Page 51 - CulturalAdventures3 final

Along with his parents, Obadiah was introduced to stone
carving techniques by a stonecutter they met at the Com-
mon Ground Fair. The first granite sculpture garden was
created to display stonework and sculptures made by fam-
ily members and other local artists.

In his 20s, Obadiah left Maine to expand his horizons. He
spent several years working at a farm school in Massachu-
setts and traveling to other parts of the world. Then, in
2002, Obadiah came back to Sullivan and bought a quarry
of his own. Since then, he’s been hard at work bringing to
life his own vision of a creative, sustainable lifestyle.
Tall and rangy, with a welcoming smile, Obadiah is a flex-
ible thinker and creative problem-solver. He is passionate
about everything he has created on his property including
the organic garden that provides much of his food, and the
network of trails which visitors are encouraged to explore.

And then there’s the granite. A self-taught craftsman, Obadiah uses stone remnants left behind by quarry workers a century ago to
create the sculptures that enhance the tranquil landscape.

His work covers a wide range of sizes and styles. In some of Obadiah’s monumental sculptures, the stone seems to be minimally
worked, formed from raw chunks of quarried blocks. Other pieces are carved to suggest natural forms – a leaf, a shell – while still
others are polished to enhance the natural colors within the stone. Obadiah’s understanding of his material enables him to create un-
likely juxtapositions: a 10-foot-long fish composed of huge stone chunks that appears to float on the surface of a pond, a dark stone
spiral balanced effortlessly on a rough gray boulder; a stone sailboat perched on a stone wave, with glimpses of the quarry pond visi-
ble through the trees behind. Obadiah also creates landscape pieces, such as benches and stone slab bridges, as well as household
items and jewelry.

Obadiah’s work is informed by his travels. The spirals, twists, sinuous curves, and fish tails are reminiscent of the Maori carvings he
saw in New Zealand. The figural stacked stone pieces are inspired by the inukshuk of northern Canada. Other stacked stone pieces
are reminiscent of the sculptural forms of the dolmens Obadiah saw in Ireland – megalithic stone structures with huge angled capstones.
Although neither inukshuk nor dolmens use mortar or other fasteners, Obadiah drills the stones and inserts metal pins to support his
sculptures.
Obadiah is also committed to preserving the history and techniques of quarrying and stone work. In 2019, he founded the Granite Art
Garden, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote history, art, and sustainability. He introduced the Granite Art Garden with
Quarry Fest, a celebration of his parents’ legacy that offered games, demonstrations, music, and fireworks. It was such a success that
he plans to make it an annual event.

Stone Designs and the Granite Garden Gallery are located at 228 Whales Back Road, Sullivan. (207) 664-9951. For more informa-
tion, visit the website at https://www.stonedesignss.com.

Stone Furnishings
for Home & Garden

228 Whales Back Rd., Sullivan
207-664-9951
obiebuell75@gmail.com
www.stonedesignss.com

49