Behind every drystone wall stands a creator: an invisible instructor, yet omnipresent in the layers of the stone

DRYSTONE WALLING

Text: Maro Voulgari

The Art of the Minimal

Drystone walling is the art of the minimal. The art of necessity. It is the first form of recycling. A field is enclosed using nothing but its own materials. It is the art of congeniality, peacefully separating two fields, while often revealing the harmonious effort of two or more pairs of hands working together. It is an art passed down from father to son. Behind every drystone wall stands a creator: an invisible instructor, yet omnipresent in the layers of the stone.

Drystone walling has its own vocabulary. Dozens of stone names have been preserved by old stonemasons. It also boasts a range of styles, each bearing the unique signature of every craftsperson. What’s more, it involves many types of stones –some are cut like butter, while others require strength and patience.
Drystone walling is undoubtedly a work of art. After all, the greatest masterpieces are unsigned. Their creators return them to nature with modesty, leaving behind a legacy for future generations.
Therefore, it is our sacred duty to honour and appreciate this unique tradition.

On April 26, the Cultural Association of Agkairia held, for the second time, the Rural Architecture Week, inspired by an idea of Ms. Tonia Pantelaiou –a celebration showcasing the rural monuments of Paros and the Cyclades.

The event concluded with the Second Drystone Walling Workshop, an initiative aimed at preserving and reviving this traditional craft. People of all ages, artisans and volunteers, came together to keep this precious art alive. The drystone walling instructor and author Thanasis Poravos closed the event with a heartfelt speech.