Join us for a free restoration workshop in Northern New Mexico in the historic village of Los Ancones, New Mexico. The workshop will focus on enjarrando (mud plastering), preparing and applying earthen plaster, and making adobes as practices and methods towards restoration and preservation. We encourage those who identify with adobe as a heritage practice to apply.

Date: Saturday, July 22 & Sunday July 23, 2023, 10am-4pm

Instructors: Joanna Keane Lopez & Ronald Rael (Professor of Architecture, expert in earthen architecture)

Location: 15 minutes from the historic hot springs of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

Process for application:

This is an application based workshop. You must sign up first and go through an application process to be considered for the workshop.

To apply: “Purchase” this workshop and provide your email address (you will not be charged as the workshop is free). You will then receive a follow-up email with next steps for the application process, which includes a short paragraph describing your cultural or heritage relationship to adobe.

Deadline to apply is Saturday, July 10th at 5pm MT.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance status by Monday, July 10th.

Maximum of 12 participants. (Participants must be able to attend both days)

Information about the site:

Los Ancones

The village of Los Ancones, named for the natural cove formed by the Rio Vallecitos as it winds through the mountains of Kit Carson National Forest in the Cañada de La Madera. At one time a thriving farming village with homes, religious buildings and a school, Los Ancones is now comprised of a few small 19th century adobe structures, including a rare functioning religious building called a Morada, a cemetery, an abundant acequia, which provides water to the lush vega, and the property represents one of the best remaining examples of a traditional northern New Mexican cultural landscape.

Farm House

The 19th century cordillera farm house is a two story adobe home built by the Zamora family who occupied and own the property continuously till recently. The long, linear house, consists of a series of continuous rooms, connected to each other without corridors and two stairways give access to the attic spaces that are illuminated by small dormer windows. A long covered porch defines the front of the house where family members gathered after a long days work in the sombra of the repecho.

La Morada

A functioning morada exists on the site of Los Ancones. Moradas are the sacred ceremonial spaces of Los Hermanos Penitentes de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno. This rituals of this secret brotherhood of practicing Catholic laymen has been practiced in the villages of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico for over 400 years, however the traditions are quickly disappearing and one major goal of this workshop is to support, respect and preserve the Manito culture in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.