For those who have always wanted to create their own jewelry, an upcoming opportunity to do so involves working with stone used by a late master carver.

Classes focusing on the craft will be held at the Cloudstone Sculpture Park studio, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 9, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10.

Cloudstone Sculpture Park is a 20-acre abstract art experience complete with more than 400 sculptures carved by founder Hank Nelson, who passed away earlier this year.

In 2021, the nonprofit Cloudstone Foundation opened a classroom for lessons on the property. So far, classes have focused on carving, but some new workshops will give participants the chance to work on a much smaller scale with pieces of jewelry.

Self-taught wire-twisting jewelry-maker and avid rock collector Cindy Van Gerpen-Henn will be teaching the classes.

She’s been tumbling shards from Nelson’s sculptures so people can recreate jewelry from the stones hand-picked by him. They will also be able to choose some rocks from his own collection.

“Hank was also a rock collector, and since his passing, I’ve found a lot of rocks that he had just in paper sacks around the house,” Van Gerpen-Henn said. “Not only will it be Cloudstone stones, it will also be stones Hank collected on the West Coast, specifically in the Pacific Northwest.”

Lapis, prehnite and marble are the available choices.

The first class a participant attends costs $75, which includes special pliers, wire and a guided tour of the sculpture park and gallery. Subsequent classes are priced at $50 per session. For an additional $10, participants will be able to select the rocks and jewelry hardware – whether ring, chain or earrings – they desire.

More information about the classes can be found at cloudstonefoundation.org.

When Van Gerpen-Henn first wore a necklace and a pair of earrings made out of lapis to a board meeting for the Cloudstone Foundation three years ago, Nelson told her she should share her skills.

“This class is kind of three years in the making,” she said.

Burt Beusch, who is also a board member for the nonprofit foundation, said that more classes will be offered at the studio in the sculpture park. Eventually, there will be a full lineup available.

The variety of workshops, he added, is something Nelson envisioned for the future of Cloudstone Sculpture Park.

“We miss Hank terribly, but we are really excited to continue to share his message and his love of 3D sculpture,” Beusch said.

Finished pieces of wire-wrapped jewelry made by Cindy Van Gerpen-Henn. (Photo by Don Wodjenski)