Matthew Johnson is a 1992 Southwestern University alumnus and a master stone carver at Bartlett Stone Carving. He offered his talents to carve Southwestern’s 175th anniversary seal into limestone, which completed the 175th Anniversary Brick Garden located outside of the Red and Charline McCombs Campus Center. The philosophy major says he is honored to contribute his work in celebration of this momentous occasion at his alma mater.

“I remember this physical space [the 175th Anniversary Brick Garden] right here,” says Johnson. “So the idea of having something here that I carved, where so much happened - it’s a good feeling.”

The limestone slab arrived in early January and Johnson was “on the hammer” creating the piece for about a week and a half. He graduated 25 years ago and says it is very special to still be connected to the university.

“When I was in school, we were celebrating our sesquicentennial,” says Johnson. “At that time, I learned about Rutersville College and the four colleges that eventually became Southwestern.”

He recalls many fond memories during his Southwestern experience.

“There is something about this university and that time, that really kind of locked in for me,” says Johnson. “As far as the way that I see the world and the way that I feel about the world and my friendships.”

From the lifelong friendships to the tight-knit professor relationships he formed, there are certain memories that still replay in his mind. One in particular was during a “Battle of the Bands” event where Professor Eric Selbin, PhD came up to him after his performance.

“Dr. Selbin came up to me and he said, ‘You’re a really great rhythm guitarist,’”, says Johnson. “I never did anything with music, but I have continued to play music from time to time since I was 20 years old, and that’s something that I still think about.”  

While music was a hobby, philosophy was his academic focus. Socrates was a master stone carver, and between his junior and senior year, Johnson followed the same path with an apprenticeship just up the road in Florence, Texas. He was taught the intricacies of designing, cutting, and carving stone architectural elements, using both modern and ancient tools and techniques.

“It dovetailed so nicely with what I really loved about Philosophy, which was learning how to think,” says Johnson. “Philosophy teaches you process a lot - and stone carving, there’s artistry involved, but it’s so much about process.”

Johnson believes that process is very similar to what he was learning in school - as far as the process of how to contemplate a question.

“One of the things that I think is great about an education here is you can study philosophy, or I could have been studying business or science, and whatever you chose to do in the end, it kind of feeds into that,” says Johnson.

His love of learning didn’t stop at Southwestern. In fact, with every project, Johnson turns on his iPod and expands his knowledge.

“Stone carving is such a long process,” he says.

Which gives him ample time to think, listen, and reflect. Most recently, Johnson learned about the history of Rome by historian, Mike Duncan. Next up: a series about the revolution in Haiti during the late 18th and early 19th century.