When stonemason Josh Bowes needed stone to create a skull for an exhibition at the Ballarat Art Gallery he knew just where to look.
In the heart of gold rush country on a friend’s farm, a one and a half tonne basalt boulder had sat unwanted for generations. Over the years farmers had moved it around and threatened to blow it up.
Josh is a stonemason who has dedicated his life to exploring the material. He carves, he sculpts, he draws and he build walls from stones. He loves stone because it is rustic and honest. The appeal of creating harmony from its randomness drives him.
Josh Bowes comes from a line of men who made things with their hands. His father was a furniture maker, his grandfather a farmer. Josh studied landscape architecture at university but left after a year, itching to work with his own hands. At 19 he set up a drystone-wall business, and since then he’s been at work in paddocks, rural streets and back gardens, with only a hammer, chisels and his imagination.
Each stone and each job is different. Josh is inspired by history and the process and would prefer to build a wall with the stones littering a paddock, than have fresh ones brought in.
His favourite of his walls encloses a herd of cattle that rub against it, burnishing the stones. He loves the composition that he’s created in the landscape: the wall is practical and beautiful, changing with the seasons.
And that unwanted basalt boulder? After a month of chiseling and hammering, being transported by excavator and trailer, it sat proudly displayed in The Ballarat Art Gallery.
Josh’s other creations, drystone walls, headstones and sculptures, can be found around the region. Or on instagram @drystonejackson
About the author
Kate Ulman
Kate Ulman has many titles: mother, wife, organic farmer, baker, crocheter, knitter, stitcher and creator of a fantastic blog, Foxs Lane.
-
Kate Ulmanhttps://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/author/kate-ulman/May 21, 2018
Share this article
While You're Here
The Art of Writing
Mount Macedon made sense as a base for our family as it was close enough to Melbourne and the…
The Sound of Music
From pub rock to cabaret and cocktails, the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region hits all the right…
Workshops with Heart
Being part of a workshop is a clever way of creating great memories from your time in a unique…
Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival
Autumn truly is one of the best times to visit the Macedon Ranges, as the region puts on its annual…
Feed your Creative Cravings
Art Galleries in the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges region dip into your guts and rip out a…
Top Spots for Winter Shots
We asked six of our favourite local photographers to share their tips on where to capture the best…