Wednesday, March 28, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 5
Crystal artisan sculpts frozen light
By Katy Yoder
Correspondent
Sisters Country attracts
gifted artists, who are inspired
by the beauty and “feel” of
the landscape. There are all
kinds of hidden gems in our
area; some easier to find
than others. These world-
renowned neighbors may live
just down the road, but they
keep a low profile, prefer-
ring a quiet existence condu-
cive to a life of creativity and
contemplation.
Lying in the shadow of
the Cascade Volcanic Arc, the
Three Sisters are monuments
to an eruptive history that qui-
eted thousands of years ago.
The allure of these majestic
volcanoes radiate enormous
power. Beneath the earth’s
surface another world exists,
created by the heat and com-
pression of earth’s formative
geology.
In volcanic regions around
the globe, incredible crystals
have grown and emerged dur-
ing volcanic events. When
magma cools slowly, large
crystals form in rock deep
underground. The word “crys-
tal” comes from the Greek
“krystallos,” meaning clear
ice. These crystals can grow
in various sizes, colors and
formations. The process of
crystallization signifies the
transition from chaos to orga-
nized crystalline structure.
Over the last 35 years,
local sculptor Lawrence
Stoller has been at the fore-
front of the medium of rock
crystals and gemstone carv-
ing. Stoller describes himself
as a sculptor, crystal artisan
and lapidary. His materi-
als, collected from around
the globe, range in size from
pieces small enough to be
worn around your neck to
giants weighing a ton or more.
In Stoller’s Crystalworks stu-
dio, he is pioneering the new
art form of cutting and pol-
ishing megacrystals and large
gemstones.
Stoller has published
two coffee-table books that
illustrate the magnificence
and scope of his art form.
“Primal Beauty” and “Frozen
Light” reveal his philosophy
of creating beauty as por-
trayed through thoughtful
words and magnificent illus-
trations of his works of art.
P r i m a l B e a u t y w a s
recently named a final-
ist in the 30th annual IBPA
Benjamin Franklin Award
program in the category Art
& Photography. The book is
available at Paulina Springs
Books in Sisters.
Stoller’s method of reveal-
ing hidden beauty and crystal-
line light is achieved through
a process of co-creation. A
deep appreciation and rever-
ence for these natural won-
ders has honed his creative
process, which is deeply spiri-
tual and methodical.
“I begin a relationship with
the crystal, working to find its
highest expression,” he said.
“Before beginning work, I
explore its worn and broken
surfaces, touching and discov-
ering its history and agreeing
on a way to further reveal the
beauty that lies within.”
Touring Stoller’s studio
is awe-inspiring. The gently
flowing space is filled with
radiant crystal forms, in a
myriad of geometric shapes.
Smaller pieces are stored on
shelves, the heavier crystals
lie on the floor — colorful,
orderly and mesmerizing.
Many are museum-quality
while others have a trans-
parent density so pure they
could be used for advanced
technology.
When a crystal “starts talk-
ing,” Stoller begins a process
to find the answer to what lies
within the stone. A journey
that may take years begins.
Included in his design and
mental blueprints, Stoller
envisions a base, usually
formed in bronze, to present
the finished piece so that it
holds, lights, and enhances its
beauty.
According to Stoller,
humans interact with these
multifaceted crystals through
Free in-home
Consultation
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Sisters artist Lawrence
Stoller is at the forefront of
the medium of rock crystals
and gemstone carving.
This piece is titled
“Gathering of the Elders.”
PHOTO BY GARY ALVIS
four different fields of inter-
est: minerology; technology;
art; and healing/metaphysics.
Beauty is the shared ingre-
dient that bridges all four
disciplines. Stoller acquires
materials from around the
world, bringing them back to
his studio where he waits and
asks for inspiration and listens
for direction. His methods are
unconventional for some but
timeless for those who under-
stand the connection between
all things.
Once a relationship is
established with the crystal,
Stoller says the inspiration
is combustible. “We agree
about the work to be done,
and I envision a blueprint of
its potential form. I won’t
make a cut until I feel a ‘yes’
fill my body, clearing me to
proceed. To change the state a
stone has been in for millions
of years can be daunting, yet
also serious fun. It is my task
to elicit beauty from matter.
The crystal trusts me. Beauty
is the primal force, emanating
from, and amplified by, the
crystal. I focus on activating
the flow and force of beauty.”
Stoller has an international
following of collectors. He
recently returned from The
Fine Minerals International
Show in Tucson, Arizona,
where he showed a pleth-
ora of creations from jew-
elry to crystals and mega-
gems. Many of the pieces
were merged with bases that
enhanced and lit the gem
capturing its gifts of color,
radiance and spell-binding
design. Collectors appreciate
Stoller’s philosophy: “The
beauty of nature inspires the
heart to pursue the nature of
beauty.”
Stoller has a highly skilled
team of local artisans who
assist him in this arcane art.
Timothy Turco and Ingrid
Mrencso are world-class crys-
tal artisans, Justin Kelchak is
a highly skilled bronze art-
ist, Lawrence’s wife, Sunni,
daughter, Mukti, and sister-
in-law Casey ensure all other
functions of the operation
work smoothly.
To experience more of
Lawrence Stoller’s work, visit
his online Resonant Art Gift
Shop at shop.lawrencestoller.
com.
