This past week I've been at Tumacácori National Historical Park in the
upper Santa Cruz River Valley of southern Arizona. The Spanish mission
was founded in 1691, and is the oldest mission in Arizona. A dozen or so
NPS historic parks managers gathered there to get the latest word on
"treatment development in response to cyclic deficiencies for cultural
resources," in non-federalese that's "taking care of important old
places". Our own Lisa Sasser, Tom McGrath, and I, and several others
lead by Blaze Davi were their instructors. They were a good bunch, all
with their hearts in the right place as they struggle with federal
cutbacks and handouts that seem to prevent rather than promote effective
preservation. Just last month the Tumacácori site expanded its acreage
by over 800% with the addition of a neighboring 20th century horse ranch
to bring the historic walled gardens, orchards and fields stretching
over to the river, within the parks care. Of course, there is no funding
to increase staff or maintenance budgets. One morning David lamented
that he had his two adobe masons cutting grass rather that working on
the mission buildings.
David Yubeta, MD (Mudd Dudd), the parks facility manager and long-time
mud mason there at the site, showed us how to make adobes, and how all
the modern scientific treatments of the adobe mission buildings during
the last three decades, including epoxy, custom latex paint, acrylic
resin, and other scientifically sanctioned and academically approved
goop, has caused more damage than good. David is shifting treatments
back to traditional methods and materials, such as mud and water adobes,
cactus juice and lime plaster, sweat and blood hard work, heart and
spirit inspiration.
Then I spent a few days in Tucson with family and friends, including
Simon Herbert, preservation trades educator of Belmont Technical and
Arkansas Preservation Trades fame. Simon and I cruised out to the
airport in his restored 1945 International pickup truck to clamber
around in the WW2 B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator aircraft,
which flew in one morning. This was the first time I'd seen these
aircraft close up. In the war effort my dad was a test pilot for these
planes as they came off the production lines at Offit Air Field in
Omaha. He told harrowing tales of failing parts. On one flight they had
to bolt the tail section back on in order to get enough control of the
plane to land it. After that the flight crew was careful to take their
tool boxes and bags of spare bolts on each flight. The test pilots were
relieve when they let the Nebraskan and Iowan farm women on the aircraft
production lines (Rosey the Riveter) because the quality of the aircraft
improved so much. Then Simon and I made it out through the dessert
reservation to the San Xavier del Bac mission site--truly amazing
plaster and paint decoration.
The expanse of the desert lands, harsh sun; and heights of the mission
domes and surrounding mountains opened new insights of mind/hand/heart
connections I'm currently working to understand, which I'm hoping to
report on soon.
Best quotes from the trip:
"This spiritual side of our work cannot be mandated, we must find it in
ourselves and inspire others to find it too." -- David Yubeta.
"...respect the integrity of the original work by keeping your own self
out of the work." -- Mexican preservation specialist up on the
scaffolding at San Xavier.
John
by hammer and hand great works do stand
by pen and thought best words are wrought
John Leeke, Preservation Consultant
Historic HomeWorks
26 Higgins St.
Portland, ME 04103
207 773-2306
[log in to unmask]
www.HistoricHomeWorks.com
--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>
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