Cornerstones

August 20, 2019

Cornerstones

August 20, 2019

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Cornerstones is happy to share news about three upcoming events with our readers.

San Agustin Mission

Remudding Workshop at the San Agustin Mission
Volunteers Needed!

The 5-day mud-plastering project at San Agustin Mission in the village of San Agustin will begin on September 3, 2019. Volunteers are welcome. The workshop is being supported by a grant from the Thaw Trust, which was applied for by Nuevo Mexico Profundo. (www.nuevo-méxico-profundo.com) Please call Cornerstones (505-982-9521) for information regarding this opportunity.
San Agustín is the northernmost of what were once a string of village churches in the Gallinas River Valley, some of which have deteriorated beyond repair. The church was first a fortress in the early 1800's and converted to a church in the 1830's and has recently fallen into disrepair. It is built of local sandstone with adobe mortar and plastered with adobe mud. The church has been closed for a period of years and without intervention will deteriorate rapidly. Cornerstones, in partnership with the community and Nuevo Mexico Profundo, plans to remediate a bat infestation and mud-plaster the mission.

San Agustin is 8 miles from Romeroville on C24. in San Miguel County.

San Rafael Church

Concert at Historic Church in La Cueva, Mora County

Lone Piñon, a leading band in New Mexican traditional music, will be performing at San Rafael mission church in La Cueva at 7:30 pm on August 17, 2019. The concert is sponsored by Nuevo Mexico Profundo and the proceeds support the maintenance and restoration of San Rafael.
The event is a unique opportunity to experience authentic northern New Mexican culture in a historic setting. The program includes opening prayers in song (alabados) offered by Hermanos de la Fraternidad Piadosa de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, a brief introduction on the recent history of San Rafael by Frank Graziano, the Lone Piñon Trio performance, and an encore during which Mora musicians Alex Montoya, Nazario Montoya, and Jeannie Mondragon accompany the band.

Information and tickets:contact: fgraz@nuevo-mexico-profundo.com

NUEVO MEXICO PROFUNDO is a collaboration of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, New Mexico Office of the State Historian, New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance, Spanish Colonial Arts Society, and participating parishes, mayordomos, and communities. The program is staffed by volunteers and raises funds for the preservation of New Mexico’s historic churches.

Cornerstones' Solar Initiative
Fall Fundraiser Logo designed by Robert Tenorio, Kewa Pueblo

Save the Date

On October 25, 2019, Cornerstones’ Solar Initiative will host the

Fiesta del Sol Benefit Dinner Featuring 2 Cuisines by 2 New Mexico Chefs, Using 3 Common, Local Ingredients, to Create 1 Unique Dining Experience

Benefit helps fund 21st century solar power projects to preserve ancient cultures on Pueblo lands and northern New Mexico villages.

For information and tickets go to: http://https://www.cstones.org/new-events

Cornerstones

July 31, 2019

A New Fellowship Fund and A Solar Update

Cornerstones

July 31, 2019

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Alexander Ward Fellowship Awardees

Cornerstones Community Partnerships lost a very special friend and colleague, Alexandra Ward, after a brief illness in 2018. Over a 20-year period, Alexandra was an important and integral part of Cornerstones’ community. Her talent and dedication allowed her to assume a wide range of roles in the organization. She championed our mission to preserve the unique heritage of New Mexico through its historic churches, buildings and communities. To honor her memory, we have established the Alexandra Ward Community Fellowship.
Cornerstones is pleased to announce that Angela Francis and Stephen Calles, pictured below, have been chosen as recipients.The fellowship supports the candidates to advance their skills in traditional building technologies, gain leadership experience, become involved in community and achieve personal professional goals. The fellows will take on projects that can fulfill these criteria and meet their individual benchmarks within a two-year period. The two candidates will serve under the mentorship of the Director and present their accomplishments when milestones have been achieved. Stephen is educated in and skilled in architectural design and woodworking. Angela has 8 years of experience learning the art of plastering using natural materials. She has also led various earthen construction projects. Both share a passion for the work and a desire to broaden their skills.

The Solar Initiative

The Pueblo of Cochiti

The Solar Initiative, in partnership with New Energy Economy, has provided funding for a second project, the solarization of the Keres Children’s Learning Center of the Pueblo of Cochiti. Children of the Pueblo receive 50% of their instruction in their native language (Keres) and 50% in English. By teaching the language, the Pueblo is passing on its history, values, beliefs and a worldview. Incorporated in the second program are two scholarships for Pueblo members to learn and train in solar installation.

The Pueblo of Nambe

A grant was made in partnership with Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative to install PV-on-a-Pole at two homes on the Pueblo, serviced and selected by the Coop .Cost savings and the opportunity to promote the benefits of solar energy on the Pueblo were the incentives for the project.

