Friday 25 October 2024 marked the completion of the 3rd Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftrsmanship”, organised by the Mitato of Amorgos.
The project was concluded in complete success, with 40 participants and 18 guest speakers, masons and representatives of administrative and citizen bodies from eight islands, as well as the rest of Greece and abroad, being present and sharing their knowledge and experience.
The practical part of the Workshop included a dry stone apprenticeship in Kalopotama, an area west of the village of Potamos, Amorgos Island, in a part of the walking route “Palia Strata” (“The Old Way”). The site consists of an area of stunning beauty, with terraces covering all slopes from the top of the mountains all the way down to the sea, once fully covered with vineyards. Today, the terraces and the other elements of the rural landscape are abandoned, resulting in an urgent need to restore them, driven by cultural as well as environmental reasons, as the means to mitigate draught and soil erosion.
THE WORKS ON THE APPRENTICESHIP SITE:
During the five days of the Workshop, and with the contribution of dozens of participants and guests, a series of works was completed:
- Restoration of 13 sections of dry stone sustaining walls, with a total length of 82.70 m. Of these, 10 sections are found in the main intervention area, in the 100 metres of the path of “Palia Strata” from the ravine of Kalopotama to the west. The other three sections lie at a distance of 82-210 metres north of the ravine and their restoration was deemed necessary as the path had become unstable due to erosion.
- Construction of 2 dry stone sustaining walls, with a total length of 7.20 m.
- Clearing of 100 metres of the path of “Palia Strata” from significant amounts of debris (soil and stones) and revelation of the cobblestone path which was buried under large part of the path.
- Restoration of 11.50 metres of path with filling in a part that had receded due to erosion.
- Creation of 18 dry stone weirs (micro-dams) in the small creek under (north of) the restored path, covering a length of 35 metres.
- Restoration and clearing of a well that was buried in the ravine of Kalopotama and creation of cobblestone space and dry stone wall upstream, for protection from the water and debris of the ravine.
- Restoration of a small part of a step at the turn of the ravine of Kalopotama.
The works were led by three local craftsmen, master mason Antonis Vlavianos (“Tongas”), mason Michalis Theologitis (“Lakis”) and craftsman Dimosthenis Theologitis (Dimos), while an educational role was assumed by masons and craftsmen from the rest of Greece, such as Giannis Cherouvim and Nikos Manganaris from Naxos Island, Giorgos Loukis and Giannis Chatzopoulos from Paros Island, Antonis Markoulis from Donousa Island, Giorgos Loukianos from Sifnos Island, Giannis Dellatolas and Thodoris Markouizos from Tinos Island, Alexis Sideris from Folegandros Island and Apostolis Nakos from Kiato, Korinthos. The same role was assumed by the guest representative of the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland, Kenneth Curran.
EVENING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS, LECTURES AND FILM SCREENING
On the evening of Monday 21 October 2024 , the educational team of the Centre of Education for the Environment and Sustainability (C.E.E.S.) of Korthion, Andros Island, realised an educational seminar in Chora, Amorgos. The activities were titled “Modern human interventions in the dry stone landscape of the Cyclades” and “Building or... demolishing terraces”. After a theoretical introduction to the dry stone legacy of the Cyclades, participants had the chance to work on hands-on team activities, which enhanced their knowledge on the dry stone structures that had already started accumulating from the apprenticeship on site. On the evening of Tuesday 22 October 2024, a welcoming event was organised in Aegiali, open to the public. The event drew a large audience, filling all available seats. The event was introduced by a speech by Amorgos Municipal Council representative, Stamatis Grispos, followed by the founding members of the Mitato of Amorgos, Semeli Drymoniti, Maria Nomikou and Giannis Gavalas. In continuation, the following lectures were presented by the guest speakers:
- Anna Koukoutsi, head of CEES of Korthion, Andros. Presentation of the Centre of Education for the Environment and Sustainability of Korthion, Andros Islands – programmes and projects.
- Nikos Chazapis, Deputy Head of CEES of Korthion, Andros. The use of dry stone structures in the past.
