Stone carvers prepare for first exhibition

A group of local sculptors will present their first public exhibition at Margaret River HEART, featuring works from artists across a range of backgrounds.

‘Fragments’ is a group of stone carvers, which first met in late 2018 and soon grew into the current group of sculptors who meet weekly to design and create.

“It is hard to describe the joy that we get from seeing a work of art emerge from a rough piece of stone,” sculpture association president Martin Ringer said. “This is an ancient art and we’re aware of the rich history that we bring to life as we work together.”

The Margaret River group has an informal collaborative atmosphere where each member contributes knowledge and skills.

Some members are accomplished visual artists in their own right and some are more experienced with stone carving techniques.

Monday workshops offer a chance to share ideas, with techniques ranging from small scale handwork with chisels and files to large scale pieces hewn from hard stone using disc grinders with diamond blades.

“The soft stones we use are mainly Redgate limestone, Manjimup steatite (soapstone) and Hebel stone which is a manufactured stone. The most common hard stones used are granite and Donnybrook sandstone.”

Since 2007, Mr Ringer has been a member of a carving group of the same name based in the south west of France.

The Australian group was invited to form a jumelage (twinship agreement) with the French sculptors, and members of Fragments of Margaret River will travel to France in 2026 to participate in an international stone carving biennale and a twinship ceremony.

Featuring works from Martin Ringer, Maggi Foy, Julie Kinney, Ross Lonnie, Roz Davies, Cath Clarke, Russell McKnight, Bevely Young, Joyce Y-Hua Lan (Joyce) and Robyn Collins, the Fragments of Margaret River show will open on Friday November 29 and continue at the HEART until December 16.