Zuni Veterinary Clinic

Funds were awarded to solarize the newly constructed, self-sustainable Zuni Veterinary Clinic.This will be a year-round fully functional clinic to take care of and reduce the number of stray animals and eliminate diseases through vaccines.This Earthship will drastically reduce utility bills, provide natural heating, cooling, water and electricity and act as a showcase for off-the-grid buildings. The grant was made in partnership with Biotecture Planet Earth, Inc.

The Zuni Veterinary Clinic Under Construction

Cornerstones

July 16, 2019

July Happenings

Cornerstones

July 16, 2019

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Robbie Kelly and Santiago Vigil at San Rafael Church in La Cueva

Mud plastering at San Rafael was completed on Friday July 12. Robbie Kelly and Santiago Vigil (pictured) were on hand throughout with many other volunteers participating. Members of the Grants office of the Catholic Foundation joined us for a great day of mudding on July 21. A special thank you to Florence Gurule, Gwen Moore, Gina Pacheco (and her daughter) for the delicious food they provided for the workers on this project. Thanks to Joe Gurule for getting the material for us and mowing around the church. Hats off to Don for leading an excellent workshop ending with a beautiful job well done. On Saturday July 20 the window repair project will start. Stephen Calles will lead the training with Robbie and Santiago learning that side of preservation maintenance. The ongoing work schedule will be set on July 20. Please check our website (www.cstones.org) or contact Cornerstones (505-982-8521) if you are interested in helping.

Volunteers at San Rafael Church, La Cueva

Volunteers making adobe bricks at the Greer Garson stable in Pecos National Historical Park.

Our project to restore a portion of Greer Garson’s stable at Pecos National Historical Park through our partnership with the Park Service mobilized on June 7. Our schedule is 2 days a week, Thursdays and Fridays. Volunteers who made bricks in Santa Fe during National Historic Preservation (May 2019) followed some of those bricks to the Pecos job and have joined the effort. Once the foundation work is completed, we will start rebuilding the deteriorated adobe walls. The work project days at Pecos will continue until the work is completed. Volunteers are welcome. Please check our website (www.cstones.org) or contact Cornerstones (505-982-8521) if you are interested in helping.

Stable at the Greer Garson Ranch in Pecos National Historical Park

Cornerstones

June 5, 2019

Volunteer for a Cornerstones Project in June!

Cornerstones

June 5, 2019

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Robbie and Santiago at Santo Niño de Atocha, Buena Vista

Cornerstones’ summer work projects have begun! Don Sena, Cornerstones Project Manager, along with Cornerstones interns Robbie Kelly and Santiago Vigil, completed the scheduled work on the Santo Niño de Atocha Church, Buena Vista, NM. Preservation maintenance work accomplished consisted of opening up an exterior crack to evaluate the structure, applying mud plaster to the crack and wall repairs to interior surfaces. Cornerstones Director, Jake Barrow met with Mayordoma Veronica Serna to discuss windows and long-term church restoration goals. Thank you, Don, Robbie, Santiago, Jake and Veronica!

Don, Robbie and Santiago head to San Rafael in La Cueva (Mora valley) next for a major exterior re-plastering workshop. Mayordoma Gwen Moore is gathering together all materials needed for the job. Staff from the Catholic Foundation will join the effort on June 21. Volunteer opportunities are available here and at the Forked Lightening Ranch Stable Workshop in Pecos described below.

San Rafael Church, La Cueva

Forked Lightening Ranch Stable, Pecos

Volunteer Opportunities - June 2019

San Rafael Church in La Cueva – 9AM until 3PM on Fridays and Saturdays, mud-plastering.

Pecos National Historical Park at the Forked Lightening Ranch Stable - 9AM until 3PM Thursdays and Fridays, brick making and adobe wall building.

If you are interested in volunteering for one or both projects, please call Jake Barrow, Director, Cornerstones for specifics as soon as possible. Our phone number is 505-982-9521. All are welcome and no experience is necessary!

Cornerstones

May 23, 2019

May Happenings

Cornerstones

May 23, 2019

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Heritage and Evolution- Earthen Architecture in New Mexico and Beyond

Preservationist,Professor Francisco Uvina Contreras, will present his lecture - “Heritage and Evolution- Earthen Architecture in New Mexico and Beyond”, including images, on May 22 at 5PM at San Miguel Chapel. The lecture will focus on the development of earthen architecture in the Americas, and how adobe became the material of choice during the colonization. A brief description of the use of adobe in Peru, Mexico and the Southwest United States will be presented with a focus on the evolution of the technology to its present use, and application, as well as its transformation, and modern additives detrimental to its traditional use. Suggested donation, $10.00.

Francisco Uviña Contreras is the Director for the Historic Preservation and Regionalism Graduate Certificate Program at the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico. He received his Master of Architecture and a master’s Certificate in Preservation and Regionalism in 2009 from the University of New Mexico, graduating with distinction. Francisco was an Architectural/Technical Manager at Cornerstones from 1994 to 2008, working in communities throughout New Mexico, the Southwest and northern Mexico. He is the co-author and illustrator of Cornerstones’ Adobe Conservation, A Preservation Handbook.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.

