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Show Alabaster sculptures ficminslfciedl prodly "I found the mineral with a geologist, and I started researching to find out what it is used for," responded Brent Anderson Ander-son when asked about the mine he owns in which he mines the compound alabaster. Alabaster is a compact fine-textured white and translucent gypsum which is often used for carving into vases and ornaments. In southern Utah, wall boards are made out of this substance. In most homes nowdays, the wall boards are '. - : ' ' f J - - . . J I ' . ' .. 1 -I f I v. .-J ,' - 4 '. ," ; " ' " ;? 1 f . f ' vv It a , I .' ? 1 - - v - - - V ! I ' I ' - - . . , v. - X - ' ' : " BRENT ANDERSON is a sculptor and carves many different items from the mineral alabaster which he mines himself from his own mine. Some of the items he carves are the bell which he is showing, vases, sample chess pieces, and various other items. made out of alabaster. They also make plaster paris out of alabaster. Brent Anderson owns his own mine and operates it himself. This evaporite mineral is found in four to five foot beds of material. Mining isn't hard. He said he just has to break away the rock and find it. "You have to get a solid piece to be able to carve it," noted Mr. Anderson. It is on big chunks of rock. Some of the pieces are too big for him to lift, and he has to find pieces or sizes that he can work with. There are various methods of carving the mineral. You can use a hammer and a chisel, files, lathes, saws and various other tools. Usually a hammer and a chisel is used us-ed when doing large work. Mr. Anderson also uses a high speed dremel tool. It has different sizes of bits that he can put on it to help cut out the detail he wants the piece to have. When using the lathe, the piece is put on and while it is spinning, Mr. Anderson Ander-son takes a tool and makes the design for each piece.- To polish a piece after it has been completed, com-pleted, sand paper and a buffing wheel can be used. These will polish the piece and make it have a shiny look to it. Mr. Anderson makes various items. Some of these include bells, vases, dinosaurs, and he has made sample pieces of a chess set. "I guess it just shows you what you can do if you look around yourself," stated Mr. Anderson. Although Mr. Anderson doesn't get to spend a lot of time sculpturing, he does it when he can. "It is a good diversion from baking," added Mr. Anderson. His occupation oc-cupation is running a doughnut shop. "Some people need a way to express themselves artistically," said Mr. Anderson. He noted this is his way of expressing ex-pressing himself. Mr. Anderson said he would like to sell his mineral to art departments in universities univer-sities for their use. When asked how he learned how to sculpture, Mr. Anderson responded, "just working at it." He has been sculpturing for the past three years and plans to continue. "I guess it just shows you what you can do," he stated. : i " '" U ' : 'y ' f , ....... F . $ I , "f . ( j l - , !- , V J - ) i BRENT ANDERSON shows a cat he carved out of the alabaster he gets from his mine. - (.( V A PIECE of alabaster is put on the lathe. While the lathe is spinning, spin-ning, Brent Anderson takes a tool and makes the design he wants his piece to have. |