In
early November more than 70 stone masons and others in related fields
gathered in Santa Fe, NM to participate in the first national symposium
devoted to the craft of structural stonework.
The stated objectives of the event, knowledgeable discourse, professional
camaraderie and the launching of a nationwide association of stone
masons and others in related fields were all manifestly achieved.
The attendees, young and old, men and women, responded enthusiastically
to the opportunity to socialize and discuss the craft with others
who shared their interest. Many of these discussions were stimulated
by a series of remarkable presentations by experts in various areas
of stone work.
In
order of appearance, the speakers were:
CHARLES "MAC" MCRAVEN of Charlottesville VA, stone mason, restoration
specialist and author.
TIMOTHY SMITH, a stone mason and instructor of stone mason apprentices
at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
VINCE LEE, Colorado architect and expert on the massive masonry
of the Inka who appeared in the NOVA series, "Secrets of Lost Empires".
PATRICK MCAFEE, a traditional Irish stone mason and author. Patrick,
who presented a survey of the stone work of Ireland, also gave a
demonstration of the preparation and use of traditional lime putty
mortar.
PATRICK J. PLUNKETT, an English stone mason who has worked at Portland
and Salisbury Cathedrals in England and the National Cathedral and
the White house in Washington DC. Patrick also gave a demonstration
of stone cutting techniques.
JOHN MAINE, an internationally known English stone sculptor whose
public art projects are based on the principles of stone masonry.
MARIO MACHNICKI, Polish stone mason and restoration specialist.
A representative of the U.S. Heritage Group, a consultant team of
traditional masons, architects and conservators.
JANE WOOLEY, a representative of the Kentucky-based Dry Stone Conservancy,
a group dedicated to the preservation of dry laid stone walls and
traditional walling techniques.
and TOMAS LIPPS, of Santa Fe, stone mason, designer and director
of the Stone Foundation.
Affairs
commenced with a convivial, informal gathering in the bar and lobby
of a Santa Fe hotel the evening before registration and the scheduled
sessions began... and culminated at a convivial "last supper" at
a local restaurant.
The venue for the Symposium was a small but spacious theater near
the center of town. On the afternoon of the second day, however,
the assembly traveled north of Santa Fe to a stone yard and workshop
where the demonstrations of stone cutting techniques and lime putty
mortar took place. The enthusiasm with which the attendees responded
to an opportunity to handle stones and tools recommended that subsequent
symposiums include hands-on sessions when masons, and others, will
be able to work together. On the fourth and final day an excursion
was planned to the Anasazi Indian ruins at Chaco Canyon in western
New Mexico, but the first snow storm of winter, a heavy one, necessitated
a schedule change. The group took over the back room of a local
cafe and spent the day spent the day in friendly, informal conversation
about stone building and related topics.
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In
addition to the lively discussions stimulated by the presentations
a significant portion of the Symposium was occupied with determining
the function, the form, and the future of the Stone Foundation.
It was enthusiastically agreed that the Symposium should be an annual
event. Tomas Lipps of Santa Fe, who conceived of and organized the
event, was affirmed as the director of the Stone Foundation. A planning
committee will work with him to determine the organization's mission,
structure and activities. Non-profit status will be acquired. The
association will be organized into regional "chapters". And the
entire membership will serve as an unofficial advisory board, offering
comments and suggestions to the planning board and director.
The principal mission of the Stone Foundation will continue to be
the preservation and perpetuation of the traditions of the craft
of structural stone work. It will strive to foster awareness of
and appreciation for good stone work among those who might employ
stone masons - architects, designers, contractors, and clients -
as well as among stone masons themselves. Symposium attendees were
agreed on the need, not to impose standards, but to define them
and make them available.
The Stone Foundation will serve to connect and inform stone masons
and others in related fields by means of the web site, stonexus
magazine and events such as the Symposium. And it will nurture the
network that has already begun to form; the network of which it
is a nexus.
As it is a more inclusive term, STONEWORK SYMPOSIUM was a more appropriate
one than STONE MASONRY SYMPOSIIUM to describe this event. Most of
the attendees were stone masons -but not all. They were joined by
a significant number of stone suppliers, quarriers and sculptors,
of contractors, architects and landscapers, conservators and aficionados;
all of who, in diverse ways, participate in this archetypal activity.
The Symposium was energized by this diversity of involvement within
a shared area of interest as, hopefully, the Stone Foundation will
be.
The Stone Foundation wishes to acknowledge benefactors in the stone
and the tool industries whose assistance helped to make the Symposium
possible:
Colorado Flagstone Inc., Masonville, CO
Cee Jay Tool Inc., Loveland CO.
Luckstone Corp. Richmond VA
Trow and Holden, Barre VT.
Thank you for your support of our fledgling organization.
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