The lecture is sponsored by Cornerstones Community Partnerships and coincides with Historic Preservation Month and the Adobe Brick-Making events at the Chapel.

This event has been organized with the cooperation of St. Michael’s High School and the De la Salle Christian Brothers, owners and custodians of San Miguel Chapel since 1881.

For additional information, please contact Karen Kuranz at kkuranz@cstones.org or call 505-982-9521.

Adobe Brick-Making Event

On Saturday, May 4, Cornerstones’ staff and volunteers gathered at the Drury Plaza Hotel, east end of Cathedral Park, to make adobe bricks for future preservation projects. Folks from many areas as well as local Santa Feans got their hands muddy and enjoyed getting to know one another. The event continues at the Drury Plaza on May 11 and at San Miguel Chapel on May 18 and 25 from 9:30am until 1pm. All are welcome and no experience is necessary. For more information contact kkuranz@cstones.org or call 505-982-9521.

Rael Acequia Restoration

The Wellesley Village Church Youth Group from Wellesley, MA. volunteered on several Cornerstones’ projects in April 2019. They returned to Santa Fe for their 7th volunteer experience! Below are pictures of the group cleaning the Rael acequia and a comment from partiantes, Carol Cooper and Keir Carreccio, about their hard work.

“Many thanks, Jake, for your leadership on the ditch cleaning project. The ‘kids’ and their leaders are great people and incredible workers. And they are part of history…the 301st year of the Alonzo Rael el Canon’s acequia. He would be so happy!”

Please consider volunteering your time or donating to help support our goal of preserving historic structures, encouraging traditional building practices and affirming cultural values.http://www.cstones.org. Thank you!

Cornerstones

February 27, 2019

Marching Into Spring

Cornerstones

February 27, 2019

Marching Into Spring

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Lecture Series at San Miguel Chapel

Cornerstones invites you to join JAKE BARROW, Director, Cornerstones Community Partnerships on Saturday, April 6 at 4PM for a talk on:

A Solar Option for San Miguel Chapel—Next Step in a 15-Year Partnership?
(Jake received his B.F.A., University of North Carolina and Architectural Preservation certificates from the International Center for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) in Rome and Venice, Italy. He spent three decades with the National Park Service, from the National Capitol to the Southwest. Jake was Program Director of Cornerstones Community Partnerships from 2009 and has been the Executive Director since 2016. He was awarded the New Mexico Lifetime Achievement Heritage Preservation Award in 2015.)
Jake’s talk is the last in a series sponsored by St. Michael’s High School and the De la Salle Christian Brothers, owners and custodians of San Miguel Chapel since 1881. The series is called Spring Dialogues 2019 and the goal is to deepen understanding of El Barrio de Analco National Historic District, and its historically significant structures, by inviting leading authorities to share their discoveries and insights. The El Barrio de Analco National Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District centered at the junction of East De Vargas Street and Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe, NM. It is made up of seven buildings, including San Miguel Chapel, and is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods of European origin in the United States.
All talks will be held at the San Miguel Chapel on five consecutive Saturdays; March 9 through April 6, from 4pm-5:15pm. The suggested donation is $10.
Presenters include two historians, a folklore specialist, an art conservator, and an architectural preservation expert.
Topics include:
• The relationship between Santa Fe and Analco: the Villa and the Barrio
• Tlaxcalans and Genízaros: Analco residents as defenders and food-producers
• Imported decorations and in-kind wages: a closer look at the 1710 Chapel reconstruction report
• What multispectral imaging technology has revealed about 300-year old Segesser hide paintings
• Solar panels for the 400-year old Chapel?
Questions? Contact programmer Julianne Burton-Carvajal: julianne@ucsc.edu

New Solar Initiative Funding Recipient

Cornerstones, in partnership with Remy’s Good Day Fund, has just awarded its 10th grant since the inception of our Solar Initiative in the last quarter of 2017.
The most recent recipient is the Energy Sovereignty Institute which will use the funds to hold a Stakeholder Summit Convening. The Institute is a social innovation initiative designed to promote the benefits of decentralized energy systems and technologies for Native American communities, and to advance their availability and use. A key function will be to provide a nationally recognized clearinghouse for related information, resources and initiatives.

Cornerstones

February 11, 2019

Welcoming In 2019!

Cornerstones

February 11, 2019

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As the days get longer, bit by bit, we at Cornerstones are looking forward to the upcoming 2019 projects that reflect our mission.
In January we welcomed our new intern, Issac Logsdon (pictured above). Issac received his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art History and Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO. in 2018. He has many interests and he will be helping us with multiple projects, including Social Media, marketing and PR, grant writing and adobe brick making. He is a valuable addition to our family.

