Galisteo Sculpture Workshop Information

Information and Testamonials

INTRODUCTION:

In 2007 I was invited to teach a sculpture workshop in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. There I discovered a talent for and love of teaching which I've nourished and grown ever since. I strongly believe that the world needs more stone sculptors. This art form is a counterbalance to our ever-accelerating modern life and provides works that are both timeless and enduring.

In addition to teaching in the USA and Europe, I hold an annual stone sculpture workshop at my studio in Galisteo, New Mexico. For seven days in October, eight students, ranging from beginner to advanced, study and carve both figurative and abstract sculpture. This is a special time of intense focus and work, deep learning, camaraderie and joy. Following this page there is more information about my Galisteo workshop as well as others. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in joining.

Testamonials follow and are below this section of workshop information.

DESCRIPTION OF TEACHING:

Edward Fleming carves and teaches realistic human figurative sculpture and also abstract sculpture in marble and limestone. His work is traditional in technique and attention to anatomical detail but his subjects are contemporary. Fleming creates both self-directed and commissioned sculptures. He is a licensed Architect and has been making stone sculpture since 1993. His art education derives from over 20 years of working and apprenticing with master carvers and other artists in Europe and the United States. Edward Fleming is a full-time professional Sculptor since 2001 and teaches stone sculpture since 2007.

His approach to teaching stone sculpture is to help students with visualization (how to see the 3-dimensional form in the block of stone) and then the technical aspects necessary to realize the idea through direct stone carving. He doesn't generally give artistic criticism/direction unless asked, so his workshops are less about art education and more about process and realizing ideas. In his experience, the best way to learn about stone sculpture is by doing it. The workshop groups are kept small so that he can give close, personal attention to each student. His sculpture tends to be realistic human figurative which is where he can provide deep instruction, but he also admires and can work well with students who prefer other approaches such as representational and abstract sculpture.

 

2017 Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop Registration:
(Please return by email or US mail to address below)

Date:_________________

Name:_________________________________________

email address:___________________________________

US Mail address: _________________________________________________________

Telephone: (____) ______________ Cellphone: (____) ______________

Emergency contact:________________________________________________________
(name and tel.)

I will be attending the 2017 Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop from: Monday, October 16 - Sunday, October 22, 2017 and have read and understand the following:

> Workshop fee: $850.00 + New Mexico Sales Tax
> Deposit: $425.00 + tax due no later than August 16, 2017.
> NOTE: Deposit is required to reserve a place in the workshop. Before sending deposit, contact Edward to confirm space available.
> Balance fee: $425.00 + tax due no later than October 1, 2017.
> Student cancellation deadline with full refund: Sepember 16, 2017.
> Workshop cancellation deadline (not enough registered artists) with full refund: October 2, 2017.
> Carving block dimensions (if required; may be additional cost for cutting, transportation and extra volume): August 16, 2017.
> Workshop fee includes approx. 2cf limestone carving block, workspace, air and electric but does not include tools, travel, lodging or meals.
> Please make checks payable and send with all forms to Edward Fleming, 3342 Bell St., New Orleans, LA, 70119

I have received the release of liability form which I will sign and send to the Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop before the workshop begins. I understand that this is a requisite for participation in the workshop.

Signed,

___________________________________________
(signature)

___________________________________________
(printed or typed name)

 

 

RELEASE OF LIABILITY:

I, and my heirs, in consideration of my participation in the Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop, from Monday, October 16 - Sunday, October 22, 2017 , at Edward Fleming’s studio in Galisteo, NM, hereby release The Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop, its organizers, instructors, volunteers, officers, employees and agents, and any other people connected with this event, including studio landlord, John Massee, from any and all liability for damage to or loss of personal property, sickness or injury from whatever source, legal entanglements, imprisonment, death, or any other negative consequence, which might occur as a result of participating in this event. I am aware of the risks of participation in The Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop. I hereby state that I am in sufficient physical condition to accept the level of physical activity necessary to participate in this workshop. I understand that participation in this workshop is strictly voluntary and state that I freely chose to participate. I am aware that I will be working in the presence of dangerous high speed rotating saws and grinders, other power tools and heavy stone blocks, and it will be my responsibility to take appropriate precautions to protect myself and others at the workshop. I understand that The Galisteo Stone Sculpture Workshop does not provide medical coverage for me. I verify that I will be responsible for any medical costs I incur as a result of my participation.

