Natural Plasters & Tadelakt in New Mexico
Offsite New Mexico workshop
Natural Plasters:
Clay, Lime and Tadelakt
A Silver City Clay Festival event
With Benito Steen & Danielle Felgenhauer
Natural Plasters: Clay, Lime and Tadelakt
With Benito Steen and Danielle Felgenhauer
In collaboration with Silver City Clay Festival
This is a four-day introductory workshop in the world of natural plasters, exploring a range of materials and techniques. Through hands-on practice and discussion, participants will begin to develop an understanding of different kinds of clay and lime plasters — how they are mixed, how they behave, and where they are best suited.
We will work with clay plasters in their many forms, from base coats to refined finish work, exploring how different clays, sands, and fibers combine to create surfaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
We will also delve into the world of lime plastering — a material with a long and rich history — examining its properties, its application, and the way it transforms over time. The workshop will include an introduction to Tadelakt, the traditional Moroccan lime plaster technique known for its water-resistant, polished finish used in showers and bathrooms.
No prior experience with plaster is required, though participants with some background in natural building will find plenty to deepen their practice.
Hosted at the vibrant Whiskey Creek Zocalo—a local restaurant, bar, and music venue just outside Silver City, New Mexico—this workshop invites you to work alongside master builder Benito Steen and Danielle Felgenhauer in plastering walls with beautiful finishes.
What you’ll learn
Participants will gain practical experience in a variety of Natural Plaster techniques, including:
- High fibre Clay basecoat
- Mid-coat mix that could be used either Clay or Lime
- Lime & Clay finishes plasters
- Tadelakt – a Moroccan water resistant finish for showers
Workshop Details
LOCATION: Whiskey Creek Zocalo, 11786 HWY 180 E. Arenas Valley, NM
This workshop will be held at a local bar, restaurant, and music venue, Whiskey Creek Zocalo, recently featured in New Mexico’s Edible magazine. It is owned and run by artists Jeff LeBlanc and Melanie Zipin. The Whiskey Creek is a space that houses creativity, and in this workshop, you’ll help shape a sculpted earthen bench that will remain there for many to enjoy.
Accommodations and meals are not provided as part of this workshop. There are many local campsites and hotels in Silver City.
This is hosted in collaboration with Silver City Clay Festival and is a great opportunity to get involved in the events.
DATES: This workshop begins at 9am on Wednesday June 17 and finishes on Saturday June 20 at 5pm. The general daily workshop schedule will be from 9am-5pm most days.
COST: $600. Full workshop payment is due upon registration to secure your spot in the workshop. We will send you information on how to pay once you register.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Lunch & snacks (food is also available to purchase at the Whisky Creek Zocalo)
- Water
- Sunscreen & Hat
- Comfortable clothing that can get muddy
All tools and materials will be provided. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the workshop site.
Workshop Syllabus
- Making a variety of mixes by hand
- How to process materials
- How to use Hawk & Trowel
- Leveling / mid-coat application
- Base coat application
- Intro to Tadelakt and Lime
- Practice Tadelakt
- Clay finishes
- Apply tadelakt
- Apply tadelakt on sculpted benches
Instructors
Benito Steen is a builder and artist, who strives to find the connection between space and beauty, shelter and nature, the hand and materials.
Born and raised in southeastern Arizona where his parents teach natural building, Benito comes from a long lineage of artists and makers and grew up surrounded by people from around the world coming in with new skills and crafts every day. Homeschooled, he gravitated early on as teenager towards the trades and arts such as: plastering, blacksmithing and woodworking.
He has taught natural building throughout Latin American and Southeast Asia and his home in Canelo, AZ. Always learning and experimenting he mixes old techniques with the new, to create beautifully sustainable and healthy houses.
Danielle Felgenhauer is an artist with a passion for creating with natural materials. With a background in fine arts and geography, her journey has been an exploration of the relationship between people and their environment.
Art isn’t just about expression; it’s a profound connection to the world around us. Believing that working with local materials is a poetic way to delve into our relationship with the earth, Dani finds joy in the knowledge that every creation crafted from clay will eventually return to its origins.
Over the past three years, Dani has immersed herself in the art of clay and earthen building, finding it to be a captivating transition from other mediums. Now, she is excited to share her knowledge and passion with others on a journey of creativity, exploration, and a connection to the earth as you discover the art of clay and lime together.