Arches

Slowly but surely the arches have come into existence. Some required knocking out cement and bricks and reforming with fresh concrete and rebar, others were already in pretty good shape.



We’ve had a team of three plasterers here for about a week. They replastered all the ceilings, and then turned their attention to the doors, doing their best to mimic the classic design of the arched doors at the adjacent mosque. It’s been interesting to watch the hand mixing, shaping and carving of the plaster and that have been passed down from the master to his lieutenant to the assistant who brings them water.


For the most part, the plaster has gone up pretty painlessly. That was until yesterday. With two arches remaining, the master plasterer gave his team the day off and went about finishing the job on his own. Suddenly his skilled hands betrayed him, and he carved a lopsided arch that seemed the work of a novice. When he asked how we liked it, we pointed out the adjacent arch, and how beautiful it was, noting politely that the one he was working on “wasn’t finished.” He nodded and went back to work, only to come to us 30 minutes later with an arch lilting decidedly to one side. We brought over Hamoud to try to explain what we were after.


Soon, most of the work crew had gathered around and was laughing and teasing the master plasterer, asking him if this was his first day on the job. We joined in and asked if he’d had a little too much to drink, a favorite joke between Muslims and non-Muslims here. After another hour of frustration, he took out a hammer and chipped away all the plaster, having decided to give it a fresh start in the morning.