Gem show, with all that glistens, is this weekend in Everett
Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 3, 2018
Shiny, polished, glistening — whatever your yen in rocks and gems, you’ll likely find it at this weekend’s annual Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show in Everett.
“Every kind of stone you can imagine,” said Mel Buhr, co-chairman of the show now in its 65th year, hosted by the Everett Rock & Gem Club.
Some 26 dealers will have stones from all over the world for sale.
Northwest rocks and other locally-found materials also will be available, such as petrified wood, thundereggs and obsidian.
“It’s the perfect event for families and we have something of interest for all ages — young and old,” Buhr said.
There will be exhibits of crystals and minerals, beads and pearls, polished decorative stone artwork and handcrafted jewelry, as well as demonstrations of gemstone faceting, bead making, wire wrapping, silversmithing, stone shaping and polishing techniques.
Maps of statewide collecting and digging sites will be available.
Buhr said one of the things he’s looking forward to is seeing a special exhibit of sculptures by members of the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association.
That’s in addition to the works by Mount Vernon carver Virgil Keltz, who will display his polar bear made from alabaster, an American Indian-styled pipe made from pipestone, a bison made from limestone, a rhinoceros made from obsidian and a bear made from talc.
Keltz, who celebrated his 90th birthday in February, formerly worked in the engineering department of Island Hospital in Anacortes.
He has been making stone carvings for about 40 years. He said his interest in stonework grew from his parents, whom he described as rock hounds.
An accident at a pulp mill he was working at following his high school graduation smashed his left hand.
It left him living with one hand for the remainder of his life, something he shrugs off by saying, “Really I’ve never missed it too much.
“Most people think you can’t do many things with one hand,” he said. “You’d be amazed. I still have my arm. I’m fully capable of doing anything.”
Keltz said he’s currently working on two new pieces. One, made out of obsidian, was inspired by a black woman he spotted on a trip to Los Vegas. He estimates it will take 500 hours to complete the piece, which he envisions as having her seated on a stool surrounded by white-and-blue floor tiles.
The other is of three tropical fish, which all will be carved from one solid piece dumortierite, a blue stone.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
If you go:
The Everett Rock & Gem Club will host its Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 5 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 at Everett Community College’s student fitness center, 2206 Tower St. Everett. The event is free.
More info: www.facebook.com/EverettRockClub/
