New directions

Words: Jennifer MorrellBrian Estill is a brick and stone mason from Louisville, Ky. Like many in the profession, Estill was laid off from his masonry company in the winter of 2008.

“America’s biggest economic meltdown had finally reached the Ohio River shores of my beautiful city,” Estill says. “Since it was wintertime, I didn’t mind so much. I thought I would just collect my unemployment check until the spring, when work would pick back up. Only, it didn’t.”

In summer 2009, Estill tried desperately to find a job. But with a skillset honed for masonry and a deep passion for the artistic trade, it proved difficult. His marriage ended in divorce, and he found himself sleeping on the sofa of one relative after another.

“It was at my cousin’s house that I decided to use some of my unemployment money and buy some wood, tile adhesive, marble and granite tile, and a painter’s trowel, and get to work building the things I have always wanted to create, but rarely did in all my years in masonry,” Estill says.

Today, Brian Estill is working as a “masonry mosaic artist,” enjoying the exploration of masonry as a literal art form. The above image of Estill’s work of art is entitled “Rocks of Fort Knox.” The mosaic is built from rocks he collected while working at Fort Knox in 2010. If you look closely at the piece, you’ll see a car in the center. Estill has an interesting story behind the car, which you can learn by contacting him directly at brian.estill@gmail.com. You can see more examples of his work on YouTube by searching Estill Masonry Artworks.

On a different note, the February issue is my last issue of Masonry magazine. I have enjoyed my more than eight years as editor of this publication. The masonry industry is full of smart, talented people whom I am privileged to have met. I wish all in the masonry world the very best!

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