Jordi Martí Castellà
TELEPHONE:
ADDRESS:
C/Carretera de Balaguer nº35-37, 25315 Butsènit d’Urgell
ACTIVITY
Jordi Martí Castellà makes stonework such as arches, columns, capitals, windows or fireplaces, and also does restorations, sculpture, memorial art and other work involving the dry-stone technique, as well as giving introductory workshops on hand-carving.
In his everyday practice he combines the use of up-to-date technology… with traditional tools and techniques, giving all of the work he does a unique finish.
He is noted for his work in stone stereotomy, such as in the design and building of barrel vaults, ribbed vaults, flared arches, spiral staircases and other assorted arches both for heritage restorations and for new building. In sculpture he excels in low reliefs, high reliefs, gargoyles, crucifixes and memorial art.
Jordi Martí Castellá also specialises in the restoration of architectural elements involving the dry-stone technique as used in stone huts, rustic shelters, retaining walls or cisterns. He has also restored and converted one hut as a hide for watching birds and fauna.
With the Association of Friends of Folk Architecture, he has given many hands-on workshops on dry-stone building, as well as drawing up an inventory of folk architecture built with this craft.
TRAINING
Jordi Martí Castellà took up the stonemason’s trade in 1996 when, after first working as a builder in rural restorations and renovations, he chose to specialise in stonework.
He was mentored by Félix and Feliu Martín and their father, all master stonemasons at La Floresta. From… them he learned not just the trade but also professional and personal values. Also vital to his training as a stonemason was the association Pedres Peña.
He completed his training with a higher course in applied arts for sculpture at the Ondara Craft & Trade School in Tàrrega, and a stonework course at the León Trades Centre along with a further specialist course in stereotomy and carving techniques.
TEACHING
He has taken part in courses and events for promoting awareness and advocacy of endangered rural stone structures, such as the exhibition “The stonemason’s art and its relationship with folk architecture” or the travelling show “Dialogue of men and land” with the association Aladrell.
He has… given the following courses:
Dry-stone building techniques at the sustainable construction workshops held by the Manresa Agriculture School (2008, 2009)
Dry-stone wall building with the association Aladrell (2010, 2012, 2013)
Dry-stone wall building with the CCOC Olive Oil Centre (2016, 2017)
Dry-stone wall building with the Constantí Agricultural School (2016)
Rebuilding of dry-stone walls with the CCOC Olive Oil Centre (2018)
Rebuilding of dry-stone walls with the CCOC Olive Oil Centre (2019)
Workshops and participatory sculptures at the Bellver de Cerdanya Arts & Trades Fair (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Courses on the stoneworker’s trade for schools held at an old quarry in Preixana
SELECTED WORK
He has performed the following restorations:
– 18th-century Church of San Juan Evangelista in Hernani, including the facade, with shuttering, templating and fitting of stonework and installation of Igueldo sandstone sculptures, with the company Guires SA in 2004
– 16th-century Church of Morón de Almazán (Soria province),… including the exterior of its Plateresque tower, with cleaning and repointing of stonework, for the company Lagovello SL in 2005
Work with the company Pedres de Ponent SL at La Floresta:
– Shaping and moulding of pieces for the pointed windows of the perimeter cloister of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, with Floresta sandstone
– At Barcelona Cathedral, carving of pieces of Gothic tracery for windows, spires and pinnacles, with Montjuïc sandstone (2006)
– At the Church of Santa Maria de Agramunt (12th–13th centuries), carving of moulded voussoirs and sculpted pieces for facade rose windows, with Floresta sandstone (2008)
– At the Castle of Verdú, carving of bases and capitals with Floresta sandstone (2008)
Work with the company Pedres de Ponent SL:
– At Santa Maria del Mar, carving of gargoyles for the Basilica restoration, using Pyrenean brown sandstone (2010)
– At the Castle of Montsoriu (12th–13th centuries), dressing of roughened granite ashlars and voussoirs for arches and sills (2012)
Individually:
– Wayside cross of Solés (Tiurana). Carving of a shaft, capital and cross replicating a former medieval crucifix, fully ornamented (2011)
He also works for the town hall of Agramunt making stone features, such as the cemetery sundial, and maintaining and restoring stone heritage in and around the town, such as the Romanesque stone Agramunt bridge. He has also restored and renovated sundry rural stonework as well as restoring and rebuilding dry-stone folk-architecture structures (stone huts, rain shelters, wells, cisterns, dry terrace walls) and historic buildings.
