Historic Materials Workshops

Historic Paint & Finishes:

Paint's Dating History, Material Relationships, and Finishes

August 4-5, 2007 workshop fee: $300

This introductory workshop is geared toward home restorers, artists, and curious folk, without expecting participants to have previous knowledge of historic paints and finishes.

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The workshops will begin with a presentation by Michael Black of Liberty Paint touching on topics such as:

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* The Colorful History of Paint: Traditions, Alternative Variations, & Uses * Paint Types: Oil, Whitewash, Egg, Milk, Pigments, Asphaltum, Modern, Glazes, Varnish, & Shellac * Project Reference: Munsell Color Standards & Color Computer * Chromo-chronology: Dating Paint Layers * Surfaces: Wood, Plaster, Ferrous Metal, Aluminum, Brick, Stone * Project Prep: Stripping, Sanding, & Application * Project Tools: Brushes, Spray, Padding, etc. * Project Evaluation: Lead, Plaster, Solvents, Mildew, & Wallpaper

Michael Black's presentation is followed by hands-on workshop demonstrating methods including:

• Faux Rosewood Doors
• Milk Paint, Stencil, Faux Marble Floors

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Moira Kelly and Nora Johnson, whom we're constantly raving about will be leading the rest of the historic paint and interior finishes sessions.

These prestigious New York decorative artists are frequent collaborators with complimentary strengths.

Norah Johnson received a BA in Fine Art from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA, and conducted her post-graduate studies at Les Beaux Arts in Paris and New York University in New York. An exquisitely accomplished and prolific painter and sculptress, her professional life has included more than 85 major commissions for the public, corporate, and private sectors spanning four continents. Among these are works for Bank of America, Sun Oil, E.I. DuPont, AT&T, The Peoria civic Center, and the Hyatt Regency.

Always a pioneer, her practice stretches into the realms of mural painting and decorative finishes as well. In her research and explorations of historic decoration, she has had the opportunity to explore and restore some of the superlative remaining examples of 19th century stencils and folk graining.

Her interest in utilizing green technology in conjunction with historic processes has allowed her to create innovative techniques that integrate traditional methods of working with environmentally friendly materials, preserving the stunning and irreplaceable beauty of the old practices, while enabling them to be practically applied in keeping with the demands of modern times.

Moira Kelly has an Honors degree in Art History and a certificate in conservation from Munich, Germany. She has worked in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. She has been involved in many prestigious projects around the globe. Most recently, Moira was retained to do a feasibility study on the future restoration of a Philip Guston mural in Morelia, Mexico.

To learn more about Philip Guston's murals, click here. The link above will send you to a text that I am thrilled is available online. It is probably the most pivotal work on Guston ever published and anyone can read it for free online. The link leads to:

A Critical Study of Philip Guston by Dore Ashton UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Berkeley, Los Angeles. Oxford 1990 The Regents of the University of California

Moira Kelly is a technician with a broad knowledge of materials, their history, and application. Nora's expertise and experimentation have led her to create contemporary solutions to conservation issues with new surfaces and materials. Their workshop is a weekend introduction to the character of decorative painting, its uses (commercial and residential), its role in restoration work, ethics, safety, tools and matterials, and some basic techniques and terminology. You will also be advised on some books worth consulting and materials and tools to use in your own projects.

As you can see, we have a killer line-up for this workshop. It's sure to be an incredible and inspiring weekend.

Our workshops will help you achieve success with finishes whether you're a professional painter, decorator, a building owner, or overseeing a preservation project. Certificates of completion will be distributed to attendees at the conclusion of the workshop and lunches are provided.

We will be having a surprise guest!

JOIN US FOR AN COCKTAILS AND AN EVENING PRESENTATION WITH MARGARET SALISKE!

Margaret's talk coincides nicely with the Historic Paints and Finishes workshop, but is a separate event. Her presentation and cocktails will begin at 6:30 at Howard Hall Farm (84 Howard Hall Road, Athens, NY). Anyone (whether part of the workshop or not) is welcome to attend this talk. Admittance to our Evening Talk With Margaret Saliske is $15. RSVP or just drop in.

