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Plasters
by Mary Beth Schwartz
Primitive man used a crude form of it to build protective dwellings. The pyramids in Ancient Egypt contain material made at least 4,000 years ago. It was found early in days of Greek architecture. Today, homeowners are increasingly calling upon Megan and Gabriel Franklin of The Art of Plaster to creatively implement plaster in their residences.
“Plaster was very popular during the Colonial period. Past the 1940s, it was not used as a building material, except in low-income construction. We are revitalizing this material dating back to Egyptian frescos, and trying the keep that art alive. Part of that is informing the public that plaster is an option,” says Megan Franklin, design consultant for The Art of Plaster.
Franklin has a degree in archeology and art history, and is a professor at Centenary College, where she currently teaches art appreciation and art history. She also has worked for high-end builders, a cabinet and design building firm, and helped with restoration painting for Victorian homes throughout the Delaware Valley. “I give our clients fresh ideas on colors, function, and form to meet their needs,” Franklin says.
“It is definitely a joint effort. My wife Megan even helps me onsite with finishing work,” says Master Plasterer Gabriel Franklin. “My father, John Franklin, had his own contracting business. When I was in the fifth grade we moved to an old farm in Pleasant Valley, Bucks County.
To continue reading, go to page 142 of the Winter 2013/14 issue of Bucks County Magazine.