Nader Khalili spent many years discussing and envisioning a distance learning program. He was determined to find a way to bring this knowledge to people in the world who were unable to make the voyage to California to study at Cal-Earth. We have had many alumni return to their home countries and hold small workshops on their land and teach people locally, but in January 2011 Cal-Earth officially launched the International Workshop Program with the first two workshops held in Melbourne, Australia.

We chose Australia as the site of the first international workshops because we have had significant interest from all over the country, particularly over the past two years. We held two workshops, each following the standard 6-day format of Cal-Earth on-site workshops, and had a total of 26 participants between the two groups. Over the course of two weeks we built and plastered an 8 foot dome with a buttress wall and entryway in a children’s sculpture garden at CERES (Centre for Education & Research in Environmental Strategies — http://ceres.org.au) which hosts 90,000 children (300,000 total visitors) annually through field trips and educational programs. Cal-Earth would like to thank CERES, particularly Steve Mushin and Nick Curmi for being so accommodating and supportive of the program. We are looking forward to seeing the photos of the completed sculpture garden full of children climbing all over the dome! 

We would also like to thank the Cal-Earth alumni living in Australia who helped make this a truly authentic experience for the participants- Nicholas Jouin, Minna Seppala, Kate Fleischhacker and Peter Fleischhacker. Thanks to alumni Heather Carragher for travelling across the world to help lead the instructing and building, and finally thanks to Mystee Unwin who spent countless hours making arrangements on the ground in Melbourne and Skype-ing with Sheefteh in California to get all the details organized.

We could not have asked for a better group of instructors and participants to make this first international workshop a success. Additional photos of the workshops can be seen on the Cal-Earth Institute fan page on Facebook, which is public and can be accessed from the Cal-Earth home page. We currently have workshops in the planning stages in other countries and are looking forward to seeing this program develop. Please check the upcoming newsletters for more information about these workshops as they become finalized. It is our goal to continue to make this work accessible all over the world as was our father’s vision.

Sincerely,
Sheefteh Khalili, Chief Financial Officer
Dastan Khalili, President

Thanks to everyone who came to see Earth Turns to Gold being screened in Culver City in November 2010. It was a wonderful experience to have another one of Cal-Earth’s documentary films shown on the big screen! The film was extremely well received and was honored with two awards at the end of the festival:

Best Feature Documentary
“Earth Turns to Gold”

Best Directorial Debut for a Documentary
Dastan Khalili

Congratulations Dastan for this amazing accomplishment. This film, as well as the entire educational DVD series is such a treasure and Cal-Earth is so grateful that you were able to capture the words and the essence of Nader Khalili for everyone to see. It is our goal to have all the documentaries shown at other festivals in the future.

If you have a vision for building your home, a community, or even helping others to build theirs, stop and consider the hands-on Workshops or Apprenticeship Course at Cal-Earth Institute in California. Give us a few days of your time and we will teach you hands-on how to build your home, your school, your career, or your entire community, without cutting down a single tree; by using the earth under your feet and utilizing the elements of earth, wind, water and fire.

Winter/Spring 2011 Workshops

February 23-26 Four Day Workshop
March 21-26 One Week Workshop
April 11-16 One Week Workshop
May 16-21 One Week Workshop

Topics Covered:

• The Principle of the Arch
• Superadobe Basics
• Soils Practicum and Discussion
• Learning to Read Blueprints
• Superadobe & Plaster with Stabilized Earth
• Elements of Design
• Placing Windows and Doors
• Contrasting Domes with Vaults
• Vaulted Roofing System
• Dome Geometry
• Waterproofing
• Foundations
• Site planning & Orientation
• Simple Solar Passive Strategies

Application and more information available at:
http://calearth.org/learn-to-build/index.html

Nader Khalili first describes his revolutionary techniques of "earth architecture" in Racing Alone. Here he offers a step-by-step guide to the simple and natural process of using clay-earth to build adobe houses and fire the structures with potters' glaze to create ceramic houses. His techniques, which integrate graphics, sculpture, art, and architecture, are easy to follow and apply. Khalili's techniques can be used successfully by anyone who wants to build an inexpensive, durable, and energy-efficient house that fully expresses the individual's taste and imagination. Whether you want to build one of your own or simply learn more about the process, Ceramic Houses describes both the ancient and modern techniques of building with the elements available to everyone: earth, water, air and fire.

To purchase this book, please visit our online store: http://calearth.org/shop/index.php

A free event, held the first Saturday of every month (except August and on rainy days), Open House at Cal‐Earth has been a tradition for over a decade. Every year more people come to experience it for themselves and to teach their children how to build a sustainable future. Cal‐Earth associates and apprentices give tours and answer questions throughout the day. Most buildings are wheelchair accessible. Please no pets.

Open House Schedule:
10:00 AM — Doors open
11:00 AM — Lecture given by Dastan Khalili & Sheefteh Khalili along with guest speakers
1:00 PM — Potluck lunch. We encourage you to participate by either contributing a dish (for four to five people), or a minimum donation of $7.
3:00 PM — Site Closes

every moment
a voice
out of this world
calls on our soul
to wake up and rise

this soul of ours
is like a flame
with more smoke than light
blackening our vision
letting no light through

lessen the smoke and
more light brightens your house
the house you dwell in now
and the abode
you’ll eventually move to

now my precious soul
how long are you going to
waste yourself
in this wandering journey
can’t you hear the voice
can’t you use your swifter wings
and answer the call

Poem# 31
Rumi Fountain of Fire
translations by Nader Khalili

About Cal-Earth Institute
Cal-Earth (The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture) is a 501 (C)3 non-profit/charitable foundation at the cutting edge of Earth and Ceramic Architecture technologies today. Founded in 1986 by its director, Nader Khalili (1936-2008), its scope spans technical innovations published by NASA for lunar and Martian construction, to housing design and development for the world's homeless for the United Nations.

Continuing in his tradition, Khalili's associates and apprentices are dedicated to research and education of the public in environmentally oriented arts and architecture. Its philosophy is based on the equilibrium of the natural elements of earth, water, air, fire, and their Unity at the service of the arts and humanity.

To donate to Cal-Earth, please visit our website:
http://calearth.org/donate.html

About Elements Newsletter
“Elements” is a publication of Cal-Earth Inc., edited by Sheefteh Khalili. Thanks to Mark Harmon, Ian Lodge and Melisa Prins for their help with this issue. Photo credits:  Black Ant Photography,  Heather Carragher. The first issue of the original “Elements” was published in 1985 by Cal-Earth (formerly Geltaftan Foundation).

Subscribe on our website to receive Elements Newsletter bimonthly by email:
http://calearth.org/subscribe.html