 

_________________________________________
(Participant Name, printed)

 

_________________________________________ __________
(Participant Signature) Date

 

ARTIST TO-BRING LIST:

Some suggestions about what to bring to the workshop:

> Your sculpture design: drawings; maquette; images, etc.

> All the carving tools and equipment you will need for your sculpture.
> Safety equipment, especially eye and ear protection. Even if you're planning to carve by hand, you'll still want to protect yourself from other carvers' noise.
> Extra fittings for air connections.
> Air valves, regulators. Air pressure will be between 75 and 90 psi.
> Personal shade and sun-screen materials. With the wind exposure here, tents or tarps don't fair so well.
> Snacks (good well water available in studio); Breakfast and Lunch if you are not participating in the catered meals.
> Personal items.
> Information about your work: portfolios; CD's; etc.
And regarding carving etiquette: We'll be working outside and not too distant from eachother. Please remember to be considerate of others and direct dust and chips away from everyone. If you like to work to music, please bring earphones/buds so as not to disturb others' concentration. Keep your tools, hoses, cables in such a way that others won't trip on them. And be extra careful with grinders and any power tools and keep them well out of the way when not in use. We all need to be conscious of safety and look out for eachother. If you have any particular concerns or would like to offer suggestions about this, please let me know.

HUMAN FIGURATIVE SCULPTURE DISCUSSION OUTLINE:

I. Introduction:
1. General discussion of realistic human figurative sculpture as compared to representational, interpretive or abstract sculpture.
2. Review of/agreement on material to be presented and discussed.

II. Process:
1. Proportions methods:
- Paul Richer
- Geoff Lawrence
- Douglas Fairbanks
- Edward Fleming

2. Basic shapes:
- profiles
- cross-sections
- topography
- patterns; corresponding shapes

3. Anatomy:
- bones
- muscles
- skin
- veins
- morphology; joints; changing shapes
- variations

4. Visualization process:
- concept
- sketches
- photos
- model(s): self or other; life-drawing
- working drawings; measurements
- maquette; carving clay
- modelling (clay and other materials)
- layout drawings
- record tracing

5. Engineering:
- weight
- stress
- quality of stone: bed joints; veins; faults
- how stone breaks: direction; methods
- considerations of impact; vibration, movement of stone
- planning for lifting, moving, installation
- considerations for drainage; waterproofing; vandalism
- sculpture base: integral or separate

6. Reference Points:
- prominent bones
- prominent features
- elements specific to composition

7. Carving to the Profile:
- understanding and recognizing profiles
- methods, techniques for viewing work in progress
- visual alignments while carving; how/where to look
- maquette-to-carving sighting
- drawing on the stone

8. Light and Shadow:
- basic concept
- comparison of different stone
- finishing techniques
- texture
- edges
-details: joints; skin-to-skin; eyes; hair

9. Elements of Sculpture:
- Full 3-D
- High and low relief
- Negative (reverse relief) sculpture
- Full figure
- Portrait
- Hands
- Hair

10. Slide presentation of my process for "Grief"(marble) and "Jealousy"(limestone) sculptures.

11. Questions and Answers.

MEALS AND LODGING:

At previous workshops, a very talented local caterer, Corey McGillicuddy, has brought us breakfast and lunch at the studio. This both saved time and also allowed us to share meals, talk and get to know each other better. A great source of nutrition and camaraderie. Breakfast and lunch can cost about $25/person/day, sometimes a bit more, depending on menu. It is also possible to purchase only one meal per day.

If you are interested in this, please let me know by June 1st, which will allow time to coordinate with Corey and get on her schedule. We need to have a fairly high number of people participating in order to make it feasible for Corey. If you decide not to participate in the catering, Corey will forgive you and you can bring your own meals or eat elsewhere as you like. We have a refrigerator at the studio.

