The Liberty Collection, Series Four of THE COLLECTION SERIES: Now Underway !

Posted on May 21, 2025August 6, 2025 by Martin Cooney, Stone Sculptor

It’s Been a Long Time Coming, But I’m So Very Pleased to Announce that Series Four of THE COLLECTION SERIES MARBLE SCULPTURE is Now in Full Production

Introducing The Liberty Collection; Named in Celebration of the New Martin Cooney STONEWORKS’ Magnificent Liberty Building – Located at 121 Liberty Street, Council Grove, Kansas

Exterior view of Martin Cooney Stoneworks building in Council Grove, Kansas, featuring a brick facade and parked truck.

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Once again, I am coating myself with a heavy layer of marble dust, carving into Colorado Yule marble with purpose and expanding on my ‘split and carve’ Curvilinear Reductionist Marble Sculpture technique, creating new COLLECTION SERIES marble bowls and sculpture – and I’m loving every minute of it.

In a way, it feels like old times again, when I created the first three COLLECTION SERIES editions; The Maiden Collection, 1314 Winter Collection and the Autumn of 14 Collection. But the circumstances could not be more different. Back then, I was carving in a very rural Woody Creek, just outside Aspen, Colorado, in my admittedly rather ramshackle and utterly utilitarian, beautiful (and beloved!) Birdhaven Studio – a purely functional and entirely ad hoc shed of a workshop that although it served me well, was rather basic in the extreme.

Please click on a picture to enlarge.

'Work in Progres'Bowl, carving process, workshop, Collection Series Marble Sculpture by Martin Cooney.

'Mother of Pearl' Bowl, with the sculptor in the workshop, Collection Series Marble Sculpture by Martin Cooney.

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Although it did inspire with its idyllic rural location, bird sanctuary, ‘floating garden’ and wonderful views. Now I find myself in what can only be described as a truly state-of-the-art, first rate ‘stoneworks’ of the caliber, I suspect, is second to none in perhaps the whole of the United States. For what else could I, or anyone, ever want, other than what I have at my fingertips in that lovely lofty old red brick building at 121 Liberty Street, Council Grove, Kansas?

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Prior to its acquisition by our business partners, Kelley and Jill Judd, earlier this year, this former creamery vehicle maintenance building was operating as a boat dock company and so consequently we inherited a marvelous assortment of features and equipment that applied just as well to stone carving as it does to welding. And so, even before I began the task of equipping and staging the space for its new role as a stoneworks, I could tap into a plethora of useful facilities; such as the forklift, pallet skidder, huge metal work table, large storage sheds and an absolutely comprehensive electrical system that blankets the interior with so many sockets that there is just about one every few feet or so. And best of all, perhaps, is the similarly comprehensive compressed air system powered by a huge industrial compressor that pumps air at 150lbs of pressure to outlets just as prevalent as the electric sockets.

Please click on a picture to enlarge.

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And now, with the grandest of stages well and truly set, what joy it is to turn the key and walk into the Martin Cooney STONEWORKS knowing that another day of glorious stone carving awaits. I do realize that statement may not make too much sense to the uninitiated, but for fellow brothers and sisters of the dust, you will no doubt know exactly what I mean. Even in such prime conditions as these, stone carving is a challenge quite unlike any other and without the benefit of ideal conditions, the reality can often overwhelm even the most ardent enthusiast. Which is why I will be announcing, very shortly, the Martin Cooney STONEWORKS ‘School of Excellence’, where both professionals and amateurs alike may rent a carving bay, tools (if they need them, or they can bring their own), purchase stone (or, again, bring their own), and carve whatever they set their minds to – but that’s for another post. I digress.

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So, back to THE COLLECTION SERIES’ latest edition: The Liberty Collection. Well, the story is truly exciting indeed. Let’s begin at the beginning as the giant three-ton block of Colorado Yule marble was delivered and forked into the Liberty Building.

At a tad over 6,000 lbs, the pristine white block of Yule weighed in at a full 1,000 lbs over the weight limit of our forklift, so, very kindly, neighboring Chris Hartman Masonry came over to give us a hand by lifting the block and moving it into the building with their colossal loader. (Thank you, Chris!).

Please click on a photo to enlarge.

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And there it sat for several weeks while I attended to matters more concerned with preparing the stoneworks than carving in it. Things like; building all the various plinths for the showroom gallery, arranging the place according to its new stone carving agenda, a bit of painting here and there – and a whole bunch of fiddly stuff far too petty to list here, but which took up practically all of my valuable time. And all the while, I looked and looked and studied the block with intense desire. Boy, how I wanted to carve into that thing!

Large rough block of stone resting on wooden supports, inside a workshop with industrial surroundings.

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A large rectangular block of marble resting on wooden supports, marked with red and black spray paint labels.

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And then, at last, the day came, when, in front of the eyes of a visiting delegation of the local Rotary Club, I took a large mallet … and split the thing in two … to the ultimate shock and awe of the assembled crowd, it must be said.

Large block of split Colorado Yule marble on wooden pallets in a workshop, with a hammer resting on top.

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My son, Joseph, who was visiting at the time, kindly drilled the six-inch holes that house the plug and feather wedges, and with questioning eyes, the room watched on as I ‘rang out’ the stone.

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This was not my first foray into the Liberty Slab, however. Prior to this most public spectacle I had ‘nibbled off’ a chunk of one corner a few weeks ago, with the resulting rough blocks producing the first two COLLECTION SERIES carvings; The Liberty Bowl and Biretta (which will be revealed in good time) and a smaller piece I call Abbey Vista. But this was a chance to see right into the block … into its heart and soul.

Please click on a photo to enlarge.

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And what a beautiful spectacle it produced. Glistening, stunning whiter than white marble greeted the eye, bedecked with millions of tiny flashes of crystalline light. And as people gathered around all were amazed at the purity and brilliance of this lovely block of Colorado Yule marble. And so was I!

Close-up of a rough block of Colorado Yule marble with initial carving marks visible.

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So, now it’s ‘game on,’ as it were. Over the coming weeks and months, I will be slowly devouring the Liberty Block … carving and posting the results right here at martincooney.com, for all the world to see: a lovely, lovely, exciting prospect, indeed. So, stay tuned. Sign up for email updates in the column on the right. Come back any time and click around my vast Online Magazine and Gallery. And wish me luck.