Pipestone carver to give special program

Date: July 28, 2009

Well-known Pipestone Carver to give special evening program at Pipestone National Monument

On Tuesday evening, July 28 at 7:30 p.m., Travis Erickson of Pipestone, MN will present a special program on quarrying and carving Catlinite (pipestone)at the Pipestone National Monument Visitor Center.

This special program, Part II in a series of special summer park events, will consist of a quarrying demonstration in which Erickson will discuss the history of quarrying and carving and demonstrate the use of all the tools he employs in quarrying and shaping the soft red stone.

Erickson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation and is a 4^th generation pipe carver.  Born and raised in Pipestone, he has been quarrying and carving pipes for 30 years.  He currently has 3 pipes on display at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and is well-known for having carved pipes and pipe stems for the people of all nations.

Visitors to the Monument are reminded that park entrance fees are required to participate at each of the special events.