Speaking with Fritz today, it seems all that is left is to finish the interior plastering, and give it a fresh coat of paint. Fritz, who has been our champion all along, is overseeing these last bits of the process. As we send him a million thank you’s for his continued involvement and support, we are reminded that there are quite a few important people without whom this never could have happened. Just a few of the folks to whom we send the hugest gratitude from the bottom of our hearts are, Janet, Dale, and Thomas Wolf , Bill Haley, Joshua Christianson and Cara Elkins, Anne Pasternak of Creative Time, The Boomerang Foundation, Sam from Grassroots United, Chris from Hands On, Will Etundi, Lopi Laroe, Jason Tracy and Cayce Mell, Tony Goldman, Mike, Sue, and RJ Rushmore, Ernesto Gomez, Andreas and Karina Krulig, Cathy Raphael, John Fedderman, Kevin Foong, Thomas Beale, Stefano Cosatto, Kim Vaadia and Martha Henry of Urban Art Projects, Christina Ray, Transformazium, Nader Khalili , Cal-Earth, and every single wonderful soul who came to dig in the dirt in Braddock.

You helped us fundraise, you helped us buy supplies, you helped us learn to build, and together we created something truly positive in the midst of a tragic situation.

I’m reminded of the familiar African proverb that says, “If you want to go quickly, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.”

We hope that this is only the beginning.

Thank you!

—Swoon

We leave today. We’ll miss everyone so much! But the work will continue in our absence.

The pieces are really starting to come together. The outside is nearing completion and all of our patience in the plaster layers is paying off. Yesterday, several of our crew members revealed their talents as we began the application of the final smooth plaster coat. Also, the carved door is in place awaiting paint.

On the inside of the domes we have completed the first application of the rammed earth floor and the space has really transformed. One step closer to completion; one foot closer to the ceiling. We cannot wait to see the final results!

—Swoon

As a dome progresses, each added layer brings the structure closer to completion. Also, every successive course corbels more intensely and actual building is being done at a higher altitude. As the dome attains a certain height, obstacles begin to present themselves.

Of foremost concern is the problem of getting the stabilized earth to the bag. It is possible to build scaffolding or a pulley system in order to solve this problem however, during this build we chose to send five gallon buckets up a human chain of progressively taller ladders. This in turn created a personell drain, as more people were needed for the ladder there were less people available to do other important jobs. As the bags step in there is an overlap on each course which demands more care and attention in laying and tamping the bag.

In summation: building becomes more difficult and has to be done well on a 17-inch wide surface covered in barbed wire. Fortunately, the building process serves as a learning curve which prepares builders for the difficult task of working on the very top layers. In earthbag building there is little that compares to completing the final ring of a dome; during this build we have done just that, three fold!

Building in the middle of the rainy season is a soggy affair. Even if the daily shower only lasts an hour, the rest of the day is still mud mud mud.

Hoping to finally dry out the inside of the structures after days of rain and plastering, we made a couple of campfires. Gypson and the guys wasted no time running to fetch diesel fuel and all manner of matter to throw on the fire.

As the flames grew higher and higher, the boys whooping and laughing, we began to question our judgement on this one - but everyone was having so much fun after such a terrifically long day, we couldn’t dream of stopping it. In the end we got a nice toasty room, much less soggy, said lots of ‘bon nuit!’ and wandered our way wearily home to bed.

Continuing with earth plastering inside and out of the entire building. The largest room, 20’ in diameter and now about 18’ high, requires much homemade scaffolding. As the wood formworks come out they are transformed into ladders of all sizes.

From those poised high up on those ladders comes the call “Boul! Boul!” yelling for anyone on the ground to toss up a coconut-sized ball of earth plaster. Which they then throw handfull by handfull, sounding a satisfying splat with each toss.

Monique arrived at the site on hiring day saying that she had a two year old daughter and a baby on the way, so while she sure couldn’t do any heavy lifting, having a job right then would make a big difference.

We brought her on to the crew and she worked bravely these last few weeks, making sure everyone had plenty of drinking water while they worked and helping to serve lunch. This week, much to our surprise, she had her baby! A healthy baby girl, delivered at home. Congratulations Monique. We are rooting for you.

Trimming the Fat.

Mud has been flying everywhere these past few days, as we fill all the corners and cracks in preparation for plastering.

Someone just asked an anonymous question on our blog, about whether or not we were still in need of funding while we are here in Haiti.

Here is what we have to say about that: Why yes, funny you should ask! We are currently in a month long battle with Paypal over some bank account confusion, and they are withholding almost $5,000 that we raised back in June. We are still working to get that rectified, but they are being mercilessly slow. So, here we are in Haiti, about to go flat broke and be in big trouble when we can no longer buy supplies or pay the 30 plus people we have hired.

Would you like to help?

There are a few ways to do that. First, we have a small series of signed Swoon prints that are being sold for $350 each. All proceeds go directly toward our materials, wages for the Haitian workers, and crew lunches. Alternately, we have a donate button on our site, through which you can contribute any amount. Ironically, both of these are run through Paypal (although this time the funds will reach us). And all donations are 501 (c)3 Tax Deductible by our umbrella Non-Profit, Artistic Evolution.

Thanks to everyone who is looking out. We are so so close.

Kids in Barriere Jeudi playing “The Bottle Game.” It’s played whenever, wherever. A flash mob of a game, which usually goes for about 10 minutes before everyone playing disperses, laughing and chasing each other. This video is taken right next to our build site.