The Wellesley Village Church Youth group from Wellesley, Massachusetts (pictured above in 2018) will return in April to spend a week working on a variety of projects in the Plaza del Cerro in Chimayo. This will be the second year in a row that the group has made the Plaza del Cerro one of their Service Projects. The Youth Group has been volunteering with Cornerstones almost every year since 2011 and has provided funding for three of their projects during that time! We are so grateful for their support.
Church projects in Mora, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties will start in May and will be listed on our web site for those interested in volunteering for adobe repair and mud-plastering. In addition, we will celebrate the Historic Preservation Month of May with four Saturdays devoted to adobe brick-making in Santa Fe. Volunteers – young and old - are encouraged to join us! Locations and times will be listed on our website on the “Engage” page under “workshops”. Information regarding church projects and adobe brick-making will also be included in future MudBlasts.

Our Solar Initiative continues to grow, and as we follow-up on past projects(Ribera Cultural Community Center pictured above) we are sinking our teeth into new, exciting endeavors during the coming year. Decisions on the first grant round in 2019 will be made at the end of February and we will share the news in our next MudBlast.

As always, we deeply appreciate your interest in and support of our efforts to partner with communities for a sustainable heritage.

We thought the following might be of interest to you and are happy to share the information:
On February 14, 2019, the Historic Santa Fe Foundation will sponsor a lecture by Tonia Sing Chi on Building Reciprocity: Participation in Native American Housing and Perpetuation of Earthen Architectural Traditions at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Ms. Chi researched material in Cornerstones’ files on our work at the Acoma Pueblo as the basis for one of the 4 topics she is presenting. If you are interested in attending the lecture, please contact HSFF at https://www.historicsantafe.org/salon for more information.

Hello, World!

Cornerstones

January 7, 2019

Death Valley Work project

Cornerstones

January 7, 2019

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2018 Death Valley Tribal Participants
On the left: Eli Aquino, Eric Calvert and Dwayne Calvert
On the right: Robert Mariano, then Aubrey Lujan, Isiah Chavez, Elijah Lujan, then Amber Chapo

New Mexico Natives Experience Death Valley

Cow Creek Compound was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps in south central Death Valley National Park. Currently used as a maintenance facility, it was constructed entirely of adobe with a surrounding compound wall hundreds of feet long. For several years, Cornerstones has been conducting adobe “hands on” training workshops to rebuild the severely deteriorated wall. Local soils are very rocky, and the adobe bricks contain a large percentage of gravely stone. The adobe surfaces of Cow Creek structures were never plastered, but were left to weather naturally, revealing lots of colorful stone. No straw was used, yielding a different kind of adobe, unfamiliar to those of us familiar with traditional building materials in New Mexico.
At the beginning of this year’s workshop in late October, a 5-person team from the Ancestral Lands Southwest Conservation Corps office in Albuquerque joined our 3 Okay Owingeh team members, who were starting the season’s work. Adobe making is always first on the agenda and the eight Native Americans representing Isleta Pueblo, the Navajo Nation and our Cornerstones’ team joined in a tribal collaboration to learn about materials, new techniques and to make over 1000 bricks for the wall work. Three diverse cultures with three different languages making bricks far from home in the lowest, hottest and driest place in the US made for a unique, rewarding shared experience. Our newest and youngest volunteer was on hand, picking up a trowel to help. Plans are underway to repeat the work project in 2019.

On the left - making adobe bricks. On the right - our youngest volunteer from the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Braylon!

Cornerstones’ new intern, Isaac Logsdon, participated in his first work project with Cornerstones at the Cow Creek Compound from November 4th through December 14th. He helped restore several sections of a perimeter wall, which included rebuilding parts from the foundation, to repairing the original. He spent a day in the ghost town of Rhyolite, NV (a Bureau of Land Management site), repairing a 1906 bottle house. The house was built with earthen mortar and an estimated 50,000 glass bottles! We are delighted to welcome Isaac into the Cornerstones family. A recent graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art History and Ceramics degree from Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO., he is extremely talented and has much to offer!

The Glass Bottle House

We hope that you will think generously about donating to Cornerstones during this celebratory season!

Visit us at http://www.cstones.org to donate now.

We wish you a joyous and safe holiday!

Cornerstones

December 6, 2018

Thanks from Cornerstones

Cornerstones

December 6, 2018

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We are grateful for your support!

During this holiday season, Cornerstones Community Partnerships is counting its blessings! You are at the top of our list!

Your continued commitment to our goal of working in partnership with communities to restore historic structures, encourage traditional building practices and affirm cultural values indicates that you share the importance Cornerstones places on New Mexico’s unique cultural landscape! Thank you!

Ongoing projects at Plaza del Cerro, Chimayo, reputed to be the only extant fortified plaza in North America, and at San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in the United States, are always a part of our agenda.

But in order to remain relevant in today’s world and to fully impact the communities we serve, we also seek new directions. Our most recent new project is The Solar Initiative. A generous donor has stepped forward to grant monies for solar installation and maintenance on Tribal lands and in New Mexico villages. Since its inception at the end of 2017, we have made eight grants ranging from a training and installation program for members of the Navajo Nation and Pueblo of Zuni who live off the grid in the Gallup area to, most recently, UNM-Taos for the Integrated Education and Solar Certification Training program, designed specifically for the non-traditional student.

