July retreat is like no other
By Jay McKinney
For thousands of years, sculpture has been an integral artform in cultures across the world. Whether it’s a 10-foot sculpture in the heart of ancient Rome, or a small corner piece in the lobby of a hotel, the process of sculpting requires time, patience, and an acute attention to detail.
However, that shouldn’t discourage anyone from thinking they can’t do it, because at the Marble Symposium, anyone can sculpt a personal masterpiece. The Marble Symposium was founded in 1989 and minus two COVID-19 years, the event has occurred every summer since.
The gathering was founded by sculptor Madeline Wiener and takes place in the appropriately named town of Marble, located in the heart of the West Elk Mountains. The symposium offers three, week-long sessions throughout the month of July for established and aspiring sculptors to try their hand at sculpting in a scenic setting.
“It's a complete outdoor experience in nature,” Wiener says. “Carving the local stone outdoors in the woods overlooking the Crystal River. I wish I could step into that setting for the first time and experience the utter awe that overwhelms first-timers.”
For $1,250, artists attend an 8-day workshop where they receive a block of marble, a fully equipped outdoor carving site with unlimited access to tools, daily open-forum classes, and one-on-one instruction from talented sculptors.
Visitors often choose to camp nearby or on the property that was donated to the Marble Institute of Colorado in 1994. The symposium provides an incredible outdoor kitchen (made entirely of marble) and offers a meal plan in which participants can gather for meals and share their experience.
In addition to camping, the town’s residents embrace the symposium, with some offering Vrbo and Airbnb options to participants. Including Wiener and her husband, Marble has about 100 residents, but despite the quaint and hidden nature of the town, the symposium is an artistic retreat that attracts people from all over the world and keeps them coming back.
“Each year we are amazed and inspired by the sculptures that are created there,” Wiener says. “Last summer we had a first-timer (to Marble) who created a rabbit and then a llama. Both were incredible showstoppers and the sculptor's wonderful personality came through in his finished work.”
While Marble may be known to tourists as the gateway to the Crystal Mill (one of the most photographed scenes in Colorado), the town is named for its high concentration of Yule marble that is found only in the Yule Creek Valley.
Yule Marble was first discovered in 1873 and has been quarried in the area for more than 100 years. As an artist, Wiener considers it the most beautiful stone to carve with its snowflake finish that makes it sparkle. The stone’s natural beauty is why it has been utilized to clad the exterior of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and multiple other buildings across the country. Unlike other marbles that are typically quarried in open pits and at lower elevations, Yule Marble is quarried today inside a mountain, 9,300 feet above sea level.
While the beauty and history of the marble make it appealing to sculptors, Wiener admits that it is extra rewarding because it is a challenging stone to carve given its structure. However, every participant regardless of skill level is in good hands at the symposium.
“It is totally a non-competitive atmosphere,” Wiener says. “Everyone was a beginner at some time, and this is the perfect opportunity to meet beginners, hobbyists and professionals and learn and be inspired by one another in the most unique setting. Our instructors make rounds to everyone to help guide them through each step.”