Adobe making season is well underway with the completion of two successful Adobe Downtown events in May for Historic Preservation Month. Our Adobe Downtown workshop series are free opportunities for people of all ages to learn how to make adobes.

This year, the events took place in both Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was the first time that the event has ever taken place outside of Santa Fe, and it was well attended! Approximately 500 adobes were made of the 1,000 needed for the restoration of the San Felipe de Neri historic Carriage House in Albuquerque’s Old Town. Please stay tuned in for further updates about this project!

*Adobe Downtown at the Inn at Loretto in Santa Fe, NM*

*Adobe Downtown participants in Albuquerque, NM.*

In The News!
Cornerstones staff member and Adobe Downtown coordinator, Kateri Lopez, was interviewed by KOB 4 News during the event. Read the article or watch here: https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/keeping-new-mexico-traditions-alive-adobe-brick-making-event-held-in-old-town/

We would also like to give a special thanks to our Adobe Downtown Sponsors: Heritage Hotels, the New Mexico Multi-Cultural Foundation, Frank’s Supply, JPR Sand & Gravel, and The Village Mercantile Home and Farm Store. Thank you for your donations and sponsorships!

Coming up!
Adobe Making in Las Vegas, NM

Please join us for our upcoming Adobe Making event at the Luna Community College Campus in Las Vegas, NM! The workshop will take place Saturday, June 15th and Saturday, June 22nd 9am-1pm. Please refer to the flyer below for additional details.

Adobes made during these workshops will be used in the fire resistant, 800 sq ft. adobe model home that will be built by the continuing education class at Luna Community College in partnership with Cornerstones Community Partnerships starting in late August of 2024. Information about the class will be forthcoming.

Preservation Awards Ceremonies

2024 New Mexico Heritage Preservation Award

In 2019, the National Park Service designated a tiny, 2-room adobe ‘ruin’ as an American Treasure. Nearly 5 years later, this tiny casita on the historic Plaza del Cerro in Chimayó, NM has been restored and transformed into a livable property. This weekend, Cornerstones, along with all project partners, including Avanyu General Contracting, the Berryhill Family, and the Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association, was awarded the 2024 Heritage Preservation Award for our preservation efforts.

We want to applaud the community of Chimayó for their efforts, Avanyu General Contracting for their hard work, the Berryhill Family, and the Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association. Thank you also to all those who donated, volunteered, or cheered us on. ¡Qué viva Chimayó!

2024 Santa Fe Heritage Preservation Awards

Cornerstones was honored to accept this year’s Santa Fe Heritage Preservation Award. Cornerstones was recognized by the City of Santa Fe for our solar installation and preservation accomplishments at the historic San Miguel Chapel.

TICRAT 2024: Workshop Series to take place at the historic Gutierrez-Hubbell House in Albuquerque, NM

The International Workshop on the Conservation and Restoration of Earthen Architecture (known by its Spanish acronym, TICRAT) is a bi-national partnership between the U.S. Government, Cornerstones, University of New Mexico, and Mexican counterparts, particularly, the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH).

This year, TICRAT will take place at the historic Gutiérrez-Hubbell House in Albuquerque’s South Valley. It is a two-and-a-half-day earthen building workshop intensive that focuses on earthen plastering, adobe making, building assessments, and wall stabilization. To register, please visit https://www.bernco.gov/community-services/open-space/ticrat-international-workshop-2024/ , or scan the QR code below. Register soon, spots are limited!

To learn more about what might be covered in the TICRAT workshop series, please watch our 2022 TICRAT video summary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqnbJU1PvWE

Volunteer Spotlight!

As always, we want to thank all our volunteers who continue to support us by donating their time and energy in our many preservation projects throughout New Mexico.

Stephanie Camfield!

This month, we would like to highlight one of our dedicated volunteers, Stephanie Camfield! Stephanie came across Cornerstones while looking for opportunities to learn about earth building in New Mexico and found Cornerstones in an Internet search!

Since then, Stephanie has volunteered on projects such as adobe making on the plaza in Albuquerque, her favorite part of which was seeing little ones who were literally getting into playing in the mud, head to toe!

When asked what her favorite part about volunteering with Cornerstones is, she said, “Playing in the mud, working together, and seeing everyone’s beautiful, smiling faces!” Thank you, Stephanie, for all your hard work!

Upcoming Events

June 15th & June 22nd – Las Vegas Adobe Making Days at Luna Community College Campus. No registration required!

September 17-19th – TICRAT 2024 at the Gutiérrez-Hubbell House, Albuquerque, NM. Please register at https://www.bernco.gov/community-services/open-space/ticrat-international-workshop-2024/