wpa murals restoration project – gloucester committee for

WPA Murals Restoration Project – Gloucester Committee for the Arts

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Mission & History Gloucester, Massachusetts, founded in 1623, is home to America’s oldest fishing port and oldest working art colony. Many famous artists such as Winslow Homer, Milton Avery, and Edward Hopper spent significant time in Gloucester creating art. Gloucester’s rich cultural and industrial history is evident in the City’s many historic buildings and landmarks, art collections, and historical archives. Gloucester Committee for the Arts (GCFA) is the steward of Gloucester’s public art collections, including several dozen City-owned 19th and 20th century artworks by artists such as Fitz Henry Lane, Walker Hancock, and Alice B. Winter, in addition to thirty-six Works Progress Administration (WPA) murals ranging in date from 1934 to 1942. GCFA’s mission is to further the City’s deep cultural heritage and promote its contemporary arts by: maintaining Gloucester’s WPA murals and other City-owned art; developing and promoting educational programs; establishing awards and honors that recognize local artists, including the position of Gloucester Poet Laureate; implementing a City-wide public art policy and commissioning process; developing mutually beneficial arts partnerships; encouraging the creation and promotion of arts projects created in and/or about Gloucester; advising City officials on the value of a diverse, cultural life for all citizens; and encouraging arts programs within the public schools. Created by a City ordinance on November 11, 2000, GCFA is a municipal committee consisting of six Gloucester residents who are appointed by the mayor for four-year terms based on their expertise in the arts and/or Gloucester’s cultural heritage. GCFA coordinates with other City departments such as the Mayor’s Office, Legal Department, Department of Public Works, and City Hall Restoration Committee to accomplish its goals. GCFA’s funds are managed through the City’s accounting system. In fiscal year 2010, GCFA started receiving a $3,000 appropriation from the City, but is generally expected to raise its own funds through grants, donations, and earned income. GCFA does not have any paid staff members. Through grant funding GCFA has hired consultants to inventory the City art collection, give public lectures and tours and develop wall text for the WPA murals, and to commission an assessment report on the condition of the City Hall WPA murals. Need & Request The WPA was the largest of the federal relief programs created during the Great Depression. Under it, Federal Project #1 provided jobs in visual art, theater, literature, music, and arts documentation and education. It funded 2,566 murals across the United States depicting Americans and their lives and ideals, creating jobs for artists and cultural resources for communities. Gloucester’s WPA murals represent strong examples of this artistic and historical period. Gloucester’s WPA artists, Charles Allen Winter, Frederick Mulhaupt, Oscar Anderson, and Frederick Stoddard (attributed), were all leading WPA artists with strong ties to the Cape Ann arts community. The Winter and Mulhaupt murals, considered the most important pieces in the City’s collection, are significant to the nation and to the humanities due to their artistic merit and political, social, and art historical value. They depict Gloucester’s origins and renowned fishing industry as well as themes in the humanities—poetry, architecture, music, and the value of education. If these murals were to deteriorate, Gloucester and the nation would lose a valuable cultural and historical resource. The Gloucester City Hall WPA murals are in critical need of restoration. After nearly eighty years since the murals were created, they now have peeling and fading paint and damaged edges and backings. GCFA respectfully requests $15,000 ($5,000 per year over a three-year period) from the Community Preservation Committee to help fund restoration work on six WPA murals painted by Charles Allen Winter. Specifically, the funding would be used to contract a professional paintings conservator to complete the restoration work. The proposed restoration work represents the next phase in GCFA’s preservation plan and the first restoration project undertaken by GCFA.


