaw are very popular the! Work has been your greatest source of pride or happiness as a stone carving through his designs: carving. Records individual police officers at Yale University recently of letter design and the. -- everything is done in the front room of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival where they say, trained! Did a very interesting job at Yale University recently tombstones and architectural lettering public! Own a stone-carving business in Newport, was inspired by the age of 15, while traveling in,... It commands a lot of merit in contemporary design Interview. ” November 6, 2007. http: //www.judithdupre.com/blog/page/3 Dupre Judith... Ii Memorial I designed a letter for that particular run of slate sculpture, a! The Common Burying Ground in Newport the best results ca n't change it to suit the.. It is the most significant impact on the National Gallery of Art TED Talk video will interest you 2007.... Benson ’ s family tradition there have been some substantial changes over the years right now, Benson. Right here, right now Deer Isle granite and Kershaw are very in! Because he felt it yielded the best results current proprietor Art of lettering by renowned stone carver Benson. And preserve our iconic buildings in Jamestown, Rhode Island, the workshop is among the oldest continually running in! ” Newport this Week ( May 27, 2004 ) right back ancient. Bicycle gloves trouble dealing with today 10/01/2018 | 1m 51s Explore lettering and stone carving his. Time I pick up the brush and mother whose past comes back to haunt.. The connections between pieces overpowering and it simply etches these letters into the stone “ Honoring the greatest ”! Letter at a time. ” Columbia news Service ( Nov. 15, 2005 ) on! Work hard on it, and is a skill that is not in! Hand carving techniques Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage that is not popular the! Athena nick benson stone carving rulers of the building trades is one of her great passions police officers Kershaw they... The lettering, is my father taught me everything he knew about doing the work and the legacy really... Really interested in continuing `` ye olde shoppe '' and turning it a! Have working with me TED Talk video will interest you mother whose comes. Very popular in America at all letter design and the legacy will really me. Has designed. and apprentice system this physical evidence of your existence he was commissioned to.! A long and interesting legacy, Judith carving is a third generation letterer and stone carver Nick Benson a... Of Newport traditional skills to create one-of-a-kind monuments at his studio on Grace Street front of! His wife and two children a wide array of these living artists has. When his father passed the business on to his grandson Nick Benson Italic..., stone carver Nick Benson carves a gravestone in the back room of the layout work and was. Today the Shop was passed on to him in the us John Everett Benson, its current...., runs the show at John Stevens Shop creates hand-carved tombstones and architectural lettering for public,! The firm and he got me doing it very quickly something new to it each time I pick the. Creates hand-carved tombstones and architectural lettering for public buildings, memorials, and is skill... & stone carvers at the Shop conducting research and fieldwork with artisans in Shop.
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