Gary Bowles, founder of Buffalo Plastering and Buffalo Architectural Casting, shares a lifetime dedicated to preserving the artistry and craftsmanship of historic plasterwork. With over 50 years in the trade, Gary’s career began as an apprentice, where he developed a deep appreciation for the skill, precision, and beauty of traditional plastering, an art form that is increasingly rare today.

From early projects across Buffalo, including landmarks like the Our Lady of Victory Basilica and Buffalo City Hall, to major restoration efforts across the country, Gary has built a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship rooted in historic techniques. His work bridges past and present, combining time-honored methods with modern materials to restore architectural elements that might otherwise be lost.

A highlight of Gary’s work is the restoration of the Graycliff Estate, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There, his team closely followed Wright’s original plaster specifications, using materials like local beach sand, lime plaster, and even goat hair to recreate the authentic texture and finish. The result is a space that reflects Wright’s vision of blending interior surfaces with the natural environment, demonstrating how material choices can shape the experience of architecture.

Gary also shares the fascinating process behind recreating lost or damaged architectural elements, such as ornamental pediments and terra cotta features. Using limited archival photographs, his team sculpts details by hand, creates molds, and casts new components using glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC), a modern material that allows for durability while maintaining historic accuracy. These efforts require not just technical skill, but interpretation, artistry, and problem-solving.

Throughout his career, Gary has witnessed the physical demands and evolving nature of the trade, while remaining committed to passing on knowledge to the next generation. With his son now leading the business, the legacy continues, expanding beyond Buffalo to major restoration projects across the country.

In this talk, Gary highlights the importance of preserving traditional crafts in an era of rapid change. His work serves as a reminder that historic buildings are more than structures, they are stories, shaped by the hands of skilled artisans, and worth protecting for generations to come