Page 9 - Summer2011 magazine

Friends of Red Rock Canyon
Johannes (Jannie) Loubser, Ph.D., RPA, was contracted to lead the restoration efforts
with work beginning in early May. Dr. Loubser followed the principle of “First, do no
harm” in his approach to the work: basic solvents, such as mineral water, were used

as the first method for removal, then progressing to a universal, biodegradable,
graffiti solvent consisting of a mixture of alcohol and detergent. Jannie generously
shared his knowledge and experience with the many individuals who volunteered to
help heal the wounded site.

Jannie and his volunteer assistants, working at the remote site a half-mile from the Lost Creek parking area, transported
the compressors, generators, brushes, graffiti removal paraphernalia

and hundreds of gallons of water, to the work site the old fashioned
way: one step at a time.

The majority of the destruction could be repaired using the traditional

methods of graffiti removal: chemicals, wire brushes, water and
plenty of sweat equity. The pictograph sites, however, required
meticulous and painstaking efforts to preserve the delicate panels of
Native American heritage. One panel, the target of previous graffiti damage, was restored by

carefully applying a poultice of removal agents, covering the poultice with paper towels, check-
ing the progress, carefully rinsing the poultice site and repeating the process as needed. The
major pictograph panel, the victim of recent and previous attacks, was restored by several
methods: using minimal chemicals and home-made “Q-Tips” to remove smaller sections of new

and old graffiti; utilizing dental picks to remove the minuscule remnants of paint, sandblasting
the areas above the pictographs to prevent removal chemicals from damaging the cultural site
and, finally; applying a slurry mixture of indigenous sandstone and water to affected areas to
further restore and camouflage the scratched-in graffiti.

While it is impossible to put a price tag on something you cherish,
$25,000 would have transported over 6,000 children to Red Rock

Canyon for an educational field trip and paid for maintenance for over
four miles of trails.

Thank you to Dr. Loubser, the BLM, the volunteers, supporters and donors
who made possible this success.

“Believe you can and you're halfway
there.” Theodore Roosevelt Johannes Loubser

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