Marble dust saturated the air and engulfed artists’ workspaces during the 11th Annual Sylacauga Marble Festival as 34 sculptors worked morning to night during the 12-day event held at the beginning of April.
Artists from across the country and even a master sculptor from Italy set up shop in Blue Bell Park on Norton Avenue in downtown Sylacauga, a town revered internationally for this striking stone, alongside a handful of local names.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmrC2:886C qC@H?6 :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE H6== <?@H? D4F=AE@CD :? E96 2C62 2?5 92D >2?J 4@>A=6E65 2CE A:646D @? 5:DA=2J E9C@F89@FE E96 E@H?] w6 92D DEF5:65 H:E9 >2DE6C 2CE:DED 2?5 4C62E65 9F?5C65D @7 >2C3=6 D4F=AEFC6D @G6C 9:D b_\J62C 42C66C] %9C@F89@FE $J=242F82[ qC@H?6’D H@C<D 42? 36 D66? 2E E96 q]q] r@>6C {:3C2CJ 2?5 $J=242F82 |F?:4:A2= r@>A=6I]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(96? D4F=AE@CD 2CC:G6 @? E96 7:CDE 52J[ 6249 49@@D6D 2 7C66 A:646 @7 >2C3=6 E92E :D 5C@AA65 @77 E@ E96:C 49@D6? 42CG:?8 DA@ED 7@C E96 H66<]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%9:D J62C[ BF2CCJ E@FCD D@=5 @FE E96 H66< 367@C6 E96 76DE:G2= DE2CE65[ 2?5 H6 D@=5 >@C6 D4F=AEFC6D E92? H6 6G6C 92G6 :? E96 A2DE[” D2:5 %65 $A62CD[ >2C3=6 76DE:G2= 492:C>2?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 6G6?E :D @A6? E@ E96 AF3=:4 H9@ >2J 4@>6 3J E@ 25>:C6 E96 2CE:DED H@C<:?8 2?5 2D< BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96:C E2=6?ED 2?5 4C62E:@?D] r9FC49 8C@FAD[ DEF56?ED 2?5 3FD6D H:E9 D@>6E:>6D d_ E@ e_ A6@A=6 C@==65 E9C@F89 5FC:?8 E96 H66<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmt249 J62C[ 2 G:D:E:?8 >2DE6C D4F=AE@C 7C@> !:6EC2D2?E2[ xE2=J[ 2EE6?5D E96 >2C3=6 76DE:G2= 2D 2? 2>32DD25@C E@ C6AC6D6?E E96 4F=EFC2= 6I492?86 36EH66? EH@ >2C3=6\32D65 E@H?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm|2C46==@ v:@C8: C6EFC?65 2D E96 2>32DD25@C E9:D J62C 7@C 9:D D64@?5 E:>6 :? 2 C@H[ 2?5 96 H2D E2D<65 H:E9 4@>A=6E:?8 2 H@C< @7 2CE 367@C6 E96 76DE:G2=’D 6?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE’D 2>2K:?8 2?5 6I4:E:?8 E@ 36 96C6] x =:<6 E96 6?G:C@?>6?E @7 E96 76DE:G2=[ E96 A6@A=6[ E96 2E>@DA96C6[ E96 >2C3=6[” D2:5 v:@C8:] “x’G6 366? 5@:?8 >2C3=6 H@C< >J H9@=6 =:76[ 2?5 x 5@ :E 3642FD6 x =:<6 E@ 5@ :E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 2>32DD25@C @7 E96 76DE:G2= :D C6BF:C65 E@ 5@ AC6D6?E2E:@?D 2E E96 |@?E8@>6CJ |FD6F> @7 u:?6 pCE 2?5 2E q]q] r@>6C {:3C2CJ[ 2D 3@E9 2C6 DA@?D@CD 2?5 @C82?:K6CD 7@C E96 6G6?E]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%9:D J62C 5FC:?8 E96 76DE:G2=[ v:@C8: D4F=AE65 2 A:646 E92E H2D :?DA:C65 3J p=232>2’D 3:46?E6??:2=] p AC@E@EJA6 H2D >256 367@C6 96 2CC:G65 2?5 H2D @? D:E6 7@C C676C6?46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x H2?E65 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 7@C E96 3:46?E6??:2=[ 2?5 :E ;FDE 42>6 ?2EFC2==J E@ >6] xE’D 23@FE E9:D :562 @7 7C665@>[ H9:49 :D 9:DE@C:42==J :>A@CE2?E 7@C E9:D 2C62 H:E9 E96 4:G:= C:89ED >@G6>6?E[” D2:5 v:@C8:] “xE C6AC6D6?ED EC2?D7@C>2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 3FEE6C7=:6D DJ>3@=:K6 >6E2>@CA9@D:D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 7:?2= k6>muC665@>k^6>m D4F=AEFC6 :D @? 