Therapeutic Soapstone Carving Workshop, rock pile to mini works of art

By Quinn Fisher

The deafening sounds of grinding soapstone filled the room with a thunderous roar that was cathartic in nature as a group carved its own stone sculptures at the Whitecourt and District Library. On February 1, Lisa Daye, the Library’s Program Co-ordinator, led a soapstone carving art therapy workshop which saw participants choose their own stones and then grind the stone using jagged files and sandpaper to smooth the rocks. In two hours, the transformation from an unassuming pile of dusty rocks to bedazzling, shiny, miniature art pieces was incredible!

Daye said, “Adult Art Therapy has been going for the past two years and, recently, we’ve been offering soapstone carving for little over a year. Doing anything creative like soapstone carving is good for people. I find it the best way to relax and connect with my creative self. I think a lot of other people find that, too. Art has been used as therapy for a very long time for those reasons because it puts you in a good headspace. Right now, while I don’t have anything like this class offered to kids, I have taught kids’ classes in the past. I can certainly do that again if there is enough interest.”

Once a month, there is a Soapstone Carving Club at the library where participants work on their own pieces of art. Anyone is welcome to join the club which is held at the library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. The next session is on February 6. Interested people can pre-register by calling the library at 780-778-2900. There is no initial cost in joining the group. Tools are provided, but larger pieces of soapstone are at the expense of the participant.