The Donald Gray Grants for the Building Arts have since 2017 been facilitating the training of apprentices with one of the masters honoured in our Building Arts Awards. The knowledge transmitted by this means, through working and learning hands on with a master of the trade, can scarcely be given continuity through formal education. These scholarships provide financial support both to the master delivering the training and to the apprentice who is to be trained at the former’s workshop and worksites.
Currently, three apprentices are benefiting from a Donald Gray Grant, allowing them to train for six months under the guidance of masters in their craft.
– Donald Gray Grant with master windmill carpenter Vicente Casero –
Manuel Rodríguez Sánchez is training under master windmill carpenter Vicente Casero. Together, they are undertaking various restoration works on the “Tío Zacarías” windmill in Los Yébenes, Toledo.
The project involves the construction of the mill’s drive shaft and four blades. For the blades, the process includes reducing their weight to the appropriate level through initial roughing, followed by mortising and subsequent assembly onto the mill structure. Regarding the reconstruction of the drive shaft, excess wood has already been removed. Once this stage is completed, the necessary slots will be crafted to house the blades and the “catalina” (main) wheel.
– Donald Gray Grant with master brick carver Sebastián Pérez –
José González Pérez is training under master brick carver Sebastián Pérez in Fuentes de Andalucía, Seville. Among the tasks they are working on together, the design of ornaments for the main entrance and the balconies of a house stands out. They have also created templates for the corbels on the pillars, the windows, and the decorative elements of a balcony.
Additionally, they have worked together on preparing the bricks for the main cornice of the house, individually straightening and sanding each one. They have also crafted the corbels for the pillar and the main cornice, as well as the pendants accompanying the lintel, carefully shaping their geometry and achieving a precise finish.
– Donald Gray Grant with master carpenter Max Rutgers –
Paul Schitckhofer, originally from Austria, is training under master carpenter Max Rutgers in Girona. He is involved in various projects ranging from the creation of small carpentry elements to complete wooden structures. During the first two months of his grant, Paul has participated in three different projects, working alongside a team of skilled carpenters who guide him through each step, share practical advice, and teach him techniques specific to the craft. Max Rutgers oversees the entire process, makes technical adjustments, and provides recommendations for the final finishes.
In addition to on-site work, Paul has access to a drawing table and an extensive collection of technical drawings and geometric problems, allowing him to deepen his understanding and mastery of the intricacies of his craft.