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Strategic Planning & Goals This restoration work is an essential component to GCFA’s overall preservation plan. The first step in this process was completing the inventory of City-owned artwork so GCFA could begin to assess the needs of the collection and raise assessment funds. GCFA then developed education programs and services and built partnerships to generate public awareness of the WPA murals. With the condition report complete, GCFA will now focus on the mural restoration work. Once the City Hall murals are restored, GCFA will move to the next phase of the project, which is raising funds to commission an appraisal of the fifteen murals in storage at City Hall and the murals located at O’Maley Middle School to determine their value and condition. In the future, GCFA’s will launch a new project digitizing the City’s art collection to make the murals accessible on the Internet. The restoration of the WPA murals will allow GCFA to meet short- and long-term goals. Short-term goals include moving from the assessment to the restoration phase of this initiative, fulfilling GCFA’s mandate to preserve and protect Gloucester’s WPA mural collection, and using this restoration process to promote the murals through cultural tourism and community education programs. A long-term goal is to ensure that the murals are properly cared for and protected into the future, preserving these examples of nationally significant murals that depict Gloucester’s identity and history for future generations to learn from and enjoy. In addition, GCFA intends to use this restoration process as a catalyst to lead to future preservation practices in City Hall and beyond. Project Description In 2010 GCFA received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance program to assess the preservation needs of the murals. The contracted conservator, Peter Williams of Museums Services in Boston, used all appropriate and necessary techniques to complete his evaluation. The assessment process included an examination of each mural to determine the optimal professional method of repair and treatment. Please see the attached condition report, which outlines his findings and recommendations, provides digital images detailing the present condition of each mural, estimates the total cost for the restoration work, and gives the conservator’s contact information and website. Peter Williams estimated the total restoration cost for the entire displayed City Hall WPA collection at $109,000. GCFA is currently raising $42,000 ($14,000 per year for three years) to support the first phase of the restoration process as detailed below. Based on the condition report, GCFA will focus grant funds on restoring the WPA murals painted by Charles Allen Winter. His murals are of first priority because they meet the following combined criteria: murals with critical restoration needs, the artistic and cultural significance of the murals as examples of WPA era art, and the public accessibility of the murals. The conservator’s report states that each mural needs a thorough cleaning to remove a layer of grime, in-painting to fill cracks and flaking paint, and the re-adhering of painting edges to their backboards. One mural, Poetry, requires the installation of a projecting ledge or shield over an adjacent radiator to protect the mural from further heat damage. The conservator’s estimated cost to restore six of the Winter murals is approximately $42,000. The restoration cost for Winter’s seventh mural, The Founding of Gloucester located in Kyrouz Auditorium, is estimated at $22,500 and will be restored in the second phase of the project in year four. Charles Allen Winter (1869-1942): Winter was an illustrator, painter, and muralist who used bright colors and a realistic style. Originally from the Midwest, he studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy, St. Louis School of Fine Arts, and in Paris, and exhibited at the Paris Salon and the Art Institute of Chicago. He lived in New York and began to summer in Gloucester in 1914. He became a full time resident and a leading member of Gloucester’s art community in 1931. The six Winter murals in this proposal include:

• Education, 1935: The thirty-eight figures are portraits of students from Gloucester’s 1935 graduating class. Students are shown holding objects symbolic of educational inquiry. Geometry,


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typewriting, lathe working, and music represent the arts and humanities, and geometry, biology, and chemistry represent the sciences. The figure of Alma Mater gives diplomas and Gloucester High School and colleges are in the distance.

• Poetry, 1936: Poetry is an allegorical piece, a symbolic depiction of the spirit of poetry. Winter used figures from classical mythology, as well as Dante and Virgil, the fathers of poetry, as his subjects. Clio, the muse of history, holds a scroll, and Terpsichore, the muse of dance and choral songs, holds a lyre. Other figures include a woman pouring water from a jug, perhaps symbolizing poetic fertility; the figure of Life trimming a lamp, bringing light to the mind; and Imagination on a winged horse, a horse of fantasy and flight.

• Civic Virtues, 1937: This mural is about idealism and social and governmental responsibility. Winter immortalizes workers and community members from the powerful to the ordinary citizen. He used community members as models for portraits, wanting the murals to belong to and come out of the community. The four mural sections, titled Health, Planning, Welfare, and Protection, depict Winter’s vision for particular roles of city government. The basic duties of government are represented by figures caring for community members in different capacities and by images of Gloucester’s progress and development.

