Alexandra Ward Fellows | Agua Fria Torreón

Alexandra Ward Fellows Accomplishments

One of the greatest pleasures of my job as Cornerstones Program Director is working with our interns. In the last two to three years we have been fortunate to have three exceptional individuals join the Cornerstones team. All three put their hearts into the work, learn by doing, are dedicated to the skills they practice, participate collaboratively, encourage our volunteers and trainees, and unstintingly contribute their skills and talents to preserving the unique heritage and culture of New Mexico. Each came into Cornerstones by first volunteering, then moved into paid internships as the first Alexandra Ward Fellows. As a result of their skills and dedication, all have advanced and earned new titles.

- Jake Barrow, Program Director

Photo by Barb Odell

Angela Francis, Lead Plasterer

Angela Francis is a master plaster/finisher. She came to us with these skills but has continued learning on the job and always holds herself to the highest standards of the craft. In my view she represents a model of the 21st-century enjarradora or adobe plasterer who relishes working in natural materials.

Stephen Calles,
Project Manager

Stephen Calles, a New Mexico native, has demonstrated his advanced skills in woodworking, carpentry, sash and door, design, drafting, welding, and other hands-on talents. Stephen is very creative in designing solutions to solve challenging preservation tasks.

Barb Odell

Isaac Logsdon,
Assistant Program Director

Isaac Logsdon came to Cornerstones with a great desire to deepen his connections to the region. From the start he embraced learning every new skill. He took on administrative responsibilities including heading up our volunteer program and educating the public about Cornerstones projects.

Agua Fria Torreón

Cornerstones completed building the Agua Fria stone torreón on July 9th. Planned years ago and started in March of this year, the solid dry-laid stone structure referencing pre-contact and historic torreóns (towers) reaches over 11 feet at its highest point. It tapers up from an eight-foot diameter base to the high point which resembles a ruin. Prickly pear cacti donated by Plants of the Southwest adorn the multi-level upper section and serve to deter climbing up the stone. Each stone of the monument is hand shaped by the master mason Alan Ash, his assistant Isaac Logsdon, and the many volunteers who participated in construction. Besides being a beautiful piece of stonework, it’s likely to be the tallest cactus planter in the world. We’ll check with the Guinness Book of World Records.

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Master stone mason Alan Ash places the final stone. Photos by Barb Odell.

Welcoming Our New Board

Welcoming Our New Board Members

The Cornerstones Board of Directors is a wonderful and growing assortment of long-time Northern New Mexican community members and people who have loved this area of the Southwest for many years. In this edition of the Mud Blast, we want to introduce our newest members! We continue to find ever-more talented and passionate volunteers willing to assist our staff in the work that makes historic preservation possible. We are excited to welcome Gary, Shelley, Lori, and Tracy, our newest Board cohort, and we are thrilled to share some of what they are bringing to the Cornerstones community.

Gary Newgent

Gary Newgent grew up in Oklahoma City and attended Oklahoma City University graduating with a BS in Business and JD degrees. During his career he worked in the real estate departments of several national retail chains specializing in new store development and design, utilizing his accounting and construction background along with his New Mexico and Oklahoma law licenses. His volunteer activities include founding and serving as the President of the Site Steward Foundation and Vice President of the Archaeological Society of New Mexico. Gary and his wife Shelley Thompson have two daughters and have resided in Santa Fe since 2005.

Shelley Thompson

Shelley Thompson is from Fort Worth, Texas, and holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas Christian University. Shelley and her husband Gary have lived in New Mexico since 2000. Recently retired, Shelley spent the last 15 years of her career as Director of Marketing and Outreach and Publisher of El Palacio magazine for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Shelley has been a volunteer archeological Site Steward in New Mexico for more than 20 years. She enjoys cooking, gardening, research, and her new puppy, Mavis.

Loretta Valencia

My name is Loretta Valencia. My husband is Harold Valencia, and we have two grown sons, Phillip and Marcus Valencia. I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My family then lived in Taos for a few years and eventually settled here in Santa Fe. I was 7 at that time. I was educated at St. Francis Catholic Elementary, Nava Elementary, and St. Catherine’s Indian High School. I went on to New Mexico State University and majored in Accounting. I have worked as an accountant since 1984.

Although my profession is Public Accounting, I have an affinity for New Mexico’s history, cultures, environment, and citizens. St. Catherine’s provided a lifelong appreciation of Native American culture and traditions. I am currently the Treasurer of the Santa Fe Watershed Association.