As we review proposals from potential grantees, we are focused on funding projects that give opportunity to the unemployed, underemployed and youth, who, in turn, give back to the community.

And, exciting news: Cornerstones has received funding to initiate solarization of San Miguel Chapel! We’ll keep you informed of our progress!

We hope that you will think generously about donating to Cornerstones during this celebratory season!

Visit us at http://www.cstones.org to donate now.

We wish you a joyous and safe holiday!

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Cornerstones

October 30, 2018

Solar Changes Lives

Cornerstones

October 30, 2018

Two Community Centers Go Solar

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Centro de Amistad Senior Center in Santa Clara Goes Solar

On Friday, October 12, 2018 the Centro de Amistad Senior Center in Santa Clara switched to an all-solar system. Cornerstones, in partnership with Remy’s Good Day Fund, granted New Energy Economy funds to assist in the installation. The revenue saved will be re-invested in the senior center and its programs, which include the only meal of the day for many of the 100 seniors served and the only opportunity for socialization.
Dozens of local elders and area leaders turned out for a green ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a 19 kW solar array that will virtually eliminate the center’s electrical costs and reduce yearly electricity bills by $8-$10,000 for the Village of Santa Clara, helping to redirect funds back into community. It will also reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 900,000 lbs. - the equivalent of Not Burning 368,000 lbs. of coal!

Poster Presentation at the Ribera Cultural Community Center

In 1998, the Los Pueblos Community Council envisioned The Ribera Community Cultural Center in Ribera, NM. They re-purposed the old Ribera School the Old Ribera School into a much-needed community center for gatherings, art exhibits and classes and other community-focused activities with the intent of enriching the lives of those living in San Miguel county.
Gloria Luz Gonzales, Director, Los Pueblos Community Council, has been instrumental in the entire 10-year project. When funding for solar panels was offered by Cornerstones during the reconstruction process, she realized the potential of it to save money that could be used to support projects at the center. She also saw it as a teaching moment. In February 2018, Cornerstones, in partnership with Remy’s Good Day Fund, granted the Cultural Center funds to install 14 solar panels to provide the hot water supply for radiant heat throughout the building. The installation was completed on September 10, 2018. On October 24, 2018 at 10AM, Cornerstones presented the Community Cultural Center with a poster explaining the new solar thermal system.

Partnering with Remy’s Good Day Fund, we at Cornerstones have created a Solar Initiative directed toward job training, and the installation and maintenance of solar systems on Tribal lands and in economically challenged northern New Mexico villages. We support job training for youth, the unemployed and underemployed which enhances economic opportunity for both the individual as well as their community. Solar power also offers health benefits and cost savings. We are delighted to be part of the solarization of the Santa Clara and Ribera centers and look forward to helping other communities in New Mexico strengthen ties and improve economies.
New Mexico ranks second in the nation for solar potential. but has been slow to act on this fact. Cornerstones and Remy’s Good Day Fund intend to change this!

Cornerstones

October 18, 2018

October Happenings

Cornerstones

October 18, 2018

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rainsville

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Rainsville, NM has been repaired. Mora County interns, Robby Kelly and Santiago Vigil worked diligently on Friday, September 29 to complete this mission. Their lime plaster repair work was very successful and blends in well with the rest of the structure. After the repair, they lime washed the structure with one coat and water colored(brown) it with rollers on extension poles. This gave the normally white colored, lime washed walls a mud plaster look. Thank you, Robbie and Santiago, for the beautiful job!

TICAL (Taller Internacional de Cal)
The Historic Doña Ana Village, NM

The International Workshop on Lime Plaster and Lime Wash (TICAL) at Doña Ana Village October 9-13, 2018 was a great success.Community members, Pat Taylor (Pat Taylor, Inc), representatives of the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, University of New Mexico and Cornerstones Community Partnerships jointly lead the workshop. The workshop addressed traditional adobe repairs, lime plaster and lime wash of historic structures in Doña Ana, a historic district in Las Cruces, listed on the State and National Register. The focus was on the church, the De La O house and the Montoya House. Approximately 40 participants from the US and Mexico, including 5 students from UNM, enjoyed both the classroom and hands-on training, as well as several lectures. Those attending the workshop praised the quality of the overall experience, commenting on the well -organized lessons and the knowledgeable and welcoming nature of the attending experts. Many are looking forward to an invitation to the next TICAL! The workshop was sponsored by the Historic Preservation Education Foundation, the National Park Service, Doña Ana Historic Preservation Committee, Cornerstones Community Partnerships, University of New Mexico, Pat Taylor, Inc., and INAH. Congratulations to all who ensured the success of this workshop!

Partnering with communities toward sustainable heritage

Hello, World!

