MADE ON ISLAND
Ben Cabot
Stone Carving the Fauna of the Vineyard... and Giving Back
By Liz Lapidus
The granite found on Martha’s Vineyard was carried here during the Ice Age when a massive glacier made its way across New England scraping up boulders along the way. Like ancient washashores, the rocks remain strewn around the Island. While these craggy grey outcroppings are charming, to most of us they are just rocks. But to the sculptor Ben Cabot, each granite block contains the Island’s rich biodiversity of birds and sea creatures. With every careful cut, he sculpts away what doesn’t belong to reveal the form he sees within.
It might be a red-tailed hawk, a sea eagle or a seal Mother and Pup.
Ben finds inspiration in the Island’s fauna. He grew up summering here before moving to Martha’s Vineyard full time after graduating from Bates College in 1990. While both of his parents grew up summering here as well, his mother’s family dates back to Thomas Mayhew.
Originally a career stonemason, Ben taught himself the art of stone carving, and over the years, his work has evolved with more detailed craftsmanship. He works with regional granite and also recycles Martha’s Vineyard granite fences and gateposts for his art.
Ben’s large-scale bird sculptures can be found in public and private collections around the country. A drive or hike around the Island reveals dozens of his granite sculptures stationed like sentries in gardens, on fenceposts and along the trails.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Featherstone Center For the Arts recently installed Horus, a bird inspired by the Egyptian god of healing.
“Featherstone is thrilled to welcome Horus to our campus in celebration of Featherstone’s 30th Anniversary,” said Featherstone CEO Ann Smith. “We have cherished our relationship with Ben’s mom, Nancy, and so appreciate her art and instruction for decades. Now it is wonderful to showcase Ben, the next Cabot generation, and his creative prowess.”
Giving back to the community is a key tenet to Ben’s mission. To that end, he installed sculptures at Island Autism and Camp Jabberwocky. This is intentional. “The more I can get the sculptures out into the world the better,” he says. “Having the work available to folks who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to see it is meaningful.”
Fall will find Ben living his other passions – fishing and hunting. He’ll be competing in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby and enjoying the start of hunting season. The cooler weather will bring him back in the studio, finishing small and large scale works.
To see more of Ben’s work go to: cabotcarving.com email: cabotcarvingmv@gmail.com And on Instagram: cabotcarving