As I move into the spring, my thoughts become clearer. I have been in a pretty deep fog these last two years and with only a few creative stone jobs, focused heavily on construction, communication, finances and advocacy. Some of you know that two years ago, we had a major structure fire here on our property and lost our barn, the studio and half of the house. As we have moved forward through construction and out of the frenzy, I now have come back to my stone work and am gearing up for spring projects lifting off the ground. I have a back to back project calendar this year and will, for the first time, take interns to support me in the teaching and rebuilding process. I will be building stone sculpture on every day that is not building construction, design or stained glass construction. Absolutely every day has commitments. Most of them are local to Vermont, but one is in Massachusetts.
After the debris clean up and land and energy clearing after the fire, and after we buried our animals, I began to design and organize for the new barn. We raised the beautiful new structure 6 months to the day from when we lost the former one. The house construction followed, with siding, a kitchen and bathroom, and then a plaster workshop in November. We hunkered down for that winter and in January began work to found a new timber frame that was raised Feb. 1, 2019. I framed it in and re-installed the 8 windows I salvaged from the lost room that was on that foundation for the previous 200 years. In July, we laid the foundation for a two story addition in the rear of the main farm house, and in August Yestermorrow Design/Build School installed that, with some of the same students that had raised the timber frame. We’ve been working on finishing the interior, and soon will finish the siding, though it’s still really winter here, the days have shifted and are longer and milder and gentler.
I have begun the work of building stained glass. I am designing and building a glass green house covered in beautiful pieces of art made here in my studio.
I have several stone workshops scheduled in the area and here at home.
To this end, I am offering 3 distinct internship opportunities.
March 16-27 Stained Glass Green House Internship
We will design and frame a green house to sit in the orchard here at my property. We will continue the work of building stained glass windows to cover all sides of the green house. We may or may not finish the work, but will have a lot of it ready to go. The work in the studio is not weather dependent, and much of the framing can be prefabricated in my wood shop in the barn, and installed when the weather breaks if it is still insisting on being winter here. We will use mostly salvaged and recycled materials. Housing and meals provided along with a stipend of $250. Apply via email with your experience, level of knowledge and best and worst stories about yourself: thea@myearthwork.com
March 30-April 10 Basic Carpentry Internship
We will complete the siding and finish trim work inside and outside of the new additions on the house. We will design decorative trim details and address cement and foundation treatments as well as wood siding treatments. We will also design and instal railings on a balcony and porch, and work on a tiny faux timber frame project to support the roof for the pizza oven workshop coming in August. Housing and meals provided along with a stipend of $250. Apply via email with your experience, level of knowledge and best and worst stories about yourself: thea@myearthwork.com
June 20-July 3 Pond Internship
This intern will support a busy 2 week workshop and be my go-to in design and building for the students who will join us. Together we will work out the logistics of the ordering of materials, prep work and planning in advance of the workshop, via email, and phone conversations, and meet up prior to the workshop to begin prep together. This intern will come away with a deep knowledge of stone work, pond building, design process and insights in to the chaos of getting things done. Housing and meals provided along with a stipend of $250. Apply via email with your experience, level of knowledge and best and worst stories about yourself: thea@myearthwork.com
If you want to be a working artist, a builder, keep bees or goats, make a living, maintain sanity and humor, and generally thrive, please consider joining a workshop or intern program. If you are not a natural worker, pessimistic, tardy, love hours in hammocks, tire easily, prefer junk food, spend hours scrolling, apply, but know that you will have to change some of your habits quickly.