Cornerstones Community Partnerships restores, rebuilds, and revives Santa Fe and the surrounding areas. I’m particularly impressed with how Cornerstones is looking forward by incorporating solar energy. Sunshine is definitely abundant here. Emphasis on ‘hands-on’ restoration brings a true-to-life approach and appreciation for how our ancestors built and lived. I also believe this approach establishes healthy relationships in our present community.

Tracy Lattin

I lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico, for thirty years before moving to Santa Fe in November 2020. I received my Bachelor of Accountancy at New Mexico State University, and I am a Certified Public Accountant. I retired in March 2020 and spent the majority of my career as an accountant and financial manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory. I am married and have two children, a daughter and a son. In addition, I became a grandmother two years ago and my grandson is my pride and joy. My husband and I love to travel when we can. We have been to various countries in Europe, and we love going to Mexico. I am an exercise enthusiast and like to hike and play pickle ball.

We Shall Miss Jim Gautier

Remembering Jim Gautier

This week our close friend and one of Cornerstones’ longest-serving and most dedicated volunteers, Jim Gautier, passed away. In the weeks before his untimely death, Jim was out in the field doing what he loved best - photographing the old mission churches of Northern New Mexico. He routinely called the office to ask what projects were planned or underway so he could document the buildings. He was an extraordinarily talented photographer and encaustic artist. His work has been exhibited in numerous venues including, lately, a show benefiting Cornerstones and Historic Santa Fe Foundation held at El Zaguán on Canyon Road.

In the past few weeks, Jim headed to Mora and San Miguel Counties with several Cornerstones staff to meet Mayordomos and photograph several churches. He was also documenting any damage, cracks in the walls, roof problems, drainage issues, etc. 

He was very careful about getting permission for any photographs of old buildings. If we didn’t have a contact, he would stop at a nearby residence and ask permission. He was rarely turned down because of his gentle, direct and sincere personality. And he always shared his work with the owners or people in the parish or community. His photos represent an enormously valuable archive of Cornerstones efforts all over the state.

In recent years Jim began experiments with his photos using encaustic techniques and he became so skilled at this art from, he began offering workshops. He was also an avid student of the human form. Jim was one of the most generous individuals I’ve ever known.  Along with his wife Peggy who was also a dedicated volunteer, Cornerstones Community Partnerships has never had a more devoted friend and contributor. We shall miss him greatly.

More Solar Success!

The Solar Initiative, a collaboration of Cornerstones Community Partnerships and Remy’s Good Day Fund, is pleased to announce its support of The Energy Sovereignty PhD.

Funding has been awarded for a joint project of The Energy Sovereignty Institute (Santa Fe) and Rochester Institute of Technology to support a PhD student to research energy sovereignty-related topics with field work expected to include the southwest, and specifically New Mexico.  Research will include both quantitative and qualitative approaches to understanding what energy sovereignty means to various Native communities, challenges and opportunities, and recommendations for policies and technologies. The work will be utilized to understand the New Mexico stakeholder ecosystem and current state of tribal energy development.

Sherralyn Sneezer (Navajo/Dine) has been selected from a highly competitive field of applicants as the first PhD student in energy sovereignty research topics via the Energy Sovereignty Institute and Rochester Institute of Technology.  Her credentials are outstanding: BA degree with a Major in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, where she conducted thesis research on “Solar Energy Development on the Navajo Nation”. She also studied renewable energy and sustainability at Reykjavik University School of Science and Engineering and is now completing her MS in Energy at Texas A&M University, studying Energy Systems Engineering.

Congratulations, Sherralyn, we look forward to your findings to guide the Solar Initiative toward substantive goals!

Build History at the Aqua Fria Torreon

EMAIL ISSAC LOGSDON AT ISSAC@CSTONES.ORG FOR DETAILS AND TO SIGN UP.

Preservation of Villanueva Tapestry Is Complete

Email Issac Logsdon at issac@cstones.org for details and to sign up.

WELCOMING MARY MADIGAN AND SANTA TERESITA CHURCH: VIBRANT AND THRIVING

Email Issac at issac@cstones.org for details and to sign up.

The Solar Initiative Supports Food Security

"Ryan Ranch, Joshua Tree National Park,” Photo by BTWashburn via Flickr, CC licensing.