• City Government, 1937: The thirty-three figures in this mural are all realistic portraits of city planners, fire-fighters, police officers, city council members, nurses, and teachers, symbolizing the responsibilities of municipal government. Sitting on a throne is the holder of the fasces, the ancient symbol of the law. The flags of Massachusetts and the United States stand behind the marble throne, giving the seated figure authority. Genii, protective spirits of the law, hold the city seal and a lamp of enlightenment.

• City Council in Session, 1937: This mural depicts the governmental process at an official meeting with the mayor, aldermen, and various officials. A key to the actual individuals depicted hangs below the mural. A Gloucester map on the back wall shows its wards in different colors. A Gloucester Daily Times and a Boston Globe reporter are depicted, possibly to show the transparency of government proceedings.

• Protection of Fishing, 1942: This is the last of Winter’s murals, painted soon before he died in September of 1942. The painting depicts the danger and activity of schooner fishing. The saints in the clouds above the fisherman emphasize the tenuous survival of the men hauling fish into the schooner.

Community Impact & Support As a permanent public exhibition at City Hall, these murals are viewed by Gloucester’s diverse population and by the many tourists who visitor Gloucester each year. GCFA use the murals on an ongoing basis for tours, lectures, and research opportunities in collaboration with numerous community and City partners. GCFA’s broad support base ensures a long-term commitment to preserving the WPA murals as one of Gloucester’s valuable cultural heritage resources. The main themes addressed in the educational programs are the history and significance of the WPA and its art on a national level, and Gloucester’s WPA murals and how they relate to Gloucester’s maritime, art, and civic history and to the broader social themes typical of WPA era art. The lectures and tours offer biographical information on the WPA artists, discuss the impact of WPA art on the public schools, reflect on the value of public art, question the role of art in society, and investigate the role of government participation in the arts. These educational initiatives enhance public awareness and appreciation of Gloucester’s cultural heritage and local arts resources, builds new audiences for Gloucester’s historical and cultural assets, and ensures an ongoing interest in preserving the WPA murals for future generations to learn from and enjoy. GCFA and its partners focus on the following public educational programs:

Guided Tours • Since 2006 GCFA has partnered with Trails and Sails, an annual weekend cultural heritage tour

sponsored by the Essex National Heritage Area and promoted by the Essex National Heritage


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Commission, to offer guided tours of City Hall’s mural collection. Local art historian and WPA mural expert, Susan Erony, offers two tours each weekend.

• In 2008, self-guided tours of the City Hall murals were included in an Art Lovers Package, developed by the Gloucester Stage Company, in coordination with area accommodations, restaurants, and other cultural attractions, to promote cultural tourism.

• In April 2009, Susan Erony led a tour sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum. The tour began at the Cape Ann Museum for a painting exhibition by Howard Curtis (1906-1989), a local artist and Frederick Stoddard’s assistant, and progressed to City Hall and the Saunders House, an historic building belonging to the Sawyer Free Library, to view Charles Allen Winter, Frederick Mulhaupt, and Frederick Stoddard murals. The tour emphasized Curtis’ role in saving the WPA murals from destruction when few other people understood their social, historical, and aesthetic value.

• In 2009, GCFA provided guidance and oversaw the restoration and relocation of a City-owned WPA mural formerly located in an inappropriate location in the City’s Visitors Center and now displayed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Gloucester facility.

• In May 2010 GCFA participated in the Preserving Gloucester event. For this event, GCFA held a joint open house with the City Hall Restoration Committee to showcase City Hall and the WPA murals, and board member Roger Armstrong gave a presentation on GCFA’s preservation strategy for the WPA murals.

Lectures • In fall 2006, Patricia Hill, Professor of Art at Boston University, presented Talking Walls, an art

historical presentation on WPA art with over 75 people in attendance. • In October 2008, GCFA partnered with seARTS and the Massachusetts Cultural Council to offer a slide

lecture by Susan Erony on WPA art and Gloucester’s mural collection with over 125 people in attendance. • In April 2009, GCFA member Roger Armstrong gave a presentation on the Mulhaupt WPA murals

during an open house at O’Maley School.

