Lapidary was first offered in 1991, when McAleese, a veteran stone carver who supplies designers throughout southwestern Ontario, was brought in to teach it as an elective. The students wanted more of it, though, and last September it became an integral part of the graduate program. We sort of said, 'OK, let's get them making jewelry and then throw in the lapidary. They cut probably six stones on the very first day of lapidary class, because they're really good at doing this stuff. So the learning curve is really quick.
Students work on separate projects involving cabochons and carved inlays.
They've worked more expensive stuff. We've brought in turquoise, black onyx, and that kind of thing, but I really wanted them not to feel intimidated by the cost of the material. The students' work ranges widely in terms of size. But she admitted to a little trepidation at cutting stones. Now, though, she's really taken to it.