Cornerstones

September 5, 2018

Late Summer Happenings

Cornerstones

September 5, 2018

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Repairs to San Miguel Chapel Continue

Cornerstones Project Manager, Don Sena, has been busy recently sealing the area above the new flashing on the new roof of the San Miguel gift shop and sacristy. After storms washed out many areas between the exterior wall and the new roof, repairs were needed so flashing could be installed. After repairs and flashing installation, wire mesh was installed to hold the scratch coat (base coat) in place on the upper portion of the flashing. Because of Don’s successful efforts, all areas above the flashing, around windows, behind rundown pipes, and on the parapet above the gift shop have been plastered and sealed. Another coat of mud will be placed on the parapet area above the gift shop to better seal the roof and cover the exposed geo-reinforcing mesh. Many thanks to Don for his commitment to historic preservation!

Barb Odell, Volunteer Photographer

Cornerstones is so appreciative of the many miles Barb travels to capture the magic of work projects. We asked her to share a few of her thoughts and favorite photos. She says, “I want to give you images from the work sites as it’s been incredible to see these developments. One is the transfer of knowledge from old to young. As we know, handing down these work techniques is invaluable to the preservation of these buildings. And Cornerstones can make those connections - such as the late Felipe Ortega, who is showing Leanne Fulfer how to build the Horno at the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe."
The second photo is from the Plaza del Cerro at Chimayo, showing some of the items found during the excavation of the walls as community members and volunteers got ready to restore them. Many of these found objects were underneath the street side window where there was a space between the boards in the wall section below the sill. “I find it fascinating when we find these items and wonder on their history", Barb says.
Many thanks to Barb for capturing and sharing community spirit!
Both photos by Barb Odell.

TICAL - October 9 -13, 2018
The correct room rate for attendees is $79.00 per night.

Hello, World!

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

August 16, 2018

Google Spends Day at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Making Adobe Bricks

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

August 16, 2018

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Google Group Spends Day at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Making Adobe Bricks

After many years in decline, the focus of the Ohkay Owingeh today is on rehabilitating the historic core of the pueblo, which was entirely built of adobe by the Ohkay Owingeh people. This commitment to rebuild serves as an excellent model for other communities.

On August 2, 2018, a group of Google employees spent the day making adobe bricks at the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo. Cornerstones Community Partnerships, who has been conducting adobe making workshops like this for many years, involving volunteers from all over the country, coordinated the project. “We do it whenever we can structure the opportunity” says Jake Barrow, Cornerstones’ Director. “The Google event at the Pueblo was very special because of the vital importance of native culture to the heritage of New Mexico. Earthen architectural traditions are deeply imbedded in our state and represent a tactile connection of a unique place and people. This work links our present to our past, which is so well-embodied by the current Okay Owingeh project.”

We, at Cornerstones, are delighted that Google had the opportunity to work in collaboration with the pueblo and had a chance to experience the Governor’s and War Chief’s prayers with its message of unity, respect, thankfulness and appreciation.

Saturday Concerts at San Miguel Chapel - Exceptional Chamber Music performances support the restoration of this historic structure. The last two performances are at 4PM in the Chapel on August 18th and August 25th.

Cornerstones' work projects have been rescheduled due to weather. We look forward to beginning again in early September. During that month, Mora Youth interns will be workring on weekends at various locations in the county. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Cornerstones for information.

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

August 8, 2018

Mid-Summer Happenings

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

August 8, 2018

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Boston Group Visits Santa Fe

A group from Historic Preservation at Boston Architectural College, led by Director Eleni Glekas and comprised of 10 graduate students and faculty from BAC and the National College of Arts in Pakistan, recently visited Santa Fe. The trip was organized through an educational partnership the college has with the U.S. Dept. of State. The group visited Santa Fe several years ago and attended a lecture given by Cornerstones' Director Jake Barrow, who instructed them in the art of adobe construction and Cornerstones’ preservation projects
Mud adobe was of prime interest to the group on this trip and they contacted Jake again, who gave a presentation to them on adobe and the history of San Miguel Mission. At Cornerstones’ suggestion, the group then travelled to Chimayo where they toured the Plaza del Cerro and spoke with several Chimayosos about the its restoration. The Plaza del Cerro is considered the oldest, intact, enclosed plaza in New Mexico, built in the late 18^th century and designed defensively to protect the community. Cornerstones, along with Chimayo community members and other volunteers, is engaged in the restoration of this important site.
Cornerstones is delighted to have had the opportunity to educate and assist this group during their visit to northern New Mexico.

TICRAT

The Taller International de Conservacion y Restauracion de Arquitectura de Tierra (TICRAT) is a binational initiative that started approximately 25 years ago to bring much needed information to communities and professionals in the preservation of historic and earthen structures in our region. These earthen technologies and building typologies in Mexico and the U.S. are a common cultural thread between both nations. Cornerstones, along with important institutions such as the National Park Service (NPS), University of Arizona, UNM and the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia (INAH in Mexico) collaborated this year to bring the program to Santa Fe and the Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico, June 12-15. The NPS provided a long list of experts in earthen architecture, including our own Jake Barrow. The workshop was complemented by academic institution lecturers as well as local conservationists. Morning presentations were held at Site Santa Fe, a unique contemporary art space, and afternoon workshops were conducted at the Pecos National Historical Park. Participants enjoyed a hands-on morning lime plaster and washing project at the historic Nuestra Senora de Luz church in Canoncito. Cornerstones is delighted, after a ten year hiatus, to again be an integral part of this important international conference.

