During October 2025, Guillermo Bornstein Ortega, recipient of one of the 2025 Donald Gray Grants, began his training with master carpenter Miguel Ángel Tapia. This grant, organized by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation as part of the Richard H. Driehaus Building Arts Awards, aims to promote the direct transmission of knowledge between master artisans and the next generation of skilled professionals.
Over the course of four weeks of intensive work, Guillermo deepened his understanding of both traditional and modern woodworking machinery, including fixed and portable tools such as the band saw, table saw, jointer, thickness planer, mortiser, router, jigsaw, and power planer. He also studied safety regulations and the proper use of personal protective equipment. His training included visits to specialized hardware stores and lumber suppliers, allowing him to become familiar with the processes of selecting materials and tools essential to the craft.
Among the activities carried out, highlights include the preparation and gluing of wood using different adhesives, the squaring and planing of pieces, and the fabrication of large blocks in limewood intended for a sculpture approximately two meters tall. He has also worked on the construction of fixed and casement windows, crafting frames, sashes, rebates, and glazing beads for the installation of glass, as well as hinging work using a router on iroko wood.
