ROCK LOBSTER

PICTOU - The distinctive tink, tink, tink, of metal striking metal along the Pictou waterfront means one thing - artist Stephen Sweet is making a giant lobster come to life.
Where we see a huge chunk of sandstone, Sweet sees a tribute to his hometown and its most well-known event.
"I had thoughts about symbolism and what type of symbols would look appealing…I thought about a lobster boat, then I thought we would need something big so that even if it deteriorated in 50 years you could still see what it is."
He chose a lobster perched on a trap.
"It (the Lobster Carnival) is one of the best carnivals ever…Everyone in town is involved, it's almost like Mardi Gras."
Sweet planned the work but he doesn't work with plans. He has the design in his head and alters it as needed.
"It's a work in progress. I design everything so I can move it around."
The stone itself is lined with a grain similar to wood and has flaws that Sweet must remove or work around.
"There are little fault lines all through that. I just keep going with the plan of a lobster."
When he began the project Sweet would spend about 15 minutes just staring at the stone before hammering here and chiselling there, fixing in his mind where he hoped to go with it that day. As he progressed and became more comfortable with the project that prep time dropped dramatically.
"Now I look at it and it's transparent."
Sweet said that his sculpture may not conform to what people think of as a traditional lobster. He's picturing a 1,000-year-old lobster.
"The older lobsters get, they more and more resemble prehistoric lobsters six to eight feet long."
He's even reversing the claws on the lobster, which he claims as artistic interpretation.
"Artists are different and have got to think differently, use visualization. The reversed claws, it's my own little personal thing. If a lobster was born with the claws reversed it would either be a huge advantage or a huge disadvantage."
Some of the skills he's using to produce his unique piece of art Sweet learned while employed at Pictou County Stone in Scotsburn where he spent time squaring and facing stones for buildings.
"It teaches you how to break stone easily and you learn about the fracturing process inside. You've got to see through the stone and where your strikes are going. There's a lot of different techniques, you start learning little tricks…It's the equivalent of learning how to draw before you can paint. You have to learn the foundation."
Once the project is finished Sweet would like to see it find a home inside to protect it from the elements.
"After 20 years outside it will look like it's been outside for 200 years. There will be a larger surface area for erosion and ice to take it apart."
To see more of Sweet's artwork check out: http://sweet-stones.yolasite.com.