The conservation of cultural objects is a complex.  It’s specialist area that requires a deep understanding of science and humanities, as well as craft and practice-based project management.  To work in this field, we have to continually learn from the past mistakes and build from them.  Studying how materials and methods worked previously and making sympathetic corrections, takes time and patience.  

Jamie Fairchild from the Uk is the sum of all these parts and has a strong reputation of providing detailed technical support, training, and consultancy for both practitioners architects. His company, Restorative Techniques, is brought in early to evaluate and produce site trials and reports, and aid decision-making on any complicated project. 

Restorative Techniques is well known for manufacturing equipment used in masonry cleaning with the Thermatech water system and Vortech abrasive system.  Both machines provide a gentle   approach to what has to be considered one of the more difficult sections of any project. 

Jamie teaches at West Dean College, namely for the ‘Masonry Cleaning’ and ‘Concrete Conservation’ Masterclasses, and has contributed to English Heritage handbooks on education. 

Some of the most notable buildings and artifacts Jamie has been involved on are the Tower of London, Lincoln Cathedral and The Westbury White Horse.

Project experience | Listed buildings
Religious buildings
Private houses
Other buildings
Monuments / memorials
Work expertise | Stone cleaning
Stone conservation
Stone restoration
Materials experience | Brick
Cast stone
Concrete
Natural stone

·      https://www.westdean.org.uk/study/tutors/jamie-fairchild

·      https://historicengland.org.uk/

·      https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

·      https://www.amazon.ca/Practical-Building-Conservation-John-Ashurst/dp/0291397778

·      https://www.restorative-products.com/

·      https://lincolncathedral.com/history-conservation/

The Door store in Toronto’s West end has maintained its unique presence over the years by creating a magical niche within an industry that cherishes its contents.  

The Door store is part museum, architectural library, antique shop and vintage market.  This is an institution where some come to learn, find ideas, and get lost in an era when design was considered equally or as important as function.

On this episode I had the opportunity to speak to Leila Mirshak, also known to many as Sam’s daughter.  Leila used to ride an in-store only antique tricycle in the store way back and now watches as her two daughters riding the same one.  Leila is supported in the store by her husband Jason as they slowly take the reins from Sam. 

 Hope you enjoy this episode and if you haven't been to this amazing place... Check it out soon!

More info https://www.theartofcraft.ca/

Many of Canada’s Cultural landmarks are rooted in time and stories of those families and communities from centuries ago help serve as a reminder that with skills and knowledge there comes a responsibility.  During the 1800’s it was clear that they understood knowledge as not a secret, but something that has to be shared.  The replication of art through craft was evident in more than just buildings too.  It was a way of thinking and a philosophy within a family where learning  a set of skills was an honour and a tradition.  Guilds were created and a passage was set for a young craftsman or woman who learned by listening and doing.  In 2003, Architect - Julian Smith, shared a similar vision.  He understood that, like those who innovated before him, the best way to learn is through practice.  Julian and other forward thinkers wanted a place of learning unlike any college campus in Canada.  Willowbank School of Restoration Arts was started for the right reasons too.  By saving an important Cultural landmark from development they could, in turn, pass on knowledge while restoring the beautiful estate resting on 12.5 acres within a landscape steeped in History.  This unique approach to post-secondary education gives the third-year grads a deep appreciation of building conservation and how they eventually will weave their lives within it.   

 On this episode I had the opportunity to speak to Cailin Wooll who has a job title as Education Coordinator, but as you soon will hear, she is much more than that.  I will let Caitlin describe this role and the amazing treasure that we are lucky to have.  Sadly, this is the only school like it in Canada.  So with that Art of Craft listeners, I give you my conversation with Caitlin Wooll. 

Welcome to The Art of Craft Podcast... 
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"This too shall pass," and we will be over this pandemic soon (I hope).  Covid has shown us that the people we interact with at work are meaningful and the relationships developed outside of home are worth nurturing. Over that years, I have had many employees and some of those I call good friends.  Adam Fullerton is one of those friends who worked for me and affected our team in positive ways.  I watched as Adam easily picked up the skills required in building restoration as he would have in his previous job in England as a vintage car restorer.  Working on those cars gave him the metal skills that might be the equivalent to what a finish carpenter has.  His association with metal and his expectations he set early on in his career laid the foundation for his work ethic that has gifted Adam Fullerton with the exceptional work he produces today..  