5:DA=2J 2E E96 q]q] r@>6C {:3C2CJ[ 2>@?8 A2DE >2DE6C D4F=AE@CD’ 56D:8?D[ 2?5 v:@C8: =23@C65 :?E@ E96 =2DE >:?FE6D @7 9:D 5625=:?6 E@ 7:?:D9 :E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“w6 2=H2JD 49@@D6D D@>6E9:?8 2>3:E:@FD] w6 42?’E 96=A 9:>D6=7[ 2?5 96 8:G6D `d_ A6C46?E @7 9:>D6=7 7@C 9:D H@C<[” D2:5 }2E92=:6 !FC49:@[ v:@C8:’D 2DD:DE2?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 $J=242F82 |2C3=6 u6DE:G2= @C:8:?2E65 :? a_`` 2D A2CE @7 2 4F=EFC2= 6I492?86 AC@8C2> DA@?D@C65 3J E96 p=232>2 $E2E6 r@F?4:= @? E96 pCED 2?5 !:6EC2D2?E2 :? %FD42?J[ xE2=J[ H9:49 :D 9@>6 E@ E96 r2CC2C2 |:?6D 2?5 <?@H? 2D E96 E@H? @7 >2C3=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 >:DD:@? :D E@ C64C62E6 E96 >28:4 @7 >2C3=6 E9C@F89 :ED 2CE:DE:4[ 4@>>6C4:2= 2?5 :?5FDEC:2= 2AA=:42E:@?D[” D2:5 $A62CD]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm{2DE J62C[ #F5J |65=@4< 7C@> z6?EF4<J[ 42>6 E9C@F89 2D 2 G:D:E@C D:?46 9:D 52F89E6C H@C<D H:E9 E96 |@?E8@>6CJ pCED r@F?4:=[ 2?5 96 6?565 FA DE2J:?8 7@C :ED 6?E:C6EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“(96? x 8@E 96C6[ E96J :?G:E65 >6 E@ ;@:? E96>[ 2?5 D@ x ;FDE DE2J65] x 3@CC@H65 D@>6 E@@=D 2?5 3@F89E D@>6 4=@E96D[” D2:5 |65=@4< H9@ E62496D 7:?6 2CED 2E pD3FCJ &?:G6CD:EJ :? z6?EF4<J 2?5 92D 366? 42CG:?8 7@C ad J62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E9:D J62C’D 76DE:G2=[ |65=@4< 4@>A=6E65 EH@ D4F=AEFC6D[ 6249 H:E9:? 23@FE 7@FC 52JD] w6 D2:5 9:D 56D:8? :?DA:C2E:@? 4@>6D 7C@> >2:?E2:?:?8 2 D:K6 E92E 96 42? A:4< FA] p=D@ |65=@4< H@C<D @? 2 C6DFCC64E:@? D6C:6D[ :?DA:C65 3J 9:D 72:E9]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%9:D :D E96 8C62E6DE 6G6?E 6G6C[ 6DA64:2==J E92E :E’D 7C66] %92E’D 2=>@DE F?962C5 @7[” D2:5 |65=@4<] “x A=2? E@ 4@>6 324< 6249 J62C F?E:= E96J E6== >6 ?@E E@]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$@>6 2CE:DED @?=J H@C< :? >2C3=6 @?46 2 J62C 2E E96 $J=242F82 |2C3=6 u6DE:G2=[ DF49 2D #@4<7@C5 C6D:56?E uC2?46D4@ '6KK@?:]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x’G6 H@C<65 2E E96 $J=242F82 BF2CCJ 96C6 D:?46 E96 ’h_D[ 2?5 x 2> 2? 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66C 3J EC256[” D2:5 '6KK@?:] “~?46 2 J62C x 4@>6 E@ A=2J H:E9 >2C3=6 2?5 92G6 366? 5@:?8 E9:D D:?46 a_`c]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm(9:=6 |65=@4<’D DEJ=6 :D >@C6 :?DE:?4E:G6 H:E9 J62CD @7 9@?65 4C27ED>2?D9:A 2?5 '6KK@?:’D :D 7@C 7F?[ y:>>J tH:?8 7C@> pE=2?E2 2AAC@2496D 9:D >2C3=6 42CG:?8 >@C6 >6E:4F=@FD=J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD 2 7@C>6C 26C@?2FE:42= 6?8:?66C 2?5 2 A2E6?E =2HJ6C 7@C >@C6 E92? E9C66 564256D[ tH:?8 D2:5 96 2=H2JD 6?;@J65 D4:6?46 2?5 >2E9 3642FD6 E96C6 :D =:EE=6 C@@> 7@C :?E6CAC6E2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x =:<6 E@ A:4< :CC68F=2C D92A6D E@ DE2CE H:E9j 2?5 E96?[ x 92G6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE :E 7@C 9@FCD] p7E6C[ x 368:? E@ 5C2H :E @FE H:E9 CF=6CD 2?5 A6?4:=D] x FD6 2 92>>6C E@ =:DE6? 7@C H96C6 E96 72F=ED 2C6[” D2:5 tH:?8] “%9:D >6E9@5 5C:G6D D@>6 @E96C 2CE:DED 4C2KJ]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw:D >2C3=6 D4F=AE:?8 3642>6 2 7F==\E:>6 9@33J :? a_`c[ 2?5 96 92D 2EE6?565 E96 |28:4 @7 |2C3=6 u6DE:G2= D:?46 a_`d] (92E 3682? 