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To create a fine work of art, the artist must be immersed in the entire
process.
At Naturally Stone Works of Alaska, we find, cut, polish, design and
set
all our pieces of art.
We travel North America prospecting in some of the continent's remotest
areas.
From Alaska to Mexico to Labrador, many new and rare gemstones have been
incorporated
into our collection. Some are unavailable elsewhere.
If the natural beauty of the rock could be enhanced, we then cut and
polish
it attempting to retain the integrity of its original shape. The next
step in
the creative process is the conception of the finished product which
is
performed, when possible, in the environment in which the stones were
found.
Finally, using our philosophy that each piece should reflect the essence
of
its ambient location, the work of art is assembled.
The artists Ruta Vaskys and Martin Freed have had a number of careers
including faculty appointments at various colleges, entrepreneurs,trapping
and collecting wild herbs in Vermont and Alaska and conservation writers
and photographers
Ms. Vaskys has a BS in Occupational Therapy and a masters in counseling.
She has worked in both fields and has been a professional commercial artist.
She studied at the Maryland Institute of Art, the Richmond Professional Institute
and did her graduate study at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
Mr. Freed taught geology, chemistry and mathematics and has a
also did his graduate work at UAF. He was a
Garment Center excutive in the 1960s.
After graduate school, Martin and Ruta made Alaska their home
and at present have a residence in Fairbanks.
The couple met on top of Mount Abraham in Vermont in 1976 and have
been climbing mountains together ever since.