For those people traveling to Galisteo from any distance who'd like to stay here and avoid the commute to Santa Fe, please let me know soon and I will send you a contact list of friendly neighbors who can provide a room or guesthouse for rent during the workshop. Normally this is considerably less expensive than hotels in Santa Fe. Plus you'll make friends with some of the natives.

TESTAMONIALS:

Dr. Joseph Sacamano, Mosier, OR

"It seems that I have been in school for most of my life. In addition, I have taken a yearly workshop in photography or one of the other arts annually over the past 20 years. Even in this context, I found Ted Fleming's Galisteo sculpture gathering to be one of most pleasant and educational workshops I have ever experienced. I couldn't have anticipated how stimulating, meaningful and downright fun a week of guided stonecarving would be. Ted managed a wonderful balance between personal attention and letting us problem-solve on our own. Daily, he saved individual time with each of us to explain technique or artistic principles. I came to look forward to our communal lunch (and often, dinner) conversations when he and our small group of participants shared ideas and methods. He postponed his personal work, opened his studio to us and spent the entire week as both teacher and friend. All of this took place in a sheltered outdoor studio location surrounded by examples of his beautiful work which became powerful sources of inspiration for me. I want to attend again next year."

Carl Berny, Pojoaque, NM

"I attended Ted Fleming's workshop in the spring of 2010 to learn more about carving the human figure - and learn I did. Ted's knowledge of anatomy showed the importance of the bulges and dimples caused by intersecting muscles, protrusions of the skeleton near the surface and their proper location, all lead to a more realistic representation of the human form. He encouraged me to focus on the location of the underlying skeleton and muscles in my maquette which made all the difference in the end result. I never had the time (i.e. interest) in such fundamentals, but now I understand why all the classical instruction started there.
The small group enabled a huge amount of personalized instruction. The focus was on the figure and object of the sculpture rather than on the mechanics of stone carving which predominates in other workshops I have attended.
In addition, the small group enabled constructive socializing during the evenings with good food, robust conversations about art and other topics of interest to the group.
If you want to carve the figure, and have fun in the total experience, this is the workshop to attend."                     

Dr. Sergio RybkaTaos, New Mexico

"This was the second opportunity to take the workshop with Ted. My main focus in sculpture had been abstract work, but took the challenge of getting involved with the human anatomy. Had been a challenging process but very rewarding with the excellent guidance and expertise of Ted's expansive knowledge of human anatomy. Hope to attend next year ."

James Goodman, Albuquerque, New Mexico

"Ambiance - highest quality hands-on tutoral - world class experience - and a friend .. that is Edward Fleming"

Frank Hirsch, Galisteo, New Mexico

" I never considered myself an artist in that I could not draw or paint a picture any better than a third grader! But one day I had an idea that in my retirement perhaps I could sculpt in stone, since I've always enjoyed working with my hands in construction, etc.

With this in mind I enrolled in Ted Fleming's workshop and found much to my delight that not only did I enjoy sculpting under his excellent tutelage, but also that I was able to create by taking away material rather than building from the ground up as in painting. Furthermore he showed me how to use the tools effectively and how to visualize the figure in the stone even as the carving often had to be modified."
 

David Sadler, Hobbs, NM, President Southwest Stone Carving Association

"I've been to some really nice workshops all around the United States and I can say that Edward Fleming has the most concentrated and educational workshop yet, his secret is keeping it small so he can give a lot of personal care to each artist. I have gotten a lot better at what I do because of his help. I’m convinced it will only get better. Thanks Edward for spreading the love!!!!"

Dr. Joseph Sacamano, Mosier, OR

"Your workshop is uniquely excellent because of the depth of your knowledge and your ability to track the progress and problems of the participants as you endlessly circuit the work stations. Granted, there are sometimes more than one right answer to a question, but the high quality of your personal work and the thought you have given to your inspiration and technique gives participants a strong base from which to build. And your hospitality and good humor are pretty amazing."

