Stone carvers group joins The Foundry

The Art Campus at Fallbrook is growing once again. Following the addition of a studio for sculptor Alan Hochman, The Foundry is now adding a pavilion for the use of the Vista Grande Stone Carvers group. At a barbecue held to welcome the stone carvers to the facility on February 17, Hochman told them, “I am doubly excited to be moving here because after I signed the agreement with The Foundry, you all came in.” The artists present all agreed that even though art is a solitary occupation, they all like to work with other artists.

The group had been located in Vista, where stone carver Anthony Amato owned property used by various other stone carvers for over 30 years. The property was sold last year and the group’s search for a new home led them to Fallbrook and The Foundry, which specializes in the creation of three-dimensional art.

The 10 members of the group come from all over San Diego County and beyond. Among them, David Thompson comes from Carlsbad, Dave Thor from Vista, Alec Conley from Rainbow and Carol Babcock travels all the way from Pasadena. Their experience in carving stone ranges from Thor’s two years to Babcock’s 25 years. Most do it as a hobby; some sell their work and some give it as gifts to relatives and friends.

Thompson, a lawyer, spends two days a week carving stone to get a break from his criminal defense and personal injury plaintiff cases. “For me the rock is hard enough that I have to give it all my attention,” he said, so he isn’t thinking about work. His pieces are tabletop figures for the most part and are created with specific people in mind.

Alec Conley and his wife Nell moved to Rainbow in 1999 to have the room he needs to work with stone and not bother the neighbors. He explained that stone carving, even with smaller figures, creates a lot of dust and noise. The new pavilion will have 10 work stations so the stone carvers will be able to interact with each other while they work on their art.

The preparations for and construction of the new Stone Carvers Pavilion are being funded by local art patrons Jens and Inge Axelgaard. Vince Ross of the Fallbrook Village Association arranged for the use of the empty lot next door to The Foundry. The lot, owned by the association, was separated from the Foundry by “The Fallbrook Fence,” which was moved to run along Alvarado Street. Ross is also handling the paperwork involved in adding the structure to the facility. At the barbecue, he let the carvers know that the pavilion should be ready to go within a month. Until then, Foundry director Kathy McNeely invited the carvers to use other parts of the facility to continue their stone carving. McNeely is happy to have the group at The Foundry, as they add an Old World element to the artistic endeavors found at The Art Campus.