Mark D. McQuarry, who works with soapstone mined in Nelson County, will give a presentation on his sculpture and the history of the soapstone quarry at Oakland Museum on Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m. 

McQuarry began working with Virginia soapstone in 2000, working as a stone mason and creating stone art to sell at local farmers markets. He has created walkways, steps, art for gardens and interior of homes, using this lovely, local stone.

In 2008 he began working at the Alberene Soapstone Co., in Schulyer, Va., one of the oldest names in Virginia soapstone. 

"I worked there for four years and reached the position of manager. We provided slab and finished items from swimming pool surround in California to acid storage room furnishings in schools in New York City," McQuarry says.

"I then left and began working for a local firm that fabricated and installed the soapstone in and around the Nelson County court building renovations. However, my desire to create art and utilize my training in fabrication of gravestones, led me to became an entrepreneurial artist, working mainly with Virginia soapstone. With gravestones and memorial benches now in place from Lynchburg to Charlottesville and soapstone art work all over the country, that started from natural stone found right here in Virginia."

Oakland Museum is located at 5365 Thomas Nelson Highway across from Tye River Elementary School. The event is free. Donations are always welcome.