Celebrating 300 years of Rael Acequia

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Issac Logsdon, project coordinator, is at Issac@cstones.org
Work is being done Monday - Saturday 9 to 3, so let him know your availability.

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Respecting Shared History Can Strengthen Communities

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Workshops are beginning. Sign up now!

Learn more about the stories of Plaza del Cerro and our work to preserve it in the full letter on our website.

Contact Issac@cstones.org with your name, general availability, and contact information. Take a much needed break from being indoors and instead listen to the birds above and the Santa Fe River down below.

Supporting Community Fund a Great Success

Photo from Red Willow Farm. Please visit: https://redwillowfarm.org/

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For more info about our Supporting Community Fund please visit this link on our website.

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Tapestry Fundraiser Huge Success

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Please email issac@cstones.org and let him know of your availability including dates and if available all day (hours are usually 10am-4pm) or just part of the day.

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For details on the Immaculate Conception Church story and to see more of the documentation and additional images, see this post on our website.

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Copyright © 2021 Cornerstones Community Partnerships, All rights reserved.

Stonework Training in Saguaro National Park

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Link to register: cstones.org/tapestry Volunteers and interested parties are invited to contact Cornerstones for more information regarding this workshop opportunity by calling 505-982-9521, visiting www.cstones.org/workshops or emailing contact@cstones.org. Copyright © 2021 Cornerstones Community Partnerships, All rights reserved.

Stitches In Time

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Villanueva Tapestry, from the collections of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, photograph by Barb Odell AN EXCITING NEW PROJECT! “Stitches in Time” Join Cornerstones in the preservation of the Villanueva Tapestry            Cornerstones invites friends and members of the public to learn about and support the preservation of this unique New Mexico treasure. On January 29 at 5 pm, Cornerstones will present a 30-minute virtual event to tell the story of the Tapestry and to raise funds for its preservation.           The Villanueva Tapestry was created by 36 women stitchers to celebrate the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976. It depicts the Spanish-American contribution to the founding of our country. The 265-foot panorama of stitchery extends around the interior walls of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Villanueva, New Mexico. The Tapestry’s 41 panels depict the history of the Villanueva Valley from a time before human habitation up to 1976. The panels are framed by cactus rib.  It is folk art at its most significant and has been compared to the legendary Bayeux Tapestry in France.             Despite its age and that it is in remarkably good condition, this work of art has never been professionally cleaned. Cornerstones, in collaboration with nationally known Conservator, Jeanne Brako, will ensure that it survives far into the future.  Two local interns will assist Ms. Brako to learn the preservation process and to honor their heritage for future generations.           Cornerstones is accepting donations now by going to our website or by sending a check to Cornerstones Community Partnerships, PO Box 2341, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Please indicate that your gift is for Villanueva Tapestry.         Please register below if you want to come to the virtual event on January 29th at 5pm and we'll be sure to send you a reminder closer to the date. Villanueva Tapestry, from the collections of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, photograph by Barb Odell Register Now Happy New Year!            I am thrilled to join the Cornerstones team as Executive Director. For those of you who are Jake Barrow fans (and I’m one of them too!) he is staying with us. Jake will now be able to devote his time to two things that are central to our mission and that are his true passion – working with communities to preserve their heritage, particularly adobe, and mentoring.           As the newest member of the team, I will be studying up on the important work that Cornerstones has done since its founding. I invite you to join me on this learning journey or for some of you who have been involved with Cornerstones for many years, a walk down memory lane. Each month I will highlight one of our previous projects. If you follow us on social media, I welcome your responses there. Many of you have traveled to these sites or were volunteers on the projects. We would love to hear your memories and see your pictures if you have them.                 I’m launching this series with San Rafael Church, La Cueva, New Mexico. You can read all about it in a blog post on our website from 2017.           The blog post mentions that San Rafael was again in need of maintenance. As a result of the assessment then, we launched a campaign to re-plaster the exterior and to repair windows and doors. This work was completed in 2019. This is a great example that Cornerstones projects have a continuing life. In the early years the church was saved and restored. More recently, as with all historic buildings preservation, maintenance is required. Don Sena, representing the Diocese, will be inspecting the Mora churches soon to determine needs for the 2021 season. Rebecca Montoya continues to be our Mora community liaison for all work there.           It is an honor to join with members of New Mexico’s communities to work on these important historic structures.   Thank you for joining with us! Tracey Enright Share Tweet Forward

We Are Grateful For You!

