Congratulations to the June 3. 2007 workshop participants upon their graduation:
[top row from left] Thomas Seal, Brian Campbell, Travis Neal and Christina Morra.
[middle from left] Brianna Smith, Kirsten Buck, Thomas Cobb and In Chang Hwang.
[front from left] Christopher Sorel, Kaitlin Morrissey, Nicole Delanos, Gregory Schratz, Beth Farnham, Jim White, Jennifer Puniello and Vinny Lucciola. [very front] Michelle Fowler.

Six participants from the present workshop joined the construction team at the new Visitors Center entrance. We are behind on reporting on all the stages of construction at this location.
This is the last week for this workshop and we have not been able to cover much of its activities, which is why we will jump over as yet un-reported activities and concentrate on this mornings pour.

We are north of the Crafts III building, where the crew works on a new entrance to the Visitors Center which includes a ramp for physically challenged visitors and deliveries.
The crew evened the ground and put together form work in preparation for a large slab for delivery trucks.
David Tollas re-habilitated the old concrete truck and the crew was able to batch all of the concrete at one time.

Workshop participants on this team were Beth Farnham, Michelle Fowler, In Chang Hwang, Vinny Lucciola, Cristine Morra and Jennifer Puniello.

We will catch up on other stages of construction in this area. They will be posted next week.

Paolo Soleri celebrated his 88. birthday this June 21. 2007.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAOLO.

Staff, volunteers, workshop participants and visitors met in the vaults at 12:30 pm [summer solstice] to celebrate the occasion with champangne and delicious cake.

It was also June 3. Workshop participant Brian Campbell's birthday.

We last reported on construction at the Visitors Center entrance on 4/30/07. It's time to catch up on all of the work that has progressed there all along.
Up to 4/30 we reported on a new set of silt-cast wall panels that surround the walk-in refridgerator for the cafe and bakery and the recycling area right next to it. The path around this area was re-leveled and re-paved, a new metal railing was installed and the passenger bridge was raised.
The loading area has been completely redesigned and now sports a beautiful ramp to make access easier for physically challenged visitors as well as deliveries.
[from upper left] The large ARCOSANTI entrance sign was demolished by a mini-tornado last July [see report from 7/24/06] and the crew is in the process of putting together a sturdy new wall for the ARCOSANTI entrance sign.
Concrete posts have been cast in place on both sides and a cinderblock retaining wall will support the new sign at the bottom.
The crew, Sylva Tentori, Fernando Lomasto and Livio Stabile, frame the wall on the ground before securing it place.

{from upper left] The larger view shows the north-side of the Crafts III building, where this construction is taking place.
Photo was taken from the path that leads from the visitors parking lot to the entrance.
Construction crew Rebecca Manning fastens wooden slats onto the frame.
The wood work echoes other wood finishing on the Crafts III building.

When the old sign was destroyed by heavy winds, luck had it that all the letters survived in good shape. Rebecca now re-mounts the letters and secures them on the back of the wooden wall.
Landscaping coordinator Ron Chandler saved most of the cacti and other plants from this area and now replants this little entrance garden.
This report will continue on 6/27/07.

The large open room in Unit 8, on the second floor of the East Crescent, is designated, and has been used as a meeting and class room.
Construction crew Melissa Soluski prepares the floor for the installation of carpet tiles.
Melissa applies a carpet adhesive to one quarter of the room first.

The adhesive is left to dry to a certain tackyness after which the individual tiles are installed.
Construction volunteer JiHye Son works with Melissa to finish the edges.

The carpet gives a completely different feel to the room.
Note the bank of utilities at the south-east corner of the room. A bank of solar batteries are visible in a cabinet. All utility lines have been left exposed, with laminated drawings and explanation attached, so they can be explained to workshop participants and visitors.

This continues the report from 6/13/07 of interior work in Unit 10, East Crescent.
The beautiful tile mosaic on the curved south wall of the bathroom is complete.
The mosaic was designed, cut and installed by architect and Planning coordinator Dan Kelliher.
The design is based on a 1969 version of Arcosanti, which can be found in Paolo Soleri's book "Arcology: City in the Image of Man", page 129.

The bathroom and shower are tucked behind the curved wall at the north-west corner of this large open room.
Interior work now continues in the main space with installation of carpet tiles.
The floor is meticulously cleaned before carpet glue is applied to a quarter of the space at a time.
Construction crew Melissa Soluski and volunteer JiHye Son are on this job.