Check out the first official season of Chamber Music at San Miguel Chapel every Sunday at 4:00 PM from July 28th through August 25th. These concerts are to raise funds for the preservation of San Miguel. See the calendar page of their website for more information:http://sanmiguelchapel.org/

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

August 7, 2018

More Mid-Summer Happenings

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

August 7, 2018

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San Antonio Church, Placitas

Placitas was resettled by the Spanish in !840, after years of conflict. Although there was no church at the time, the Catholic Church was providing services in the area, conducting masses in chapels at various locations throughout the Placitas area until the turn of the century. At that time the present church, San Antonio, was built and has served the people since (although Placitas has never had a resident priest).

Twelve volunteers, including those from Cornerstones and community members, recently re-plastered San Antonio Church in Placitas, NM, working three six-hour days, starting July 12 and finishing July 14. Seven yards of soil and sand were used for this mud plaster, which will last for years. Volunteers and community members particularly enjoyed this experience, partly due to the architectural curvature of the area behind the altar. The group included a couple from Colorado, six Placitas community members and two volunteers from Ojo Caliente. Volunteers, Angela Francis and Jeff Davis, who have helped on the last three Cornerstones work projects, rounded out the group. Volunteers like these who produce professional results have added to the success of our summer program this year! Much fun was had and many bonds were made during this project. A big thanks to everyone who came out to help repair this historic structure.

Our Lady of Light Church, Canoncito, NM

“Our Lady of Light" Church in Cañoncito, NM was built in 1880 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The one-story adobe structure was constructed into a slope at the side of Apache Canyon and is a visibly attractive icon along Rt 25 north of Santa Fe.

In June a TICRAT (International workshop for adobe preservation) took place at the church. This was a celebration of a previous workshop held in the 90’s at which time a major re-plastering of the church took place, organized by Cornerstones. Following the one-day TICRAT, community workshop, members, Cornerstones’ volunteers and project manager, Don Sena spent 3 days (July 5 -July 7) continuing the work started. Although afternoon thunderstorms forced some work stoppages, work included removal of old, eroded lime plaster around the base of the structure, repairing plaster failures and crack repair. New lime plaster was applied where needed. Several coats of lime wash were also applied to the exterior walls. Painting was initiated on windows and doors. One-half yard of sand and 4 bags of lime were used. The group included seven nearby community members and two Knights of Columbus members. Adin Lichtenstein, Angela Francis, mentioned in the above article and a valued volunteer and highly skilled plasterer, and Bernadette Lucero (Archdiocese of Santa Fe) participated in the effort. Some work remains to be done to complete the preservation maintenance. Cornerstones was gratified to return to the church after so many years to help make repairs. The church is challenged by not having a mayordomo or volunteers to maintain it for services. Elderly community members are hopeful for a renewal of these important functions.

St Mary's, Ojo Caliente

St Mary’s Church in Ojo Caliente, NM was built in the 1950’s, adjacent to the Santa Cruz church, which had fallen into disrepair. Santa Cruz was dedicated in 1812 but by 1885 was victimized by weather and pigeons. Newspaper reports of the day claimed thieves had stolen many of the religious artifacts.
Over time, St. Mary’s church has required repairs itself. Cornerstones' volunteers have been active in mud plaster and basal repairs on the edifice since 2006. From July 25 through July 28 this summer, volunteers re-plastered the west-facing walls of St. Mary’s, working four six-hour days. Approximately 1 yard of sand and 5 yards of soil were used to re-plaster 3 west facing panels. Seven community members, Jeff Davis, Angela Francis, and Cornerstones Development Associate, Karen Kuranz, worked to get this project completed. A special thanks to other community members for assisting in making delicious lunches for the workers. Many thanks to all who participated!
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Cornerstones Community Partnerships

July 16, 2018

Early Summer Happenings

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

July 16, 2018

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Cornerstones, community members and volunteers continue to restore historic structures.

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Volunteers at the San Lorenzo Church, Picuris

The San Lorenzo Mission Church was originally built in the early 1600’s. In the late 1800’s the structure was in such bad shape, it had to be torn down. A new church, using the original design and traditional building materials was built on the existing foundation and dedicated in 1993. Churches: Symbols of a Community, now Cornerstones, provided technical assistance. Over the years, renewal of plaster has been necessary and from May 8 through June 8, volunteers from the Picuris Pueblo, the Valley School of Ligonier, PA and a group from Connecticut completed 72 hours of mud-plastering of the Church. To restore the church walls, native soil was screened and mixed with concrete sand at a ratio of 1 to 1.5. This combination makes the material more workable and crack resistant. In recent years, the pueblo has used soil alone which has not performed as well as it should. The new mix was very well received by tribal members. Joe Mermejo, Majordomo in charge of the church, set up the work and was assisted by Donna Rudolf, a Picuris projects consultant. Support and direction came from the Picuris Pueblo Governor, Craig Quanchello and Cornerstones project manager, Don Sena. We thank the many volunteers who helped with the plastering!

