Indiana Limestone Symposium

09/29/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrI3uvZtoxM

Please visit: https://johnfishersculpture.com

08/30/2026

Thank you Bybee Stone Co for 30 years of support!

08/18/2026

Join us this Saturday at Karst Farm Park from 11am -3pm for carving demos!

06/20/2026

We had a wonderful conclusion to our 30th Anniversary Symposium. Thank you to all of our dedicated staff, instructors, and board members whose hard work made this event such a success. We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors for their generous support and commitment. Together, you helped make this milestone celebration truly memorable. Thank you for being part of our journey and for helping us celebrate 30 years of achievement and community.

06/14/2026

We had a successful end to our first week! Now on to week 2!

06/09/2026

Off to a great start in week one!
We got some nice candid shots of a handful of our pneumatic carvers.

05/26/2026

Looking for another way to support us? Check out how to become a member and the perks that come with!

05/12/2026

02/17/2026

Winthrop Footes Tomb (Bedford, Indiana)
I was long fascinated by this tomb in the woods that was all by itself. It looks like something out of the ancient world, and the story of the man inside it was nothing less impressive: he was one of the founders of Bedford itself. A county legend.

I took over four months studying Winthrop Foote’s life, a highly intelligent man that was both a lawyer and a doctor. He swam across the White River to help patients on the other side, and saved an entire town from a mysterious deadly disease. He also founded the Lawrence County limestone industry. He was an absolute living legend in his time.

In making the three films about his life, I made many friends at the Lawrence County history Museum, and consulted with author Brian Turpen. Brian was a relative I didn’t know existed, and the leading authority on Winthrop Foote. Armed with the best information possible, I was fully prepared to tell a hero story, and then I hit a wall.

After Winthrop’s son died, the legend faltered. He became an alcoholic and left his wife of many years for a younger woman. He bought a casket for himself that cost the equivalent of a house. His own son sued him and called him incompetent, accused him of losing it. Winthrop even paid a man to cut a tomb out of a single piece of limestone, at great expense. Everything that was ever good about him seemed like it burned to ashes.

What was I supposed to do with this story? I had spent months learning to really like this man and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to insult the residents of Lawrence County, but it was an incredible story that might never be told again. I contacted my Lawrence County history museum friend Joyce for advice. “Just tell the truth, people will get it.”

I completed the screenplay, painting a heroes rise and fall, ending with the sentiment of one of Winthrop’s friends and fellow Dr: “He was only human.” I published the video and people got it, not a single person was mad at me. Sometimes we put people on pedestals when they’re just as human as we are. Sometimes we look at “perfect” people and put ourselves down a little, thinking we’re not as good, smart or strong. But in the end, we’re all just visitors here for a little while, making mistakes as we go. For me, it was more than learning history, it was learning acceptance, and one of the best projects I’ve ever done.