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2020 has been a year beyond imagination! Like so many other non-profit organizations, Cornerstones put many of its normal community-based projects on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on helping our neighbors who were suffering the most.  We couldn't have done it without your support! The tremendous outpouring of your generosity gave tangible relief to so many! Thank you...we are grateful for you! We at Cornerstones wish you a happy and safe Holiday Season and a joyous New Year! ALONZO RAEL Cornerstones is partnering with BLM to preserve the ranch, which dates to sometime between 1710-1715 when the acequia was first dug. Near the Camino Real and situated along the Santa Fe River just above the Bajada, the site retains its rural off-grid character. Alonzo, descended from the original settlers, lived a ranching farming life much like his ancestors. Preserving the ranch ensures a continuous thread of culture and history from colonial times to the 20th century. Issac Logsdon is currently working on a Historic Structures Report, planning preservation projects, and managing the acequia under an agreement with BLM.  Alonzo assembled the cross on the hill in a gesture of gratefulness when he returned alive from World War II.   Photo of Alonzo Rael (1917-2004) in his kitchen at his ranch. Photo by Norman Mauskopf. Photo of Rael Ranch on right. Photo by Barb Odell. CASA GRANDE Cornerstones field leaders Angela Francis and Issac Logsdon, along with volunteers, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Mike Garcia, worked to get the finish coat of lime plaster up on a section of the “CCC”-built maintenance compound wall at the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.  They also assessed water damage on two adobe buildings within the monument and took measurements to prepare documentation. The workshop ran from November 1st through November 14. The project is ongoing. Photos by Angela Francis ORGAN PIPE and JOSHUA TREE  From Casa Grande, Angela and Issac travelled to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, where they assessed the historic adobe Dos Lomitas Ranch House. The four-room adobe is located next to the Mexican border and new border wall. Built in 1920, it is an example of vernacular Sonoran style architecture with a flat roof, adobe walls and a large mesquite post and saguaro rib ramada outside (no longer standing). Under an agreement with the park, Cornerstones is working on a preservation plan to repair and stabilize the adobe in training workshops. From Organ Pipe the two proceeded to Joshua Tree National Park to assess the adobe ruins of the Ryan Ranch House and plan workshops for preservation. Built in 1896, the adobe house was used by the Ryan family, who operated a nearby mine. Because clay sources in the park are rare, the adobes were made with mine tailings. A plan is being prepared to conduct adobe preservation field schools with a focus on applying earthen plasters using local volunteers. A long-term volunteer program is envisioned.  Photos by Angela Francis and Issac Logsdon BUILDING HISTORIC WINDOWS in MORA  A woodworking training project at the Santo Nino de Atocha Mission Church in Buena Vista, NM started on Nov. 24 and will run into the Spring of 2021. Cornerstones’ youth interns, Robbie Kelly and Santiago Vigil, will learn how to construct and install historic windows for the church. Cornerstones’ field leader, Stephen Calles, is conducting the workshop. These workshops are funded by a grant from the Catholic Foundation. Photo of Robbie and Santiago, on left, by Stephen Calles, file image on right. Window Restoration at the School House, Lake Valley, NM   Stephen is also managing the window and door restoration project at the Lake Valley ghost town site. Lake Valley was a silver mining bonanza town during the late 19th century and is owned by BLM. BLM is partnering with Cornerstones to assist in preserving several adobe buildings on site. Due to COVID-19 our volunteer workshop opportunities are limited to only 1 or 2 individuals at any time and CDC safety protocols are being followed.  Our intention is to document the work in such a way as to be able to share case study work digitally. Photo of Stephen Calles by Maya Lofgren-Calles. File image of School House. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Cornerstones Embraces Change!

