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The
historic town of Mesilla,
New Mexico was the site of an exceptional adobe and lime
plaster workshop led by Patrick
Taylor, a life-long resident of Mesilla. Participants met Sunday
evening at the home of J. Paul and Mary Taylor and received a tour
of the adobe house and its extraordinary collection of artifacts.
The tour provided information on the evolution of adobe conservation
techniques in the U.S. since the 1950s, as well as presenting the
work of a variety of artists from the southwestern United States
and northern Mexico.
Work
began Monday morning with a presentation by Pat Taylor on the basics
of adobe and lime plaster conservation. This was followed by a walk
through old Mesilla to observe examples of various preservation
issues, and to tour and evaluate problems at the Fountain Theatre.
his theater, possibly the oldest in New Mexico, is adobe with folk
art murals on the interior walls and will be the site of a future
HCN workshop.
Monday
afternoon the "real" work began with participants learning
to mix and form adobes. The next day and a half were spent at the
Rivera residence learning the reasons behind and the techniques
for removal of Portland cement plaster and its replacement with
the original mud plaster followed by lime plaster. Two coats of
mud plaster were applied, and small lava stones placed in the mud
in preparation for the lime plaster.
Wednesday
afternoon and Thursday were spent at the Guerra residence. This
adobe residence had previously been stabilized and mud plaster and
stones were in place. Participants learned to mix and apply a rough
coat and a finish coat of lime plaster. Most participants were equally
covered with plaster. Pat showed us a trick of the trade, which
is to rinse your skin with vinegar after completely washing the
lime plaster off with water. The group smelled like a salad, but
a great deal of work was accomplished.
Friday a field trip was taken to visit the Socorro mission outside
of El Paso, Texas. Conservation work has been underway at this mission
for four years, and the project is nearing completion. The group
then went to Juarez, Mexico to visit the historic mission in the
heart of town as well as other sites. The week provided an excellent
learning experience in all aspects of the conservation of adobe
structures, and demonstrated the positive impact such actions make
on the surrounding community.
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