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Jack’s Journal: Rockin’ K Stoneworks

When is a pile of rocks not a pile of rocks? Easy, after Kevin Kaye gets done with them!

Then, they are more than likely a lovely lamp.

“They are sculptures that are functional. They are a nice piece of nature, you can light them up, you can use them inside,” explains Kevin, of .

For years he landscaped stone walls. Then he got the idea to use smaller rocks: easier to move and still be creative.

Over the years he’s added other items to his lineup.

“Lamps are my main, those are the ones I have the most fun making,” said Kevin. “They are creative with a lot of mind work in it. I make vases, which are simple but people love them. Just started making picture frames. I carve the metal, make designs.”

Cutting stone is still a dusty duty, but it’s easier on the back than stone walls.

He gets rock from the U.P. and local gravel pits.

His tools are simple, his imagination is vast.

The stone isn’t polished, but he does coat it to bring out the colors.

In his workshop he stacks and unstacks, drills and cuts, all the while seeing the finished product in his mind’s eye.

Now that it’s winter, he spends about 30 hours a week creating!

“Winter time is when I build my lamps. I do art fairs throughout Michigan and galleries. I don’t have time. Winter is the time, there’s no pressure,” said Kevin.

Human ingenuity, taking something as simple as a stone, putting a creative eye to it, and a beautiful piece is created.

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