Artpack’s Design and Display Department worked closely with Providence Athenaeum and Art History Professor Tripp Evans to create a mount for the bronze medallion “Triumviri Americani” (“American Triumvirate”) in the newly refurbished Art Room at the Library. Acquired by the Athenaeum’s founding members 151 years ago, this is the first time the medallion has been exhibited since 1926.

 

The Providence Athenaeum, established in 1836 as a private lending library, has a long and vital history with the cultural life of the city of Providence. The Art Room, which began its life sixty years later, became the primary public art gallery in the city.

 

In 1870, Philadelphia sculptor William Miller created the Triumviri Americani to celebrate the commencement of Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency. It consists of portraits of   George Washington Abraham Lincoln, and Grant himself.. The Latin inscription at the bottom reads “Pater 1789 / Salvator 1861 / Custos 1869” [Father 1789 / Savior 1861 / Custodian 1869]

 

 

The challenge presented to our Design and Display Department was to install the medallion over an off-center cold air vent located above a seating area. Our team constructed a disc plate to frame the medallion, with a ring of bronze stars emulating those found in the bronze casting. A metal bracket was attached to the wall to allow the flow of air through the duct and to center the medallion over the window for optimum viewing.

 

 

Art Collection Curator/Coordinator Report In these very challenging times of Covid-19 and civil unrest due to racial discrimination, all of us at Wayne State and the University Art Collection are sending our wishes of good health and peace to you. We believe in the power of art, and its ability to heal and help us make sense of the world around us. Without question, we know that access to art is more important now than ever before because art challenges the way that we think, helps us look at the world differently and understand different points of view. Inclusion of art into higher education prepares passionate students with the ability to engage with such an uncertain future. I believe that experiencing and embracing the arts, will help contribute to the better common good and a brighter future. With this belief, despite the challenges of working remotely, we have found ways to continue to collaborate and work together as a team to have this collection online. Daniel Sperry (collection’s assistant), Chris Scalise and Gary Cendrowski (of the amazing CFPCA’s IT team), Kelly Farrell (arts administration graduate student) and I have been busy working to make the University Art Collection accessible through the Gallery System digital eMuseum software. The first preview of highlights of the collection can be found on our website (by clicking the ‘Online Collection’ link) or accessed directly at: https://artmuseum.wayne.edu/collections. In the fall, I will be working with students to develop educational programming associated with the collection, that will be available online along with a special online exhibition curated by Samantha Hohmann (undergraduate Art History student). Our immediate attention is now focused on making the University Art Collection relevant and accessible to our students (both on and off campus) and to anyone in the world with Internet access. We believe that this collection is unique and important, and will provide a wealth of information not found anywhere else “to educate, inspire, foster creative thinking and promote the advancement of social and cultural leadership.” Stay safe and stay well. Please follow us on social media (see below) for highlights and updates on the University Art Collection. Grace Serra, July. 2020

The Fox Theater in Detroit was built in the late 1920’s by business man William Fox ( 20^th Century Fox) and architect C. Howard Crane. The Art Deco theater interior was designed with Burmese, Chinese, Indian and Persian design motifs over three levels and seated 5,174.. The theater opened in 1928 with silent films and stage productions and remained in operation  until it was restored to it’s original brilliance by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1988 at a cost of 12 million dollars. The Fox Theater restoration became the cornerstone in reviving the downtown Woodward building corridor and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.  

Artpack was contracted in July 2019  to return the chandelier to a jewel like presence under the blue ceiling canopy.

 

The globe chandelier is of Moorish design of colored glass suspended from a starburst design from the ceiling built to resemble a round tent. The chandelier is 13 ft in diameter, weighs 2,000 lbs and contains 1200 pieces of glass.