Utility lines in the curved wall are left exposed for the time being, waiting for construction of the third floor and completion of utilities for the building.
The main space has a bank of windows facing west into the Colly Soleri Amphitheater and large windows facing east and south over the roof of the S.O.D. Unit.
For the near future this space is allocated as dorm facility for workshop participants and visiting groups.

This continues the report from 6/6/07, of interior finishing work in the bathroom of the south-east apartment of Unit 10, which is located on the second floor of the East Crescent Phase 5.
[from upper left] Construction crew Melissa Soluski continues with tile work of the shower walls.
Melissa tapes the edges of the shower pan to ensure clean caulking.
Note two steel pieces protruding from the wall between shower and toilet. They will support the sink imbedded in one of planning coordinator Dan Kelliher's custom-made concrete counters.

A grid has been drawn onto the curved wall and Planning coordinator Dan Kelliher installs the elaborate mosaic piece by piece.
The design chosen by Dan is of the1969 version of Arcosanti.
When all the pieces are in place, Dan removes excess grout.

[from upper left] Construction volunteer JiHye Son applies sealant to the grout.
The beautiful mosaic is complete and the bathroom now waits for construction and installation of the concrete counter.
Curvature in the images is due to having to take the photos in a very small space.
This report will continue on 6/15.

A favorite event at Arcosanti is the annual JUNETEENTH Celebration.
The date of the festival commemorates the date that most slaves first heard about President Lincoln's 1863 declaration of freedom. It symbolizes the joy of a call to freedom, and the responsibility to assist in developing a more inclusive and equitable society. The arts in general, and in this case specifically, African-American arts, are one of the most compelling sources for passing this message on.
A dynamic performance by "The Cunningham Duo" was part of the festival for its second year.

The reggae group "Henry Turner and Flavour" have been part of this festival at Arcosanti since it's beginning. They returned this year and again brought out happy dancing feet in their audience.

There were Art and Crafts, as well as a variety of food vendors.
Vendor Husain Abdul-Alim brought his collection of SPIRITWOOD masks and carvings.
This is a wonderful event with great music, lots of different foods, entertainment for the kids, arts and crafts and an overall very mellow atmosphere.
The festival is organized by Milt Cannon. Milt heads the "Prescott Jazz Society" and has arranged this event at Arcosanti since 2000.

Welcome to the June 3. Workshop participants:

[upper row from left]:
Gregory Schratz, Tony-Saba Shiber, Jim White, Travis Neal, Christina Morra, Beth Farnham, Thomas Seal, Thomas Cobb and Jennifer Puniello.
[middle row from left]:
In Chang Hwang, Christopher Sorel, Brianna Smith, Nicole Delanos, Kaitlin Morrissey and Peter Shapiro.
[front row from left]:
Brian Campbell, Sumner Andrews [seminar week], Kirsten Buck, Michelle Fowler and Vinny Lucciola.

This continues the report from 6/4/07, of interior work in the small bathroom of the south-east apartment in Unit 10.
A tile mosaic of the 1969 design of Arcosanti will be installed on the curved inner wall of the bathroom.Planning coordinator Dan Kelliher custom cuts pieces of tile for this beautiful mosaic and assembles them on a large table in the front room.

[from upper left] At the same time construction crew Melissa Soluski and volunteer JiHye Son install tiles on the north- and east wall of the bathrrom.

[from upper left] As Melissa and JiHye proceed with general tiles Dan starts to install parts of the mosaic.
Some of the curvature in the images is due to the photos taken in a very tight space.
This report continues on 6/13/07.

While we reported on all sorts of activities and events, construction continued all along. Part of the crew worked on the second floor of the East Crescent, Phase 5, to finish the interior of the south-east apartment in Unit 10.
The apartment is a large open space with a bathroom and shower behind a curved wall at its north-west corner.

[from upper left] The main space has a set of windows facing west into the Colly Soleri Amphitheater and large windows facing east and south over the roof of the S.O.D. Unit.
Dry-wall has been completed and architect and planning coordinator Dan Kelliher is in the process of finishing the walls and ceiling.
The shower walls are painted with a tough sealant to protect from moisture.

[from upper left] Dan proposed to finish the curved inner wall of the bathroom with a tile mosaic of the 1969 design of Arcosanti.
The beginning of the mosaic is layed out on a large table in the main room.
This design can be found in Paolo Soleri's book "Arcology: City in the Image of Man", page 129.
Photos have been taken throughout the now complete interior work and this report continues on 6/6/07

Congratulations to the May 6. 2007 Workshop participants upon their completion of the four week program:
[from upper left] Chad Cole, Hannah State, Christopher Rowe, Michael Grifka and Jose Masaoy.
[in front] Becky French, Courtney Greer and Xylia Buros.