Cearns and carefully placed granite rocks filled the landscape of Stag Hill, Mahwah for thousands of years. These rocks are evidence of the Ramapo tribe’s lineage to the land and act as resistance against erasure. Tectonic Resistance continues the legacy of creating structurally innovative feats using granite to build a series of vaulted compression shells that accommodate the museum’s program. The museum embraces tangible (objects) and intangible (performances) aspects of Native American culture to encourage people to participate and learn more about the traditions and cultural practices. The compression shells that are dry assembled through joinery are tiled and scaled to allow members of the tribe to participate in the construction of these structures that would continue their legacy in these sacred grounds.