Adam and I touched on many things during this episode and I think you will enjoy what he has to say.  So with that, Art of Craft Listeners, I give you my conversation with Adam Fullerton.

• https://www.instagram.com/fullertonmetalfab/?hl=en
• https://www.fullertonmetalfab.com/
• https://www.interiordesign.to/blog/2019/09/16/interior-design-toronto-spotlight-on-adam-fullerton

Alex Fida from Prince Edward County and his sister Melanie grew up in Bloomfield - 10 minutes away from Picton.  Their deep connection to this area is seen in the way they care for the old and quirky buildings that Alex and his partner play a key role in conserving.  Living in rural Ontario forces Alex to adapt to the changing seasons with a varied set of skills.  Along with running an Inn, he also works as a consultant in conservation and design .  Alex has discovered that finding a job that makes you happy serving others within your community is a way of making meaningful connections.  These connections are vital during these times when simply reaching out beyond small talk can be a the difference between isolation and lonliness to happiness and a feeling of belonging. 

Miranda Fabricius is a mother of 3 girls under six and is incredibly busy as she juggles her time as mom and heritage restorer.  I get the impression from speaking with her she is able to handle this and functions well under stress.   Miranda’s version of creativity and the art that she creates is held within Crestview, a beautiful Queen Anne Revival home in Belleville, ON.  The house sat empty for a while and began to fall into the harmful effects that neglect plays on the house not lived in.  These old homes have names and souls.  Over a century of family memories and moments shared are often disrupted when an unscrupulous income property owner decides its time to shake it up with awkward openings, walls and mailboxes.  This doesn’t sit well with Miranda and her vision of old Belleville and the roots that her family has set over the years.  She feels it’s a responsibility to preserve and protect these gems  for future generations and, in turn, positively affect those living within her neighbourhood.  Their
 are many people like Miranda out there thinking of buying up a beautiful old home to restore and put back on the market.  However, this is not house flipping, Crestview and many others like it require delicate hands and an approach that is grounded in sensitivity and care.  
Thanks Miranda!!

You can find her work on instagram - @easthill_revival and you can read her take on Belleville and this beautiful neighbourhood here:

https://bayofquinte.ca/living/meet-the-homes-of-the-old-east-hill-neighbourhood/

https://bayofquinte.ca/living/author/mirandafabricius/

Hope you enjoy this episode...   Please subscribe to the show too.

Until next week,

Barkley 

Excited to have Nicholas Thompson on the show...

Trained in the European atelier tradition, Nicholas is a sculptor in stone and bronze who uses a traditional figurative idiom paired with a contemporary way of seeing. After completing his training at City & Guilds Art School in London and Studio Barsanti in Italy, he works from his studio in Ottawa, Canada.

A contemporary realist sculptor working with subjects from life and drawing inspiration from the human experience, his work is rooted in traditional drawing, modelling and carving techniques while remaining grounded in our own time.

Hope you enjoy this one Art of Craft listeners. 

A little bit about Eve and here work… Eve has been working in the industry since 1978 and has owned her business for 36 years. She is an Accredited Conservator Restorer, and holds an MA in conservation of Heritage Landscapes and Gardens from the Architectural Associate in London, England.  She has managed a long list of high profile projects with the team at EGD Glass, and is respected as an expert in the field.  Among the buildings she has work on are the Library of Parliament, Osgood Hall, and St. Michael’s Cathedral amongst dozens more.  Eve has the unique vantage point as she is seen as a consultant as well as a technician and helps document, design and implement the labour intensive work.  I see her and her small team as artists in the way they approach their work with careful hands and a sensitivity to the history they conserve.  

If you love live music and live in Canada, you will likely be familiar with Massey Hall.  It is the venue for an intimate show here in Toronto, and is currently closed.  No not covid.  Its getting completely restored and in that process there are over 100 windows that Eve’s team along with another firm, Vitreous Glassworks, are restoring.  The entire process can be seen on a recengt cbc mini doc that brings you into her studio.  I will post that in the shownotes on theartofcraft.ca.  
With that I give you my conversation with Eve Guinan.

On this Episode I speak with Leigh bamford.  Leigh is very skilled at stonework and also works in conservation masonry.  Leigh lives and works out of Toronto, Canada and has been honing her skills for over 25 years.  Leigh speaks about the art of her craft and highlights what motivates her each day.  She is humble and gives a lot of info on what its like to work as a woman in a traditional trade.  Thanks Leigh for an intimate look within your life and working world.
Enjoy Art of Craft listeners!