When sunlight hits the Calcite crystals, it is like
carving champagne or the last rays of a Hawaiian sunset. I strive to
take my sculptures as thin as possible and these Calcite crystals
capture the incredible light , states California sculptor T Barny.
Honeycomb
Calcite is an impressive & unique form of onyx. It is a
translucent, luminous stone which is mined exclusively in the state of
Utah. Its glowing appeal is ideal for T Barnys curvilinear, mobius and
superellipsoid designs.
In 2008, T Barny has the challenge to carve into the
12,000 pounds of Utah Calcite in his rock garden near Healdsburg,
California. His creative energy is now focused on a stone that captures
the attention of galleries, collectors and art lovers who look for
statement pieces that have unique visual appeal.
I began
carving this rare stone 8 years ago but never had the opportunity to
totally immerse myself in it. The pieces I carved previously were
acquired as soon as they were finished, comments T Barny. The
popularity of his signature mobius design works well with the texture
and transparency that is in this beautiful stone.
The discovery of the stone came about completely by
accident. A group of miners were working at a site in eastern Utah.
They had been removing topsoil and were preparing to leave for the day
when they noticed a pile of overburden glowing in the afternoon sun.
The sunlight refracted through the crystals causing the stone to glow.
The group, quite taken with this phenomenon, removed samples of the
stone to have it tested and classified. It was a new form of calcite.
It differs from the other 700 forms of calcite as a because of it
strength, stability, luminous qualities and color. The color ranges
from a soft, sunshine yellow to a deep honey amber depending upon the
thickness of the stone.
T Barny has spent his life in a love
affair with stone. He studied art, sculpture & design at Denison
University, Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.
Abstraction is his fascination and power tools are his forte. T Barnys
exhibitions and awards span decades and his pieces hold prestigious
placement in collections internationally. stone carving