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CORNERSTONES EMBRACES CHANGE! Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 WE ARE GROWING! We are Excited to Introduce Cornerstones' New Executive Director and Board Executive Committee  Members!   Tracey Enright, Cornerstones' Executive Director Prior to joining Cornerstones Tracey was the Vice President of Feeding Santa Fe and a Member of the Santa Fe Food Policy Council. Previously, she was the Director of Education and Interpretation at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. Before moving to New Mexico, Tracey worked at the Smithsonian Institution where she led major initiatives that shared the Institution’s resources with communities across the country. Tracey received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Arts from New York University. Tracey has completed 18 marathons including Boston; Chicago, Marine Corps and New York City. In addition to travelling the world, she enjoys hiking New Mexico trails with her husband, David and their dog, Matilda. Todd Sickles, Chair of the Board of Directors Todd has spent most of his professional career in IT and business consulting having worked with clients both domestically and abroad in the areas of business transformation and large program delivery.  He is currently CEO of Tsymmetry, a Washington, DC based IT consulting firm specializing in classified solutions for select Federal Government agencies.  He has served on the board of Brainfood and managed 4 American Red Cross shelters during the Katrina disaster recovery effort.  He and his wife Cathy have been coming to New Mexico for the past 15 years and are in the process of relocating to Santa Fe later this year.  They are both active in non-profit work and look forward to making tangible contributions to our local community. Caroline Little, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors Caroline grew up in Washington, D. C., and practiced law for several years there. Publishing and journalism have always been her passion, and Caroline spent the rest of her career in digital newspaper publishing. She served as CEO and publisher of washingtonpost.com, CEO of the guardian, US, and CEO of the Newspaper Association of America. She has been involved with several nonprofits since retiring to Santa Fe (where her parents spent their retirement) in 2015 with her husband, Dan Burton.  Caroline and Dan have two daughters, Kiki, and Sophia. Angelo Gaziano, Treasurer of the Board of Directors Angelo has been with the Burke family owners of Outside Integrated Media for the past 40 years. He is currently Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. Over the years he held the positions of the Accounting Manager, Controller and Vice President/Financial Director, mainly in the publishing sector and other companies owned by the Burke family. Angelo received his MA in Accounting from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a BS in Marketing from Southern Illinois University. He has two adult children, Alex and ann. Angelo likes horses, golfing, hiking, and owning old British cars. Suzanne Alba, Secretary of the Board of Directors Suzanne is a native Santa Fean whose family arrived and settled in Northern New Mexico over 400 years ago. Youngest daughter of late longtime Cornerstones supporter and board member Elvira Vigil Ogard, Suzanne graduated with a professional degree in Architecture from the University of Oregon with a minor in Art History.  After a long career as a partner in an award-winning architectural firm, she is currently General Manager of Otra Vez de Santa Fe, which hosts hundreds of visitors to Santa Fe each year. Suzanne and her husband have two adult children, Sophia Claire, and Emory Olin. Mason Wilson, Chair Emeritus Wilson Mason spent 30 years in counseling, mediation, and appraisal of commercial and investment real estate with WKMason Company in Dallas, TX. He has been active on local and national boards, professional organizations, and civic/community endeavors. With retirement he continues a life-long interest in restoration of unique properties with Cornerstones’ community development projects. Santa Fe has been Wilson’s second home for over 23 years, and he welcomes this new and expanded opportunity for community involvement and service. Congratulations to All! Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

