Bowers Museum Hosts Erica Van Pelt Lecture

by Robyn Hawk on November 18, 2010

Calling my SoCal Rock Folks…Have you made it over to the Bowers Museum for the fabulous display of Gemstone Carvings by Master Gem Carver Harold Van Pelt?Well the museum just sweetened the deal…this Saturday there will be a special lecture by Erica Van Pelt (Award Winning Gem Photographer and wife to the Artist).That’s all it took for me — see you at the Bowers!From the Museum website:Saturday, November 20, 2010, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The Fine Art of Gem Carving

Erica Van Pelt, world renowned professional gem photographer, presents a visually stunning lecture describing the progression of steps in collecting gems and minerals at mines in Brazil and around the globe for carving from the rough to the finished piece. Works on display in the current exhibit, Gemstone Carvings: Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt, will be featured. Origins of gem carving will also be discussed. Deepen your understanding and appreciation of the time-consuming but rewarding process of creating magnificent pieces of art from gems and minerals.

Member $7 / Non-member $10/ Parking $2

For more information, please e-mail education@bowers.org or call the Education Department at 714.567.3677.

For over 35 years Harold Van Pelt has perfected the art of carving quartz and agate stones. The Bowers Museum is proud to be the first to assemble a body of Van Pelt`s work in an exhibition that highlights the remarkable beauty and extraordinary skill of gemstone carving.

GEMSTONE CARVINGS: THE MASTERWORKS OF HAROLD VAN PELTSATURDAY, JULY 17 – SUNDAY, MAY 01, 2011

Thousands have admired the work of Harold Van Pelt who, along with his wife Erica, are considered the best gem and mineral photographers in the world. Few know of Van Pelt’s extraordinary ability as a fine art gemstone carver, and nobody has ever seen his entire body of work assembled in one place. Bowers Museum is proud to present the first comprehensive exhibition of the extraordinary artworks of Harold Van Pelt.

For over 35 years Van Pelt has quietly been perfecting the art of carving quartz, rock crystal and agate gemstones. Hundreds of hours go into each multi-faceted, fluted, and textured vase, hollow container, sculpture and vessel, many of which are accented with gold and semi-precious stones. Working the stone down to paper-thin walls brings out the gorgeous natural quality and colors of the agate and gives quartz the transparency of glass. Transformed by one man’s vision and skill from a solid stone to an incredibly delicate work of art, the gemstone carvings of Harold Van Pelt have to be seen to be believed.

Photo Credit: Bowers Website and Kristalle Events

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