Books
A wealth of books about stonework exists, offering technical expertise, aesthetic beauty and philosophical meanderings in equal measure. Here are several that we turn to for inspiration and information. While many of these books can be found at online mega-stores, we encourage you to check your neighborhood library or to order them through a locally-owned bookseller.
Inspiration
Stone by Design: The Artistry of Lew French download under fire movie (Gibbs-Smith, 2005)
Lew French may be the most gifted person working in stone alive today. The fireplaces built of beach stones with driftwood hearths are amazing.
Stone (Harry A. Abrams, 1994) and Passage (Harry A. Abrams, 2004) are just two of several books featuring the environmental artwork of Andy Goldsworthy. He works in various media, including stone. His vision and ability to integrate seamlessly his art into the landscape make his work a fantastic study for masons. The movie documentary Rivers and Tides
(New Video Group, 2004) offers a meditative view of the artist at work and features a segment on building a long stone wall that meanders through a forest.
Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (Houghton Mifflin, 1973) and Pyramid (Houghton Mifflin, 1975) are two of a handful of beautifully rendered and informative books by illustrator David Macaulay. While not the most practical how-to manuals on the market, Macaulay’s books offer great insight into the evolution of masonry construction and architecture. They’re just fun to look at.
Information
Natural Surface Trails by Design: The Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails by Troy Scott Parker (Natureshape, 2004)
This is easily the best book on trail design to be found anywhere, with a great balance between structural design and aesthetic impact.
The Art & Craft of Stonescaping: Setting and Stacking Stone (Lark Books, 1998)
The Art & Craft of Stonework: Dry-Stacking, Mortaring, Paving, Carving, Gardenscaping (Lark Books, 2002)
These two books by Asheville mason and author David Reed are beautiful coffee table books full of excellent photographs and useful technical information. Both feature photographs of work by The Unturned Stone.
Building with Stone by Charles McRaven (Storey Communications, 1989)
Mentor to The Unturned Stone’s founder, Charles McRaven is a noted author, mason and restoration expert. His books stand apart for their no nonsense approach and their wide range of projects. This particular book includes detailed advice on building a stone bridge, the holy grail of drystone masons.
Stone Primer watch bones online by Charles McRaven (Storey Publishing, 2007)
This is the most comprehensive and beautifully photographed book on stone masonry available. It truly is a primer, covering the myriad ways that stone can be used in construction and as artistic accents in the home and garden. It features work by masons and sculptors working across the country, including Fred, who is featured as a “Rock Star.” The book introduced me to the work of a mason based somewhere in the southwest named Doug Bryant, whose work challenges Lew French’s for pure, perfect joinery and inspired stone choices.
The Forgotten Art of Building a Stone Wall: An Illustrated Guide to Dry Wall Construction by Curtis P. Fields (Yankee Publications, 1971)
This is a very quirky little book that frequently turns up in used bookstores. It includes poetic interludes like this ode to being safe on the job site:
Don’t trust a stone
Unless you hone
To sigh and groan
In bed, alone,
With a broken bone.
Exploring Stone Walls: A Field Guide to New England’s Stone Walls by Robert Thorson (Walker & Company, 2005)
This unusual book, the first such field guide of its sort, helps wall enthusiasts find, identify and understand stone walls throughout New England. Thorson, a geology professor at the University of Connecticut, treats walls as so much more than a collection of rocks. A wall’s form, function, geology and anthropological significance are all explored in fascinating detail.