Dr. Ron Klinger, Austin, TX

"Unlikely as it may seem, I participated in the 2011 stonecarving workshop at the suggestion of a one of Ted Fleming's former, and current students, a French Canadian who settled in Santa Fe, and claims that his name is Jacques. Jacques? Really? Anyway, the workshop is held each May, in the village of Gallisteo in which some 150 restless souls sleep and work. Like most places in northern New Mexico, it turns out that you can't throw a stick in Galisteo without hitting some type of artist, or film maker, or recovering architect. And aside from the fact that the weather in May in Galisteo can feel a lot like December in Austin, Texas, I found Galisteo and the territory within it sits to be much to my liking.

Ted keeps the number of participants to a small crew of about seven "artists". So, the instructor-student ratio is small. Ted is both competent and attentive. Although he is not the type of instructor to hover, he was readily available when I became "stuck", and from time to time he was mildly intrusive with corrective instruction that more often than not, steered me away from drowning in the swamp (figuratively speaking, of course. There ain't no swamp in Galisteo!). Ted is a very friendly guy, who brings considerable experience and knowledge to the program.

About the other participants. It is sort of a strange deal to work hip and shoulder with half a dozen strangers, including a French Canadian named Jacques, who labored furiously at fashioning a giant New Mexico chili pepper out of limestone! But I found the diversity in life experiences and interests of the other participants to be a source of energy and humor. I guess the best way that I can frame a description of my workshop experience was that it was really enjoyable. It is not my intent to discount how much I profitted from the seven days of instruction and continuously work on my project. My skills level bumped up more than a notch or two. But what I brought home was a sense of great pleasure associated with the experience. And that sort of says it all.

I intend to return in 2012. That is, if the patron saint of stone cutters smiles in my direction."

Dr. Steve Dunlap, Santa Fe, NM

"You gave me extraordinarily thoughtful suggestions/hints?/propositions?/provocations?. A shared search, and a light hand on the tiller."

Ethan Taliesin, Santa Fe, NM

"Ted Fleming's workshop opened me up to a whole new world of stone carving--something that I always wanted to try, but never knew where to start. His love of the beauty of the stone is undeniable, and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is able to teach stone carving (which for me was a little intimidating) in a way that makes it accessible to anyone, regardless of their skill level.
Much of Ted's extensive knowledge of stone carving was garnered from Italian master marble sculptors in Pietrasanta. Many of these techniques are ancient and were passed down through ateliers throughout countless generations. Ted passes that knowledge on to his students at the workshop and spices them with anecdotes and short maxims in Italian.
Students are provided with excellent advice and instruction on everything--from learning how to be able to envision your sculpture before you start, to how to approach the stone, to what tools are best used for different phases of your piece, to advice on human proportion and anatomy.
Maestro Fleming's instruction is also personal to each student, and each of us created the piece that interested us. Ted helps you realize your own vision and talks with you about how best to take the image you have in your mind, set your tools against the slab, and make that image emerge as a physical reality in stone.
The workshop was also a lot of fun socially. My fellow students (some of whom had taken the workshop before) were all fun, interesting people. In the evenings we would rejoin as a group and eat, drink, and be merry. Suffice it to say, I will definitely be attending next year.
Ted's instruction has not only given me the confidence to work in this beautiful and challenging medium, but has undoubtedly made me a better artist.
And to top it off, Ted is one hell of a nice guy. "

Barb Skinder, Pueblo, Colorado

"I LOVE attending Edward (Ted) Fleming’s sculpture workshop. He is very knowledgeable about stone and is a talented sculptor who willingly transmits his knowledge to others. During the 3 workshops I have attended, Ted accurately assessed my skills and taught to my needs in a patient, clear, concise manner. Ted listened to my dreams for my sculpture, encouraged me to dream big and gave me the skills and confidence necessary to actualize my piece. His workshop provided me with a nurturing space that let me explore my creative self. For those of us who love stone and sculpting, we need no more."