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Dhe-tsang 2002
Pre-expedition report

by Jonathan Bell, August 4, 2002

Contents of this report:

• The conservation team
• Goals of the expedition

         Combing Chengdu for conservation supplies is the first stage of any Kham Aid heritage preservation program. What will we need?  How much will we need?  Can we buy things there?  We won't know the answers until we
arrive at the monastery, and by then it'll be too late.  So, we take our best guesses. We have to be prepared.

         With a few team members still in transit to Chengdu, those of us here are ready to hit the road and arrive at the site.  Personally, I’m looking forward to settling into the two extremely divergent rhythms of life at a monastery and life on a conservation site; the welcoming calm of ascetic establishments is quickly put into disarray by the chattering of an
international team of conservators, each with measuring tape in hand.

         The team this year is quite large and includes wall painting, architectural and objects conservators, as well as an historian and an array of students, from a number of different countries:

Lori Wong (US), wall painting conservator
Lisa Shekede (Britain), wall painting conservator
Stephanie Bogin (US/Britain), wall painting conservation student

Rene Fan (Canada/US), architectural conservator
Tenzing Gyaltso (India/US), architectural conservator

Richard Dollamore (Britain), architectural historian
Joe Davey (Britain/China), environmental conservation assessor

Teresa Heady (US/Britain), ethnographic object conservator

Dolma Tsering (China), wall painting conservation student
Lha-'brug-rgyal "Jerry" (China), wall painting conservation student
Wende Sgomba "Rex" (China), wall painting conservation student

Linda Griffin (Britain/China), interpreter
Wu Bangfu (China), logistical coordinator and interpreter
Vivian Qiu (China), logistical coordinator and interpreter

Surprisingly, most of the team is under 30 years of age.  However, their skills and experience promise to make the campaign a successful one.

        Success for this campaign means the completed documentation of the Protector Temple in the form of photographs, measured drawings and deterioration maps.  A full condition assessment of the structure and wall
paintings will also be undertaken, so as to provide further information for the development of a conservation plan and possible interventions.  All of this will allow for informed decision-making in the present conservation and long-term care of the temple.

         In addition, the team will begin a site survey in an effort to document the structures of the monastery and also better understand the site as a whole and the relationship of the Protector Temple to the rest of the monastery.  This survey will include a catalog of buildings with wall paintings and also incorporate historical research from sources at the
monastery.  Our objects conservator will also catalog some of the more important religious and historical objects held by the monastery and develop proposals for their better storage and care.

         With my hands full with logistical planning and the development of a conservation plan for the site, I approach the imminent journey with excitement and apprehension.  Hopefully, all will go smoothly….(stay tuned for more reports coming soon)

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