Kubota Gardens Sketchbook

My sketchbook impressions of the day - 8/8/14

They seemed to merge with the stones. Chisels ringing, stone masons from Japan and around the country worked together at Kubota Gardens yesterday as a group of USk sketchers observed and created pages in their sketchbooks. Once in a while, a whiff of dust would come through the chain link fence as a stone worker blew it out of a granite crevice with his bamboo "straw". Cranes lifted the stones, one or two at a time, and placed them where directed by Junji and Suminori Awata, 14^th and 15^th generation stonemasons and masters of their craft. In just 14 days they will dry fit the granite into an 8 ft. base for the new Terrace Overlook.

Called Rock People Chisels, I am grateful to have shared the experience with my granddaughter and great-granddaughter yesterday.

Rock People Chisels

The sound of chisels on stone rang out over the 20 acre grounds at Kubota Gardens in Renton today. Over 300 tons of High Cascade granite will become an 8-foot high “ishi-gaki” stone base, for the new Terrace Overlook. They use the same techniques that were used to build Japanese castles before the 16^th century. It will be completed during a two week workshop with 20 participants, August 7-20, 2014 – a community effort and rich East-West cultural experience. The public is encouraged to come and share this historical event. Watch as this amazing project transpires!

Front to Back - Susan, Tina, Masons

Meanwhile, approximately a dozen Seattle Urban sketchers of all ages and experience sketched and observed in the shade of a canopy nearby. Be sure to read Tina Koyama's account of the experience and see other photos of the masons at work and the sketchbook pages created by USk. (I'm in the group photo...back row with my sunglasses still on!)  I'll post my sketchbook spread from this historical event tomorrow.