History and Philosophy

Dale Johnson (BFA) formed Old World Stone Carving in 1993 in response to his desire to become more directly involved with the client in the design process. He worked for several years as full-time professional stone carver, producing works for larger stone companies, and was frustrated with executing designs provided by his employers, none of whom had the background to qualify them to design appropriate stone carvings on demand.

Initially, Mr. Johnson, and his then and current assistant, Matthew Palmer, produced as much work as possible for the budget agreed to by the clients and ourselves. We strove to produce exactly to the break-even point in order to train ourselves beyond the reach of limited budgets, and to demonstrate to future clients some of what we are capable of.

Along with this effort, we strove to read and travel to view great works of stone carving as often as possible. Unfortunately, the teachers of stone carving are almost all dead - the work they left behind has been our best teacher.

We soon realized that meeting the standards of craftsmanship established by millenia of skilled and dedicated artisans was and is a nearly spiritual endeavor. We have developed not only physical skill; we also cultivate the spiritual aspects of our work.

Although we make beautiful things, most of our work also has a content, a history of symbolic meaning. We have researched and continue to share those meanings during the design process.

Ours are not just pretty pictures.

We believe that a Renaissance, which means "rebirth of learning," is not only possible, but that it is necessary. In Florence of the 15th Century, there were only 40,000 citizens, yet Michaelangelo, DaVinci, et al, lived and prospered there.

How much more can supportive patronage and the billions of us now alive do?

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