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in Naples
celebrating cel bra ing
craving to carve
ASK THE season

artsperts www.harmonmeek.com
in Naples
in Naples

by Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek 599 NINTH STREET, NORTH, SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637

Dear Artsperts, Contrary to the

Just curious. What’s the process for direct carving sculpture? notion that direct carving
requires the brawn and
Sincerely,
Carving to Know aggressiveness of an iron
forger, Lorrie Goulet
Dear Carving, (1925-2021) believed
Few sculptors attempt the challenge of direct carving, where that carving is a form of
skills are learned over the course of years and passed from masters meditation with the eye,
to apprentices. Direct carving is the only form of art where raw the hand and the tool
material is removed to create a work. Typically, it is the opposite working in synch with the
where material is built up and added to create a work of art, for stone or wood. Sculptor
example sculptors who work in clay or painters with adding oil Carol Griffin says, “to
paint to a blank canvas. work as a direct carver is “Olympus” by Lorrie Goulet (1925-2021),
extremely exhilarating.
White Milano Marble,
I believe that respecting the 18”x 22”x 10”,
material, allowing interaction 1981
between it and my hands, head, and heart, and finally watching
forms emerge that please, and often surprise me, is a miraculous
process.” Carol Griffin also describes the process as aromatic, since
Carol Griffin at work in her New York studio. from master to apprentice. José de Creeft (1884-1982) is a famous
carving each block of stone or wood will have its own unique scent.
At Harmon-Meek Gallery, we represent three direct carvers.
Their story demonstrates how this unique skill set is passed down

Spanish-American sculptor who is best known for his “Alice in
Wonderland” sculpture in Central Park. He was the first living
American artist to have a solo exhibition at the National Gallery
of Art in Washington, D.C. Lorrie Goulet was first a student of
de Creeft and later wife of de Creeft. Goulet became a master of
direct carving and instructor to many students over the 70 years

by the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington,
D.C. for fifty years of sculpting. Lorrie Goulet’s apprentice of over
a decade, Carol Griffin has since transitioned to being a master
Direct carving requires spontaneity and flexibility in working she produced sculpture. Goulet was honored with a solo exhibition
with raw materials. With stone, the sculptor will encounter varying carver, and is now an instructor of direct carving at the Woodstock
densities, faults, cracks, unusual streaks, colorful markings, and School of Art in New York.
changes in texture. With wood, sculptors navigate grains, knots, The skills, techniques and even carving tools have been passed
cracks and density variations. To what may seem frustrating for down from de Creeft, to Goulet to Griffin making it a truly special
most, direct carvers have skilled patience in embracing these form of art.
challenging elements such that they become part of the final Sincerely,
sculpture. Often these varying elements in stone or wood can The Artsperts
appear unexpectedly, radically altering the sculptor’s conceptual
direction. However, the skilled carver will incorporate these
surprises into the final creation.

22 Life in Naples | April 2023