Community Arts Partner – The Creative Advantage

Participant Details

Individual Bio or Organizational Statement: Cyra Jane Hobson is a professional stone carver now from Vashon, WA, though she lived in downtown Seattle for 16 years prior. She has been carving since 2009 and also teaches at NW Rockhounds and at Pratt. She's been teaching since 2016 and loves sharing her enthusiasm for stone and carving with students.

Previous School Partnerships: Manchester Elementary, Pt. Orchard Kitsap Lake Elementary, Bremerton West Woodland Elementary, Seattle Lawton Elementary, Seattle Thorton Creek Elementary, Seattle Brownsville Elementary, Bremerton First Street School, Friday Harbor Stevens Elementary, Seattle Green Mountain Elementary, Seabeck Sydney Glen Elementary, Bremerton Washington Elementary, Tacoma Salmon Bay Elementary, Seattle John Hay Elementary, Seattle Wing Luke Elementary, Seattle Crownhill Elementary, Bremerton West Hills STEM, Bremerton Sherman Elementary, Tacoma

Other Trainings or Certifications: Studiostone Creative in-class training, 2015

Sample Lesson Description: Student / Classroom Residencies: In coordination with Studiostone Creative, out of Vancouver, B.C., Cyra offers a 90-minute stone carving workshop in the classroom. Soapstone is a beautiful natural stone that comes to life with color as it's polished. Cyra will give a short introduction on soapstone and the carving process before beginning. If there's time afterward, we can do a Q&A. Each student chooses from a pre-cut wolf, bear or orca and is guided through the process of shaping and polishing the stone. This includes filing the main body shape and adding details like feet and faces, sanding and polishing. Cyra finishes the sculpture with wax that makes the color pop and protects it from wear. All materials provided. Easy Clean-Up. Access to water is needed. The process is highly engaging and the students get to take their sculptures home at the end of the day!

Teaching Philosophy + Approach: Cyra is experienced with running the classroom with up to 35 students working at a time. The teacher can sit back, relax, and carve themselves if they like! A parent helper or two is fine and always appreciated, but not necessary.

Curriculum Integration Possibilities: The soapstone carving works easily into curriculum involving rocks and minerals, animals and indicator species, and Native American studies.