- Kenneth Curran, Self-employed dry stone specialist and Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland (DSWAI). Dry Stone Narratives in County Kerry.
On Thursday 24 October 2024, the awarded film “Stone through time... the dry stones of Kythnos Island”, by director Giannis Spiliopoulos, was screened in Aegiali.
On Friday 25 October 2024 , the closing ceremony was held in “Kamara” Restaurant, in the village of Potamos, including a presentation of the works completed during the workshop, greetings and awarding of certificates to participants and guests.
THE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ON DRY STONE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION IN GREECE
A central event of this year’s Workshop was the round table discussion which was realised on Wednesday 23 October 2024 , on the topic of training and certification of the art of stone in Greece. The event was initiated by Ioannis Tsiaousis, president of the Association Blossoming Stones, based in Langadia, Arcadia, who presented the conditions and strategy for the creation of Stone Schools. In continuation, Ioulia Papaeftychiou, Dr Architect, presented the dry stone workshops and institutions already in place, Kenneth Curran’s presentation focused on training and certification models in other countries, and the educational team of the C.E.E.S. of Korthion, Andros Island, talked about the link between dry stone training and the primary and secondary education.
During the fruitful discussion that followed, thoughts were expressed regarding the incentives for a professional engagement with stone, the peculiarities of insular communities, the connection with tourism and the general prospects of the craft. An optimistic conclusion was that an increasing interest in the art of dry stone is noted lately, with more and more workshops organised, as well as the development of a common, collective feeling among islands. This feeling seems to give rise to a network of places characterised by common elements but also specific peculiarities, especially in regards to dry stone structures and techniques, which should be understood and embedded in the craft training. Given the urgency of the matter, as testified by the intense environmental challenges faced by the islands, which do not allow for many years of designing and implementing a complete strategy, as is already the case in mainland Greece, an alternative scheme was suggested. This could include workshops similar to those already organised, but in a more coordinated manner, ideally under the supervision of an governmental body, and with some form of constant funding.
This last thoughts and suggestions comprise the most important conclusion of the round table discussion and it was proposed that it set the starting point for the next discussion on the matter, due to take place during the Dry Stone Week which the Association “Ambassada” will organise on the island of Tinos in the end of November.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THE SCHOOLS OF AMORGOS BY THE C.E.E.S. OF KORTHION, ANDROS ISLAND
On Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October 2024, the educational team of the Centre of Education for the Environment and Sustainability (C.E.E.S.) of Korthion, Andros Island, realised educational activities for the pupils of the schools of Amorgos. The C.E.E.S. of Korthion is the only such centre in Greece that has designed and is implementing a programme specialised on dry stone, including activities for primary and secondary pupils, as well as teachers.
On Tuesday 22 October 2024, the educational team of the C.E.E.S. of Korthion realised activities with the pupils of the Primary School of Aegiali, including a presentation and participatory tasks, as well as a walk on the path of Aegiali-Langada.
On Wednesday 23 October 2024, activities were realised with the pupils of the High School of Amorgos in Chora.
Finally, on Thursday 24 October 2024, the activities were realised with the pupils of the Vocational High School of Amorgos, including a walk on a path close to Chora.
Overall, the Workshop concluded in a collective, optimistic spirit, as more and more similar projects are organised by groups on more and more islands. Most importantly, these groups communicate and coordinate with each other, resulting in an increased awareness regarding the dry stone craft, as well as the landscape created by this craft over the centuries, an indispensable element of the Cycladic identity.
The 3rd Dry Stone Workshop “The Amorgian Craftsmanship” was implemented with the funding of the Initiative of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Cycladic Identity, under the auspices and co-funding of the Ministry of Culture and the General Secretariat of the Aegean and Island Policy. The Round Table on the Education and Training of the Stone Craft was funded by the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPFand ferry transfers were partially sponsored by Blue Star Ferries.
For the educational activities for teachers and students, The Mitato of Amorgos collaborated with the Centre of Education for the Environment and Sustainability of Korthion, Andros Island.
The project was realised under the auspices of the Municipality of Amorgos.
For more information about Cycladic Identityvisit www.cycladicidentity.en.
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