The Way of Removal: The Art of Subtractive Sculpture
with Steve Shaheen
(8 sessions)
Description
Subtractive sculpture is a ruthless, beautiful act. Every mark is final. Every cut is a decision you cannot undo. The Way of Removal offers a rigorous, reflective space to engage carving not as destruction, but as a form of construction—of meaning, of presence, of relationship to the material world. Carving is an act of violence, and we will not look away from that fact.
Together we’ll ask: What does it mean to mark, mutilate, or shape geology? From the sacred desecration of Paha Sapa by Mount Rushmore to the intimacy of hand-hewn stone across Indigenous traditions, the politics of carving are inseparable from its aesthetics. We'll examine this uneasy lineage while also exploring how sculptors—past and present—have treated removal as communion, even sacrifice.
Late one night in Carrara, a young sculptor said, “Just as slaughter nourishes the body, our violence with marble nourishes the spirit.” This course will trace that energy—its brutality, its beauty, and the spiritual question that lingers at its core: What do you do before taking up the knife?
We’ll explore:
- The metaphysical weight of absence: Making meaning by what’s taken away
- Stages of removal: Roughing, modeling, and finishing as forms of attention
- Cultural entanglements: Carving as both sacred practice and colonial desecration
- From chisel to CNC: How tools—from the ancient to the algorithmic—shape authorship
- Material as memory: Marble, stone, and earth as time-bearing witnesses
This course is for those ready to confront the ethics and intensity of working with raw material—whether in sculpture, performance, writing, or any practice where form emerges through erasure. Come prepared to slow down, ask hard questions, and reimagine what it means to shape something with your hands.
NewCrits will host six informal, live webinars throughout late July and August 2025. These sessions give prospective students a chance to meet instructors, learn about course themes, and ask questions before enrollment closes.
Interested in The Way of Removal: The Art of Subtractive Sculpture? Join us for one of the following webinars:
- Wednesday, August 6, 6:00–7:00 PM
- Saturday, August 16, 1:00–2:00 PM
- Wednesday, August 20, 6:00–7:00 PM
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NewCrits Class Scholarships
NewCrits is offering 2 full scholarships per class (covering 100% of tuition).
• Open to all artists—no degree required
• Available for all currently listed courses on our site
How to Apply
◦ Apply here. This will serve as your application to the course.
Deadline:
Scholarship applications are due by August 26th.
Selected recipients will be notified via email by Sept 2nd
What We’re Looking For
We’re not interested in polished resumes or prestige. We’re looking for people who are:
• Hungry to grow
• Curious and generous in discussion
• Excited to be part of a supportive and rigorous community of peers
Questions?
Email us anytime at info@newcrits.com — we’re happy to help.
Syllabus
Week 1: An overview of the history of carving from antiquity to 1400. How does the organic relationship between cultural values, available materials and technologies guide the resultant aesthetics in subtractive artwork?
Week 2: An overview of the history of carving from 1400 to present.
Week 3: Reductive Thinking and Strategies Part 1: Roughing and Modeling
Week 4: Reductive Thinking and Strategies Part 2: Finishing
Week 5: The Dialogue: navigating the inherent tensions and reciprocities between authorial permissions and impositions with the material.
Week 6: Active vs Passive Voice: Using Intermediaries and Mechanization. How do pacing and intervention affect the resultant work?
Week 7: Reliefs: the bridge to Pictorial Space.
Week 8: Transformations: translating from other media and shifting scale.
Expectations
Who is this course for?
This course is for artists, writers, performers, and thinkers who work with raw material, whether stone, language, or memory, and want to examine the stakes of removal. If your practice engages absence, destruction, or transformation, this course offers a space to investigate what it means to shape meaning through subtraction.
Why take this course?
- Reframe carving as creation
Explore how removal can be a constructive act that builds meaning, presence, and form. - Confront the ethics of material transformation
Examine the spiritual and political weight of cutting, desecrating, or honoring material in artistic practice. - Build material intelligence
Understand how tools and substances carry memory, agency, and influence over authorship. - Interrogate your practice
Use carving as a lens to ask urgent questions about violence, care, history, and embodiment. - Engage with critical context
Study how artists across cultures and centuries have treated removal as an act of devotion, defiance, or design.
What you’ll do:
Studio work: Complete one final project and five hands-on or conceptual carving exercises
Critique and dialogue: Participate in thoughtful, structured critiques with peers and instructor
Reading and research: Engage with eight or more texts from art history, philosophy, geology, and Indigenous knowledge systems
Presentation: Lead a short reading discussion or material demo for the group
Guest engagements: Learn from artists and thinkers working with sculpture, performance, and land (guests to be announced)
What you’ll get:
Community and conversation: Access to the NewCrits Discord carving channel for shared dialogue and peer support
Course materials: Downloadable readings, artist guides, and process prompts
Mentorship and feedback: Detailed critique and conceptual guidance on your projects
A sharpened lens: A more precise, thoughtful approach to your materials, your work, and the act of making
Questions
General Course Information
1. Who is this course for?
Artists, curators, writers, and anyone interested in understanding how sculpture shapes contemporary and historical art practices.
2. Do I need to be an artist to take this course?
No! While artists may benefit from this course, it is open to anyone interested in sculpture and visual culture.
3. How long is the course?
The course runs for 8 weeks with 2 hr weekly live Zoom sessions and additional resources provided.
4. What topics will be covered?
We’ll cover themes such as:
- The ethics and aesthetics of removal in art and land
- Carving as both violence and communion
- Material as memory: stone, earth, and time
- Tools as extensions of authorship and intent
Logistics & Technology
5. How will the course be delivered?
Live Zoom sessions with interactive discussions, artist talks, and group critique. Sessions will be recorded for later access.
6. What happens if I miss a class?
All sessions are recorded and available for enrolled students to watch later.
7. Do I need any special materials?
No special materials are required, but we may suggest optional readings or activities to enhance your experience.
8. What are the technical requirements?
You'll need:
- A stable internet connection
- A device (laptop or tablet) with Zoom installed
- A quiet space for discussion
Engagement & Community
9. Will I get to interact with the instructor and other students?
Yes! This is an interactive course with discussions, Q&A, and community engagement through live sessions and optional breakout groups.
10. Is there homework or assignments?
There will be optional readings, prompts, and reflections, but no required assignments. The goal is to spark conversation and creative exploration.
11. Will there be guest speakers?
Yes! We’ll have guest artists, critics, and scholars join throughout the course to share their perspectives.
Pricing & Enrollment
12. How much does the course cost?
For early sign-ups, we’re offering a discounted rate of $900 before the full price increases to $1200.
13. Is financial aid available?
We offer a limited number of scholarships and sliding-scale options. Contact us to learn more.
14. Can I pay in installments?
Yes, we offer a payment plan to make the course more accessible.
15. How do I enroll?
Click the "Apply Here" button up top, enter your details, and you’ll receive an email confirmation with next steps.
Certification & Future Opportunities
16. Will I receive a certificate?
Yes! A certificate of completion will be provided for those who attend at least 6/8 of the sessions.
17. Will there be future courses?
Yes! This is the first of several courses on art and critical theory. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming topics.
Teachers
Steve Shaheen
Stephen Shaheen is an artist who splits his time between New York City, upstate Connecticut and Carrara, Italy.. He received his MFA in Sculpture from the New York Academy of Art, his BA in Classics and Visual Arts from Holy Cross College, and a professional stone sculpture certification from the Scuola Edile Lapidea in Siena, Italy. His artworks, characterized by a broad range of experimentation and media, engage with contemporary aesthetics and the interplay of cultural, biological and historical connections to Earth’s geological memoir.