Monuments carved from stone in honor of those we have lost dot landscapes all around the world. Some are modest, sharing just a single name and date. Others seem larger than life, intricately carved, all leaving a lasting remembrance of whom it is dedicated to. Choices such as material, symbols, names, and dedications are the last way families can tell the story of the deceased. Trust is then placed in the stone carver who transforms all that information into a lasting piece of art, and the final physical mark we will leave on this world.
While cemeteries date back to ancient Greece, the practice of placing a monument in honor of the deceased extends to this day. Stone carvers are the talented tradesmen who carry on this tradition, sometimes even continuing past practices, creating forever reminders of those who have gone.
In Keeping With Tradition
Adam Paul Heller focuses his practice on creating monuments for the deceased. Adam studied for two years as an Artist in Residence at the rural Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut. This residency led to three years of work at the John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, where the tradition of hand brush lettering, calligraphy, and hand-carved stone remains intact.
Heller starts his projects with a conversation with the family. After initial sketches, a final design is agreed upon, the proper material is acquired, and the initial sketches are turned into full-scale drawings. The approved drawings are carved with confidence and finality.
Lettering for his stones is also written and carved by hand. “After working everything out on paper with a brush, the letters are traced, and final spacing changes or letter weight adjustments are noted. Then the stone is lined, an outline of the final letters is traced and re-brushed onto the stone to stay true to the crisp and sumptuous movement of the brushed letterforms,” explains Heller. “Are there faster ways of doing this? Yes (machines). Are there more satisfying ways of making letters? Not that I know of.”
As Unique as Your Loved One
Michael A. Angelicola has been a mason since the mid-1980s. He slowly started including stone carving into his work through addresses on pillar entryways, bird baths, and benches. As a result of his background with stone, he thrives in the challenge of carving granite, also occasionally working with brownstone, marble, or limestone.
His work with monuments for the deceased started by volunteering in historic cemeteries to reset stones that had fallen or were in danger of falling. Michael was asked to carve two small headstones for sisters who died in the mid-1700s as children and whose stones were missing. From there he volunteered to carve replacement monuments with left-over masonry stone. “I didn’t want to see someone’s gravestone, which is often the only record of their existence, lost to time,” says Angelicola.
“I spent a lot of time in older cemeteries and felt there was so much thought, time, and skill that went into making them that many modern headstones had lost,” states Angelicola. “Many families contact me because they have a design in mind that usually tells something about their loved one. For example, I made a headstone for someone who was an artist, liked cats, and old gravestones. I shaped his stone in an older style and carved a paintbrush and cat’s paw print. His family loved it and to me, that is more rewarding than any amount of money.”
Beautiful by Hand
Both Angelicola and Heller pride themselves on carving by hand. Using a mallet, chisel, or other hand tools is a process that is slower than technological engraving but yields beautiful results with stunning detail and greater flexibility for families.
“My thoughts on traditional carving are that you are using your hands and skills to create something special for someone that will help bring comfort to a grieving family. With traditional methods you are also always working to evolve your skills and taking on new challenges,” says Angelicola.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about machines, AI, and the “frictionless” world of tech. These all have their place, but I have come to the conclusion that as smooth as tech and modernity can be, the soul requires friction. Carving stone is just one way to enjoy the beauty of human interaction with material,” explains Heller.
Celebrating and memorializing someone who has passed is deeply intertwined with the human experience. Every person spends their life building a legacy and artists such as these create the final monument representing that life’s work. The beauty in hand-carved stone represents thousands of years of tradition but also represents the unique decades of each person’s life.
To learn more about Angelicola’s work visit michaelaangelicolastonecarving.com and visit adampaulheller.com to see more of Heller’s practice. •
