sound►culture is a Folklife Festival podcast series featuring stories, songs, and fieldwork gathered on the National Mall and around the world.

Even master stone carvers are limited by their material. Learning the limitations of any particular stone is a skill that only comes from pushing the boundaries. Bernat Vidal, a stone carver from Basque country, has learned how to expertly read a stone, even characterize its personality.

In the interview below, Bernat speaks about learning how to carve, his work in the Basque country, the importance of symbols, and what makes an expert carving.

This interview was led by Folklife curator Majorie Hunt and translated by Basque program presenter Emily Socolov. Media intern SarahVictoria Rosemann assisted the production and edited the podcast.