2D 23DEC24E H@C< AFD965 tH:?8 E@H2C5 >@C6 :?EC:42E6 56D:8?D] #646?E=J[ 96 DE2CE65 H@C<:?8 @? 92?5D[ H9:49 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE 492==6?8:?8 DEJ=6D E@ C6AC6D6?E[ 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“x 49@D6 E@ 4C62E6 2 92?5 D4F=AEFC6 5FC:?8 >J D64@?5 J62C @7 E96 76DE:G2=[ 2?5 >2DE6C D4F=AE@C v:@G2??: q2=56C: E@=5 >6 x ?66565 E@ AC24E:46 `[___ E:>6D E@ 5@ :E H6==[” D2:5 tH:?8]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!C24E:4:?8 :? 4=2J :D @?6 D@=FE:@?[ D:?46 :E 42? 36 C6\H@C<65[ 96 25565] |2C3=6 42CG:?8 :D 2 DF3EC24E:G6 >6E9@5[ D@ @?46 :E’D 8@?6[ :E’D 8@?6] |2?J 2CE:DED H9@ H@C< H:E9 >2C3=6 8@E E96:C DE2CE :? H@@5H@C<:?8[ D2:5 $9:C=6J $A62CD[ H9@ H@C<65 2E E96 =:3C2CJ 7@C bb J62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmtH:?8 D2:5 C6DA64E:?8 E96 DE@?6 2?5 H96C6 :E 42>6 7C@> :D 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E96 76DE:G2=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96J CF? 2 8@@5 D9@H 96C6 2?5 <66A :E 2E E96 C:89E =6G6=] tG6CJ@?6 96C6 2AAC64:2E6D E96 =:76 7@C>D E92E H6C6 8:G6? FA E@ 4C62E6 E96 >2C3=6] %96 D4F=AE@CD 96C6 766= E92E[” D2:5 tH:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw:D 2CE:DE:4 :?4=:?2E:@? 5:5?’E 4@>6 23@FE F?E:= a__d H96? 96 G:D:E65 2 DE@?6 J2C5 :? v6C>2?J 2?5 7@F?5 2 DE2EF6 96 H2?E65 E@ 3FJ] p7E6C 9288=:?8 E96 AC:46 2?5 C62=:K:?8 E96 4@DE :E H@F=5 36 E@ D9:A[ tH:?8 E9@F89E 23@FE ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 @?6 9:>D6=7]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmq24< 9@>6[ 96 D:8?65 FA 7@C D@>6 2CE 4=2DD6D 2?5 925 ?@ :562 H96C6 E92E H@F=5 =625]kDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm k^DA2?mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“%96 :?DECF4E@C 92?565 >6 2 A:646 @7 DE@?6 2?5 2 92>>6C 2?5 49:D6= 2?5 D6?E >6 E@ E96 4@C?6C @7 E96 C@@>] x ;FDE DE2CE65 9:EE:?8 :E E@ D66 H92E 92AA6?D[” D2:5 tH:?8] “r9:AD ;FDE DE2CE65 7=J:?8[ 2?5 :E H2D =:<6 bb J62CD @7 7CFDEC2E:@? 3682? 4@>:?8 @FE]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmsFC:?8 E96 2??F2= `a\52J AC@8C2>[ E@FCD @7 E96 $J=242F82 |2C3=6 "F2CCJ 2C6 2G2:=23=6j D4F=AEFC6D 7C@> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 2C6 7@C D2=6j 49:=5C6? A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2 >2C3=6\E96>65 A@DE6C 4@?E6DE[ 2?5 2CE:DED 2C6 C64@8?:K65 H:E9 2 >2J@C’D C646AE:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD:56 7C@> 2CC2?865 BF2CCJ E@FCD[ E96 x>6CJD\v2?EE’D "F2CCJ ~3D6CG2E:@? !@:?E :D @A6? E@ E96 AF3=:4 h 2]>] E@ c A]>] 52:=J] %96 D46?:4 @G6C=@@< 4@?E2:?D 9:DE@C:42= >2C<6CD 23@FE E96 9:DE@CJ @7 >2C3=6 7C@> E96 E:>6 sC] t5H2C5 v2?EE 5:D4@G6C65 E96 DE@?6 H9:=6 @? 5FEJ 7@C p?5C6H y24<D@?’D 2C>J :? E96 `g__D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96C6 2C6 ?62C=J b[___ 4@>A@?6?ED :? E96 H@C=5 E92E 4@?E2:? >2C3=6 2D 6IEC24E65 42=4:F> 56A@D:ED[ 2?5 7@FC @FE @7 E96 7:G6 :?5FDEC:6D :? $J=242F82 2C6 =@42E65 E96C6 5F6 E@ E96 >2C3=6 BF2CC:6D[ D2:5 $A62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 $J=242F82 |2C3=6 u6DE:G2=[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^334@>6C=:3C2CJ]?6E^>2C3=676DE:G2=Qm334@>6C=:3C2CJ]?6E^>2C3=676DE:G2=k^2m]k^DA2?mk^Am