Volunteers at the San Juan Bautista Church, Los Hueros

Although in the mid-1800’s the area was still occupied by members of the Jicarilla Apache tribe, Ocate, 3 miles east of Los Hueros, was settled by Hispanics who, with their flocks of sheep, moved southeast from Taos, looking for new, unoccupied pastures and farmland. They eventually moved west, creating the village of Los Hueros and building their church. A plaque found on the balcony of San Juan Bautista in1986 confirms that it was built in 1895.
In 1989, community members of Los Hueros contacted “Churches: Symbols of Community”, seeking help restoring their church. With the approval of the Archdiocese, Cornerstones made a site visit in 1990 to determine its condition. Community volunteers, with the assistance of Cornerstones’ technical advisors, restored and lime plastered the church in 1992. Periodic repairs continue to this day and on June 6, more than a dozen community members and other volunteers showed up to assist in the latest project. The stripping of old lime plaster off the exterior base, various exterior wall panels, and the re-plastering of these areas with new lime plaster was completed on 6/15/18. All exterior walls were then lime washed multiple times. Cornerstones' interns Robbie Kelly and Santiago Vigil assisted in the work. Robbie started working with Cornerstones as an intern seven years ago when he was 15 years old and has been a steady and greatly valued team member since then. Santiago is 14 years old and is a new addition to our team on that side of the mountain. At fourteen, he is already an accomplished author! Other community members brought food and refreshments for the workers each day. It was a very pleasurable experience working on this structure and much fun was had by all.

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

June 14, 2018

Spring 2018 Happenings

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

June 14, 2018

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Cornerstones Shares Spring Events

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Wellesley Youth Group

Since 2012, the Wellseley Village Church youth group from Massachusetts has volunteered with Cornerstones, in Santa Fe and its surrounding communities, helping to preserve the Santa Domingo Trading Post, the San Miguel Chapel, the Agua Fria Village entrance monument and other similar projects. This year they returned to Santa Fe in April to inaugurate an adobe yard in the Plaza del Cerro in Chimayo, a National Historic District. Fifty high schoolers and their advisors spent spring break mining clay dirt, making 715 adobe bricks and mud plastering, all essential to preserving parts of the plaza. The Chimayo community and Cornerstones are so grateful to this hardworking group of young people and are hoping to see them in April 2019!
We recently received a thank you letter from the Wellesley youth group along with pictures and comments. We'd like to share a few of them with you!

“Thank you, Jake, for making a difference and showing us how to do so.” Stacey
“Thank you all so much! Fun and rewarding work - absolutely loved it.” Kelly
“I enjoyed building a wall.” Billy
“Glad we could help!” Anna
“We are so happy the bricks we made will rebuild the plaza buildings.” Jim
“Inspiring!” Dave
“We are grateful for muddy hands!” Pam

Adobe Brick-Making during the Historic Preservation Month of May

Over four consecutive Saturdays in May, Cornerstones and Historic Santa Fe Foundation celebrated Heritage Preservation Month by conducting our 2nd annual adobe brick-making workshop series in the courtyard of the Palace of the Governors and at San Miguel Chapel in Santa Fe. Over 200 volunteers made bricks and/or stayed to learn. The bricks will be used to restore buildings in northern New Mexico and each participant who signed up will be mailed a Certificate of Accomplishment with detailed information about the new home for their bricks. We greatly appreciate the volunteers who came from across the country and from as far away as Taiwan. Along with the thousands of other volunteers who help in earthen architectural preservation, their enthusiasm and hard work are the heartbeat of our mission. We look forward to welcoming many more brick-makers in May 2019!

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

May 14, 2018

Get Dirty in Santa Fe

Cornerstones Community Partnerships

May 14, 2018

Get Dirty in Santa Fe

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Get Dirty in Santa Fe

2nd Annual Adobe Brick-Making

Cornerstones and the Historic Santa Fe Foundation invite you to attend the remaining two Saturdays of the 2nd annual adobe brick-making community days during May 2018. Join other volunteers, meet new friends, have fun, learn something new and get your hands dirty for a worthy cause.
Each full size brick you make will be used to restore historic buildings in Northern New Mexico and you will be mailed a Certificate of Accomplishment with detailed information about the new home of your brick.

Last Two Saturdays In May

San Miguel Chapel
401 Old Santa Fe Trail
May 19 / May 26
9:30 am to 1 pm

All ages are welcome.
All adobe-making events are free and open to the public.

Join us for:

Preservation Month Lecture

New Mexico History Museum / Meem Room

Is Adobe Relevant Today?

Presented by
Cornerstones Executive Director Jake Barrow
Wednesday, May 16 12 pm noon
Bring your own brown bag lunch.

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