We're Back and We've Been Busy

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San Juan Nepomuceno, El Rito, Mora County Under the guidance of co-leaders, Alexandra Ward Fellow, Angela Francis, and Cornerstones' project manager, Don Sena, the mud-plastering work project at El Rito was vintage Cornerstones! A small but capable group of volunteers from the community turned out with enthusiasm and vigor. Father Joseph, seen throwing dirt into the mixer, was so enthusiastic that, at the end of the workshop he broke out a bottle of wine and gave everyone a cup to celebrate the effort! The lunches provided by the community made everyone feel welcome and appreciated. Local volunteer, Mariano Trujillo, seen working on a corner, provided welcome expertise. The cadre of volunteers had masks when they needed them and followed social distancing guidelines during the work but assembled quickly for a photo op the last day.    La Capilla de San Antonio, Chacon, NM  Robbie Kelly and Santiago Vigil, Mora County youth adoberos took responsibility for the repairs needed at the church. Alexandra Ward Fellow, Angela Francis, was able to oversee the project from a nearby private plastering job in the village. Robbie and Santiago are pictured working on the walls. The Mayordomo, Adam Byrd, took care of the roof repair. Needed plaster repairs on the walls were completed at the end of September and the church took on a renewed fresh appearance. Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas A final two weeklong workshop to stabilize the stone foundations of the warehouse at Fort Davis was led by master stone mason, Alan Ash. He started the work in the Fall of this 2019 and went back this September to finish the project. While volunteers were not solicited due to the virus, several showed up anyway. Park staff jumped in to fill the void and Superintendent David Larson spent several days on the job learning masonry skills. Work will begin on the nearby adobe barracks ruin in coming weeks. San Miguel Chapel, Santa Fe, NM  The mud plasters at San Miguel first applied in 2010 are still intact. The north wall has not be touched sine 2011. Twice a year we check the parapets for deterioration and react if needed. Alexandra Ward Fellows, Angela Francis and Issac Logsdon, and Cornerstones’ project manager, Don Sena, accomplished this year’s parapet capping repairs October 1-3, 2020. This little bit of maintenance much like cleaning out the gutters on pitched roofs makes all the difference in keeping the 400-year-old adobe chapel in good condition. Supporting Community Fund Supporting Community has funded two projects for True Kids 1 to support at-risk youth during the pandemic. True Kids 1 is a youth media education nonprofit, located in Taos, New Mexico. Their mission is to promote digital citizenship and open career paths for youth by providing media skills, tools, and opportunities. Their vision is to transform education through media production for social change.  The first funded project supports a Social Media Campaign which invites youth to create and submit short videos about themselves, explaining what they like or do not like about online learning, talking about their “quarantine” experiences  The goal of the Campaign is to amplify student voices, let them know they are not alone and to use digital technology to foster positive connections. The second project to receive support is Direct Engagement, an initiative in which 2 carefully chosen youth leaders personally reach out to fellow students who are not showing up for online learning classes to find out if they are OK, connect them with resources and information. As always, Cornerstones appreciates your support and welcomes your donations as the COVID-!9 pandemic continues. Please visit https://www.cstones.org/donate for more information. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Adobe Love

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ADOBE LOVE  From 2017 to 2020, Cornerstones conducted adobe making workshops downtown during 4 weekends in May. It’s been a fun project that keeps the tradition of adobe-making alive for locals and tourists. Later, we’ve used the adobes to repair buildings. Most people enjoy participating in the process. Sometimes a little magic occurs.  That’s what happened a few years back when our US/ICOMOS intern, Georgina Solano, from El Salvador was helping out at the Palace of the Governors. While she was showing folks what to do, she met a very enthusiastic volunteer named Todd Austin.  They soon discovered they had common interests in addition to the mud on their hands. Sure enough, Cornerstones recently celebrated their marriage at our office. We gave a lot of toasts – both to their future happiness and to the future of adobe-making throughout the world.   WELCOME ABOARD TO SUZANNE ALBA  Cornerstones' Newest Board Member   Suzanne Alba Suzanne, a native Santa Fean whose family arrived and settled in Northern New Mexico over 400 years ago, is proud to contribute to Cornerstones mission to preserve New Mexico’s endangered culture and historic buildings.  Youngest daughter of late longtime Cornerstones supporter and board member Elvira Vigil Ogard, Suzanne graduated with a professional degree in Architecture from the University of Oregon with a minor in Art History.  After a long career as a partner in an award-winning architectural firm, Suzanne chose to promote New Mexico and its singular culture and history via the tourism and hospitality industry; and now as currently General Manager of Otra Vez de Santa Fe she hosts hundreds of visitors to Santa Fe each year. Suzanne and her husband have 2 adult children - Sophia Claire who works as a French pastry chef in Chicago and Emory Olin who is an intern architect training to become a design-builder with his father in his architectural/construction office in Santa Fe. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Supporting Community Works!

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A Stone Masonry Repair Workshop and a September Work project

