Stone Carving Project Transforms

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Brooklawn kids gently chipped away at “the negative spaces” on Monday, April 9, during a hands-on workshop led by husband and wife arts education team Al and Penny Nelson of Louisville-based Nelstone Stone Carvers. As she instructed the dozen or so young people gathered around the sandstone obelisk, Penny demonstrated how to hold the chisel and tap to break free a small chunk of stone. Eager hands quickly made progress on the stone, revealing messages and images of hope and healing.

When completed, the handiwork of over 100 children at Brooklawn Child & Family Services contributed to the fourth installation on Brooklawn’s campus by the arts educators. The project, made possible through a gift from The Gilbert Foundation, is a core part of both the Nelson’s and Brooklawn’s mission.

According to www.nelstone.com, faith, hope and love are at the center of master artisan Al Nelson’s work:

“Amid the forces of cynicism and negativity, he makes no apologies for the tenderness of his subject matter. In fact he seems to find it particularly satisfying to take a material that is perceived to be as cold and hard as stone and make it appear soft and warm.”

Similarly, the children at Brooklawn, who suffer the consequences of abuse and neglect, may be hardened by the negativity of their pasts. At Brooklawn, they are given an opportunity to re-learn skills that restore hope in themselves and others, and re-kindles a renewed warmth for life.

The sandstone monument, inspired by drawings submitted by the children, reflects Brooklawn’s own message of hope and healing. The stone - transformed into a large book, resting on top of a pedestal carved with images from Brooklawn’s logo - is open to pages that read “hope and healing for young minds and hearts.” The children in each of Brooklawn’s cottages filled containers with treasured items for the time capsule.

(Pictured top left) Candice Medina, executive director at The Gilbert Foundation, observes a Brooklawn youth working with arts education director Penny Nelson of Nelstone. The Gilbert Foundation provided funding for this art therapy program at Brooklawn during the children's Spring Break.

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