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Historic Lime Mortar

Summer - TBA

Repointing & Rebuilding Stone is a workshop taught by John Speweik of U.S. Heritage Group of Chicago. The workshop is formatted as an on-site consultation of the 220-year-old Federal style home in Athens NY, which serves as our classroom and laboratory. The site offers a unique environment for hands-on learning and offers specific restoration challenges that are distinctive to this region. These classes are geared toward the restoration practitioner as well as the layman and are sure to be valuable resource in this restoration-heavy area of the country.

John will offer a presentation on the History of Mortar as well as technical information regarding the analysis and evaluation of historic mortars. Following the presentation, participants will engage in hands-on repointing and stone rebuilding work using the specified methods of approach for masonry restoration.

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Historic Lime Plaster Training: A Forensic Investigation and Resolution of the Travesties of Time

WITH RORY BRENNAN

THE NEW DATES ARE IN! THE LIME PLASTER WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD FROM JULY 24-26. EARLY REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED.

3-day Workshop fee: $450

REGISTRATION CLOSED. To read about upcoming workshops, click the Classes tab at the top of the page.

For more information & registration details: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

The Historic Lime Plaster Workshop will be given by Plaster Preservationist and Conservator Rory Brennan of Preservation Plastering . His projects have included some of the finest government buildings, churches, and Historic House Museums in the Country.Click here to read his article for "This Old House"

Rory will present a lecture and workshop on the chemistry, analysis, evalauation, and application of Historic Plaster including plaster mixing to match original, ornamental design and layouts, finishing techniques, and tools of the trade. He will guide participants through the process of investigating the clues of time's crime against exquisite architectural elements, and using highly specialized techniques to bring the victims back to their former glory.

**This class has passed. To read about upcoming workshops, CLICK HERE ** For more information & registration details: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

Tentative Lime Plaster Training Curriculum from Rory Brennan:

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Three day workshop: This program is conducted on-site in an actual historic setting. The class will investigate and evaluate the conditions found and discuss the various options available for repair and implement a chosen path. The attendees will learn how to match an historic plaster and build the patching plaster from the components. We will start out the first day making plaster and then analyzing the existing plaster and replacement sand. I will take your attendees down the same path I take on every project. We will learn by doing everyday. There will be a minor power point show to reinforce the lessons learned developed from photos taken at the workshop. The last hour of every day will be involved with a question and answer period concerning that days and any previous day's program. I will develop a power point show which you can forward to attendees (on CD) with printable images of the repair techniques specific to HHF. I will print and send to you a completion certificate to be signed by you and forwarded to each attendee. This skill set also adapts well and fits in with painting preparation. Attendees will learn how to make judgments about plaster repair from existing conditions to choosing repair options and implementing them for the longest lasting results in the shortest amount of time. This training will be of interest to architects, property management, maintence crews, contractors, homeowners, DIYers, painters, plasterers, specifiers and estimators.

PRESERVATION PLASTERING, LTD™ Three Day Plaster Repair Training

DAY ONE:

Acid test Analyze existing plaster/sand Sand to use, field test to find correct ratio Volumetric test Make plaster AFTER LUNCH Data from Volumetric test Example: 33 ml liquid in 100ml sand = 1 lime putty: 3 sand Lime putty into mixer 1/3 sand into bucket, one at a time Talk about fiber Hemp vs. hair vs. synthetic Add fiber to plaster Off load plaster into trash cans to store until day two Go over site and lay out scope and schedule of work NOTES: Add 40% to plaster volumes to compensate for keys and wall cavity drops. PRESERVATION PLASTERING, LTD™

DAY TWO: Analyze existing conditions Loose areas Look for bulges Feel for loose plaster Finger test for stability Replacement areas Determine mix Value of conditioning lath Holes and cracks Determine mixture White coat Joint compound Stabilize plaster BEFORE LUNCH Drill Condition Adhere Clamp Prepare surfaces for plaster Conditioner to lath Plaster Scratch coat on large area voids NOTES: PRESERVATION PLASTERING, LTD™

DAY THREE: Remove clamps Reusable washers Plaster Large areas Finish layer Small areas Only layer—add gypsum, 1:3 Joint compound Surface divots"

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