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Stonemasonry Preservation Workshop at the BLM JO Ranch, Wyoming Master Stonemason, Alan Ash, led his third stonemasonry workshop for Cornerstones at the historic JO Ranch near Baggs, Wyoming from August 4th through the 18th. Restoration work was performed on the bunk house and commissary. The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) in Colorado provided an all-women’s crew to learn stone masonry during the first week of the workshop. It was a great opportunity to diversify their work skills education this season. It was also a unique experience for us. This was the first time we had the opportunity to work with an all-female group. The six crew members are 212-chainsaw certified and have been doing a series of forestry projects throughout the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley in Colorado. They hail from all over the US. Alan Ash was excited to work with this accomplished group. Their professionalism and diligence, combined with their skill set, attention to detail and openness to challenges made this a highly successful workshop. Following this group were two teams from New Mexico’s Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps who continued the training workshops, concluding on Wed. August 26. All CDC rules were followed to ensure safe participation.   Women's Saw Crew at the JO ranch in Baggs, Wyoming. Back Row (standing): Jordan Cook, Celeste Blodgett, Stephanie Douthitt Front Row (crouching): Emily Lin, Alexandra Bueno, Anna Allegretti Volunteers Welcome for the Mud Plastering Workshop at El Rito A mud-plastering workshop will be held at San Juan Nepomuceno Church in El Rito, New Mexico, starting on September 3. Due to the corona virus, volunteer participation will be limited. The plastering workshop will be co-led by Cornerstones' Project Manager,Don Sena, and Alexandra Ward Fellowship awardee, Angela Francis. Plastering will occur on September 4, 5, 11 and 12. The project will run from 9 – 3 on these days. Participation will be guided by COVID-19 restrictions. For more information and to sign up, please contact Karen Kuranz at kkuranz@cstones.org or call 505-82-9521. Cornerstones deeply appreciates your donations, especially in this time of COVID-19. Should you wish to contribute or see the latest on our Supporting Community recipients, please visit our web site:  https://www.cstones.org/supporting-community Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

August 2020 Happenings

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Supporting Community   WE HAVE RAISED $46.195.00 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!   Because of your outstanding support, Cornerstones has been able to assist our partners on the Pueblos and in small northern New Mexico villages with COVID-related needs. All funds have gone directly to the 15 current recipients.  Your donations have allowed them to purchase basic items such as food, cleaning supplies, protective gear to the purchase of materials, labor to build out quarantine space and the purchase of a waterproof shed to be used as a guard station at one of the Pueblos.   The need continues.  Please help by sending a check to: Cornerstones community Partnerships a PO Box 2341, Santa Fe, NM 87504, with a notation in the memo section for “Supporting Community” or donate through our website: https://www.cstones.org/supporting-community   We are all in this together, some just have greater needs than others!     Our Newest Supporting Community Recipients!   Pueblo of Santo Domingo   When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Santo Domingo Pueblo, Governor Thomas Moquino, Jr. closed the Pueblo to prevent the spread of the virus and to limit access in and out. Supporting Community supplied funds for a 10x10 weatherproof shed to be constructed and placed at one of the main entrances to the Galisteo and SDY2K subdivisions, with approximately 80 homes.  The Security Guards are looking forward to the ‘shack’ and appreciate the Housing Authority and Cornerstones working together on the project. The DEAP School   The DEAP Dzil Ditl’ooi Empowerment, Action, & Preservation School is a charter school, serving 60 students and families in Navajo, NM. The area has been severely impacted by COVID! DEAP requested funds for access to clean drinking water. Many families rely on tap water as their drinking water source and that water requires filtration to be safe for consumption. Supporting Community provided funding to purchase filtering water pitchers for families and water bottles for the students. The water bottles chosen were of high quality to be reusable, instead of the common plastic bottles that litter the community. Horno Training   With some downtime recently, Cornerstones’ Intern, Angela Francis, (standing on the left side of the Horno) was able to travel to Villanueva to hold a workshop on the building of a cob oven at Seed + Stone Farm.  Intern, Issac Logsdon, and his partner, Emily Souers,(seated in front of the Horno) built the 5 x 5 base out of adobe a month earlier with farm owners Barb Odell (Cornerstones’ documentarian) and Jennifer Billig. (Jennifer standing on the right side of the Horno). Angela is well versed in the building of earthen ovens in OR, but this was her first in NM. The workshop was a two-day event with a minimal crew. The oven still needs some drying time before the final mud plaster will take place, using the red rich soil of the valley. The final coat of plaster will be applied at a later date. Partial support for the project was provided by the Alexandra Ward Fellowship Fund. Catholic Foundation Grants   The Catholic Foundation has again provided a grant to Cornerstones in 2020 to continue training workshops for youth to repair and mud plaster the Mission Churches in the Mora Valley, NM.     Panel of the Villanueva Tapestry  The Catholic Foundation also generously granted money to Cornerstones for the preservation of the Villanueva Tapestry.  The Tapestry is a significant art treasure sited in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Villanueva. The panels ring the entire periphery of the interior of the church. 36 women stitchers created the panels, which tell the story of the Villanueva Valley to celebrate the bicentennial of the United State in 1976.  The Tapestry has been compared to the famous Bayeux Tapestry in France. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*