The two 2024 Donald Gray Grants have been awarded, organized annually by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation as part of the Building Arts Awards.
Donald Gray Scholarship for Training with Master Mason and Brick Carver Sebastián Pérez
The apprentice chosen to train for a six-month period under master brick carver Sebastián Pérez is José González Pérez. Both the apprentice and the master will receive financial support for the duration of the training.
José González Pérez comes from a family with a strong tradition in construction work, particularly masons, and has been involved from a young age in various projects alongside them. This grant offers him the opportunity to deepen his skills in the design, production, and installation of the distinctive carved brick elements native to his region.
Sebastián Pérez Gómez is a master mason specializing in the carving of bricks. His training and professional development have taken place in Fuentes de Andalucía, a town in the province of Seville. Sebastián began learning the trade at a young age under the guidance of his father, José Pérez Gamero, who was locally known as “El Sillero.” Among Sebastián’s most notable works are his numerous contributions to the façades of various homes in Fuentes de Andalucía, where he has designed and incorporated ornamental elements such as pilasters, cornices, pediments, corbels, and stipes, all crafted from carved bricks.
Donald Gray Grant for Training with Master Carpenter Max Rutgers
El aprendiz seleccionado para realizar una formación de seis meses con el maestro carpintero Max Rutgers es Paul Schitckhofer. Tanto Paul como el maestro recibirán apoyo económico durante todo el periodo de la formación.
Paul Schitckhofer discovered his passion for carpentry after starting his studies in Architecture, realizing he preferred hands-on work on-site. Since then, he has been involved in various restoration and construction projects, working on structural elements and furniture, either independently or in collaboration with other carpenters. His most notable projects include his work with Albaola on the reconstruction of the San Juan galleon and the Potxua sailboat, as well as the construction, alongside Hugo Curiel, of a replica of a 19th-century wooden pavilion for a primary school in Graz.
Max Rutgers, originally from the Netherlands, developed an early fascination with the world of wood. His passion for art, sculpture, and drawing led him to France in 1994, where he trained as a structural carpenter with the Compagnons du Devoir. After gaining experience through various small jobs and projects in his early years, he soon had the opportunity to take on significant restoration work in heritage buildings, as well as the construction and rehabilitation of timber structures for large homes and farmhouses, along with other unique projects. Max’s ability to tackle these and many other tasks, such as carving beams or wooden corbels, stems from his deep expertise in traditional carpentry techniques.
