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Mike Mascelli writes:
 
Hi Gang,
 
As I am sure all of you have figured out, I really am disappointed
that I missed this trip !!   However, I am the happy recipient of a
bunch of great pictures from Don, and a very nice bunch of
thoughts from Jim Cole, who professes not to be a writer !!  I just
added a few notes in parenthesis !!   So please follow along with
Jim and put yourself on the crew of this most unusual voyage:
 
~~~~~

Jim writes:
 
Mike,
 
Here are a few thoughts I scribbled on the plane mebbe you can
help make sense of them.  (Jim really does say "mebbe" so it is OK).
 
There's a rumor going around that some miscreant labeled and
slipped a couple of Lincoln logs into the packed pieces. There are
an estimated 700 pieces and the guestimate is that it all weighs
1500 pounds !!  The scale is 1/4 which would make the original
approximately 20 feet square and 24 feet tall.  This is one of 5 that
were made and given to leading museums.



Red Sandalwood is so hard with a specific gravity of 1.1 that will
shatter if dropped on a hard surface and we were working over a
ceramic tile floor!!  There is an estimated 5.5 million dollars worth
of red sandalwood in the pavilion.  (that is a Chinese estimate.....
but Don confirms the thing is worth millions)

There is incredible detail the ends of the roof poles are carved with
characters.  The ceiling has a beautifully carved dragon only visible
by crawling inside or removing the ceiling panel. I think Bob Klein
was trying to see the ceiling panel when he got trapped half in the
pavilion.



The roof ridge poles on one side of the pavilion had tenons on them
and the ones on the other side had mortices in them so at least 2
different people made ridge poles. It took 4 years to carve the
piece and it was mostly carved by women.



We got to ride the Smithsonian shuttle from Suitland to the Ripley
Center just like we were all grown up Smithsonian employees.  (l
call this "The Cloak of Don")  The Ripley center is built below the
water table and would flood if the pumps ever quit.

Tuesday nite  we were treated to Don Libro's excellent ribs at his
place and then had a show and tell of a few of Don's books then a
tour of his place including of course his shop. ( Note the hard
partying Bob Klein !)





Thursday nite 8 of us managed to make it to Topolinos Restaurant
where we once again enjoyed their great Italian buffet.( we went
there last year too) It's hard to describe how good it is, but those
who were there last year eat your heart out. The rest will just have
to try and make another year.

Picture this: Mel Wachoviack of Mel's Wax fame turns out not to
be wrapped to tight.  He is  pushing one of the bins full of part thru
the hallowed halls of the Smithsonian crying "Bringout your dead,
bring out your dead" I guess he has been working around Don
toooooo long. (From left to right: Tredway Childress, Mel, Jim
Cole, Bob Klein)



When we were carrying the top, all 600 lbs of it through the door 
we had to turn it up on of edge and in the process I got Tredway's
finger under the edge of my hand and pinned him to the top. He did
not yell and scream just hung tough until I could let go which was
difficult because three of us were holding the lower edge of the top
with most of the weight.


 
As a grouop we told Don that since we had experience with the
pavilion we would be available (for a small fee) to travel and
assemble the display when it goes on the road.
 
It was great to see some younger folks at the Smithsonian. Emily
who seems to be getting established on the trail to becoming a first
rate conservator, I hope she remembers us lowly brown and shiny
guys when she gets there, I know she will be an asset wherever she goes.


 
Craig Cianciolo who is always happy and upbeat and demonstrates
great desire to add to his go grounding in the skills necessary to this
crazy business. I don't know if Craig hasn't figured it all out yet or if
he truly enjoys brown and shiney, but I suspect the latter, anyway
he's always got a big smile for everyone and everything.



Say a few kind words about Spider Johnson a true artist who took
his valuable time to help with the destruction project. If you get a
chance check out his web site at:  SpiderJohnson.com some truly
amazing work.  (Trying to recruit him for Groop....)



We had a great time and as always the magic of a bunch of
Groopers just can't be described. It seems like everyone is an old
friend even if you have never met except thru the electrons that tie
us all together. It's always great to see old old friends and old new
friends.


 
Jim Y'all








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