Incredible India

Incredible India

“Under the gaze of the angels, a spectacle like he’s never seen. Spinning lights and faces, demon music and gypsy queens.” -N. Peart, from “Carnies” “Life will be so boring when I get home” I thought to myself after spending nearly a month immersed in the craziness of India, an experience that is the polar opposite…

Dirty Angel

Dirty Angel

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free…”  -Michelangelo On the Gonzaga campus, there sits a lonely angel, offering holy water at the entrance of St. Aloysius cathedral. A hundred years of dipping fingers in the water, leaving behind dirt, oil, hand lotions and the like, contaminating the old,…

Scuola del Marmo

Scuola del Marmo

These days, young people entering the workforce generally seem to gravitate towards technology driven jobs, as opposed to careers in the trades. Although this seems to be the case abroad as well, I am happy to report that teaching traditional craftsmanship is alive and well at the Brenzoni Scuola del Marmo (school of marble) among…

How to be a better customer

How to be a better customer

A better customer? Sounds like a harsh statement, doesn’t it? After all, isn’t it up to the company to try to be better for you? Well yes, but why not give yourself some advantages that will ensure the most success with your natural stone project. On websites and on the internet in general, you’ll find many lists…

A special Christmas ornament

A special Christmas ornament

With the Christmas season upon us, I’d like to share something a little unusual. So, let’s make something… The way we cut stone is either with diamond tipped blades, or by abrasive waterjet, with the waterjet being the more interesting of the two methods. Allow me to demonstrate: An abrasive waterjet is pretty straight forward….

Welcome to the jungle

Welcome to the jungle

“You know where you are? You’re in the jungle, baby! You’re gonna die…”  -W. Axl Rose I’ll admit, based on the online community’s chatter on Brazilian travel, I had reservations about going there. Reading about the high crime rate, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, along with statements like “always keep a few reais in your pocket for…

Visiting the artists of Italy

Visiting the artists of Italy

In route to the Marmomacc stone fair, we once again planned a few “extra” adventures before conducting our business in northern Italy. Starting in Bari, we made our way off the beaten path to the ancient city of Matera, one of the longest continually inhabited cities on the planet. The oldest parts of this Basilicata…