Ron Teska, a stone carver from Belleville, will be featured at “An Evening with Ron Teska: Stone Carver” at 6:30 p.m. today at the Parkersburg Wood County Public Library. Teska will talk about his work and stories behind the pieces he has created. The event is free and open to the public.
(Photo by Jess Mancini)
PARKERSBURG — A stone carver who creates pieces that encourage public awareness of issues will give a free presentation at 6:30 p.m. today at the Parkersburg Wood County Public Library on Emerson Avenue.
Ron Teska, who has a master’s in social work from West Virginia University, is a stone mason who has incorporated his carvings into his work.
The carvings reflect philosophical and political views, Teska said.
He has carved endangered species, such as the silverback gorilla, the ivory-billed woodpecker and the wolf.
“If you’re talented, I think you have an obligation to put that skill out there to teach what is going on in this country,” Teska said.
“An Evening with Ron Teska: Stone Carver” will begin at 6:30 p.m. The presentation is free, open to the public and will last about 90 minutes, he said.
Teska said he will discuss his carvings and the stories behind them, which include the memorials and tombstones he carved for the native residents and a community of Norwegians in British Columbia. Numerous posters and photos of the carvings will be available.
He and his wife, Giulia Mannarino, reside in Belleville.
They lived in Pennsylvania until his community was devastated by fracking, Teska said.