Stuart D. Mercer

A Curiosity for Beauty & Science

I clearly recall my early rock collection being established by first grade, kept on my bookcase in my bedroom.  I was overjoyed to acquire a large heart shopped Valentines candy box where each rock could be displayed looking as delicious as the candy might have been.  I no longer have that Valentine, nor it's contents, but  I still have a heart for rocks.  The pride I had when I shared my collection at "show & tell" is carried with me this day.
My first fourteen years were lived on Cape Cod.  Half of that was on the water front, yet never more that seven miles from the Atlantic.  The Cape is a glacial deposit where the beach rocks are semi polished and smooth from the glacier and ocean action, a treasure chest under your feet.  If you have ever been to Cape Cod, I'll bet you have taken a rock home with you. 

The Beginnings
In the summer of 4th grade I took a geology class at the Cape Cod Museum of National Science.  I do not recall other youngsters in the class just "big people," (didn't phase me as I already had a better basic knowledge of rocks then they did.)  The retired geologist who taught the class passed out mineral specimens which we were allowed to keep as he was retiring from teaching and would not need them anymore.    I still have them in my collection, a tabular crystalline talc specimen from Ontario, a beautiful quartz crystal from Arkansas, a cleavage specimen of Galena, and a group of pyrite crystals in matrix.  These have been special treasures for over 40 years, my first "Quality" specimens.  Do other 9 year olds hang onto their rock collections?
In the summer after 6th grade Mom gave me a Sears & Roebuck six inch horizontal lap for my birthday.  Without any knowledge or experience, using only the instructions that came with the lap, I began cutting one inch squares of granite, which I still have in my collection.

The Awakening
Mom, "the encourager", met Charles and Galena Borgarello, a retired couple living on the Cape.  Charles (Mr. B) was an amateur lapidary, soon to become professional, and Galena had taken up silver work.  Arrangements to spend a Saturday with Mr. B were made by Mom.  Under his direction, I cut one cabochon star to finish on his 8" vertical lapidary unit.  Prior to that day I was not aware of the term cabochon or what might be created in a lap.  I did learn, that higher quality equipment makes the work easier with a better finished product.  Charles and Galena studied lapidary & silver-smithing  under a Mr. & Mrs. Smith, who owned a liquor store in Hyannis as well as a small rock shop at his residence.  Mr. B directed me to the Smiths where I immediately purchased a six inch star diamond lapidary unit and a star diamond 10 inch slab/trim saw, and a tumbler.  I also had access to exotic cutting material first at the Smith and then Mr. B opened a rock shop in Eastham.  The one day with Mr. B was my only formal schooling in lapidary.  I absorbed as much info from Mr. B and Mr. Smith, taking their every word as bible.

The Entrepreneur
I'd like to note that all equipment superseding the Sears & Roebuck flat lap were purchased with my own money.  I was the neighbor hood paper boy in 4th grade delivering the Cape Cod Times, as well as selling cool aid and driftwood to the tourist.  The entrepreneur sprit began early in life.  I subscribed to the "Lapidary Journal" as suggested by one of my mentors, which opened doors to purchasing cutting material from around the world, and settings for my work.  Some of the "common cutting material" I purchased in the 1960's has now become classic collectors items, including Rhodocrosite from Argentina, Mexican Moctezuma Nodules, Mexican Crazy lace Agate, and Oregon's Priday thunder eggs.  These are also displayed in my collection.  By eighth grade I was selling my work at a Cape Cod resort.  At this time Mrs. B introduced me to silver work and together we built a setting for a Montana Agate.  Again my one and only lesson, until college.  Early in ninth grade I displayed my work at Dennis-Yarmouth Reginal High School in a hallway show case when it was the Earth Science's class month. (see photo)  Ninth grade brought a move to St. Petersburg, Florida.  My Uncle Ed connected me with a Mr. Silverburg, owner of Gerard Jewelers, who delivered to me damaged cabochons; star rubies, and heat cracked opals, needing to be re-cut.  I also accompanied him on a gem buying trip.  Not bad for a 14 year old.

Education
Books!  I hated to read, except when I could explore knowledge about rocks, lapidary, metal work, and related aspects.  Mom was the book buyer.  I had (and still have) a pretty good pre-college library.  John Sinkankas was even then the guru of rock cutting.
Eleventh Grade found a move to Virginia where I graduated High School and then College, James Madison University, with a Bachelor of Science, Geology.  I did take an art elective in silver-smithing while attending college.  Moving is not good for a rock collector.  The larger and heavier specimens are not going to make the move.  Oh the loss!
The Books and museums made a difference when I got to college.  As a freshmen I was employed as a laboratory assistant.  There I taught rock and mineral identification to general geology classes, material not yet covered in my geology major classes.
I'll skip the next thirty years except to say my museum and machinery have continually increased in size and number.  I have never stopped learning.  I build new machines and experiment with techniques, some work and some don't.  Failure is frustrating  but success is sweet.  My many years as a Virginian Contractor has aided my innovations in tool design as well as form and function. 

At Present
In January 2005 I "retired" from contracting to pursue the lapidary arts full time.  Elk Run Mining Co. was trade marked with state of Virginia.  Contracting was a tiring, twenty four hour a day job, but working at home requires even more time.  As a contractor I sold quality, as an artist I find it hard to sell the things I create because I want to keep them all.  Each piece is an object I have spent time and energy on, seeking perfection, to show the beauty hidden inside of what was just "a stupid rock."  (quote from my wife).  The company name comes from the creek in our backyard, Elk Run, which comes down from the Blue Ridge and empties into the Shenandoah River at Elkton, Va.  I have limited myself to using Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain rocks for my cutting material.  This requires me to seek out gem quality rocks from areas not especially known for producing such.  That is a treasure hunt!  I am impressed with what the Blue Ridge has produced for my finding.  I believe I have a rock that is now transformed into a unique piece of art that you will love as well.