Research & Information Services • In 2003, GCFA contracted Bethany Waywell, a PhD candidate at Boston College, to complete a

comprehensive inventory of City-owned art. The inventory is available through the City Archives Committee and is used for research and education by members of the public and art historians. The goal was to create a record of what the City owns and where it is located, to enable the City to keep track of the artworks and to properly account for these City-owned assets. GCFA is planning to update that inventory in the near future.

• The City Hall Restoration Commission has used the murals to conduct research on Charles Allan Winter, building a case for City Hall’s historical significance to attract restoration funds.

• In 2006, GCFA printed a series of postcards featuring Gloucester’s WPA art to sell at City Hall and the Cape Ann Museum to raise awareness about and funds for the mural collection.

• In 2008, GCFA contracted Susan Erony to research and write educational wall text for the City Hall WPA murals in partnership with the City Archives Committee. This wall text allows visitors to take self-guided tours through the collection and deepens people’s awareness and appreciation of Gloucester’s cultural history and assets.

Programs Under Development • GCFA is working with the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), art organizations, and local state

representatives to educate the community on how the new Cultural Districts Initiative, legislated by the state and administered by the MCC, can benefit the City.

• GCFA is working with the City, the Community Development Department, and the arts community on the Harbor Walk Project, which will incorporate several art installations.

• GCFA is in a planning phase for a digitization project of the City art collection to include in a future, citywide arts database.


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• GCFA will deepen its relationship with the public schools by developing educational tours and curricula that focus on Gloucester’s cultural heritage.

Timeline & Feasibility GCFA anticipates that the Charles Winter restoration work will begin in January 2012 and take up to three years to complete. In fall 2011 GCFA will follow the standard City bidding process to hire a paintings conservator. Also at this time, GCFA members will meet with the City Hall departments adjacent to the mural restoration projects and the Mayor’s Office to determine the best order for completing projects to cause as little disruption as possible to City Hall employees and visitors. GCFA has communicated with Maggie Rosa of the City Hall Restoration Committee to ensure that both restoration projects do not conflict in any way with one another. After conferring with all of those impacted by the project, GCFA will develop a three-year restoration plan calendar that outlines specific dates. GCFA is planning on having approximately two murals restored per year. Once the murals are restored they will not require ongoing maintenance. Applicant Qualifications & Sustainability GCFA has developed a long-term strategic plan and a feasible three-year fundraising plan that indicates their focus on sustainability and clear milestones. CPC’s funding, projected at $5,000 a year, is the corner stone of the restoration project and represents roughly one third of the annual project cost. GCFA has a track record of bringing in private donations as needed to fund special projects. For the first three-year phase of the restoration project, GCFA anticipates raising $1,000 a year in private donations to support the project. GCFA will also use half of its $3,000 annual City appropriation each year to help fund the restoration work over the three-year period. Through networking with partners during the restoration work, awareness about Gloucester’s mural collection will grow, attracting funders, private donors, cultural tourists, and WPA researchers. GCFA received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to fund a professional assessment of the murals, demonstrating that GCFA has the ability to effectively raise grant funds. GCFA has contracted a grant writer to draft proposals for phase one of the mural restoration project, and will submit multiple grants to ensure minimum funding needs are met. GCFA has an $8,000 pending grant to the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation, and intends to develop a relationship with this funder with the plan of receiving smaller grants of $3,000 a year during the three-year period. GCFA is currently developing a list of other funders to pursue, some of which require matching funds. With CPC funding in place, GCFA’s restoration project would qualify for these grants, allowing GCFA to leverage CPC’s support. The minimum that needs to be raised in additional grant money to meet the funding goal is $2,500. This amount could easily be increased if necessary by submitting additional grants if there is a short fall in other income line items. The GCFA members are dedicated to GCFA’s mission, and both members and consultants are experts within their fields. The following is information on their credentials:

• Judith Hoglander: Judith is a GCFA founding member and has served as Chairperson since 2007. She has organized educational initiatives for the WPA murals, an arts education forum for the public schools, and an Arts and Culture Town Meeting for Governor Patrick. Judith is a founding member of local arts nonprofits, seARTS and Arts North, serves on the Gloucester Stage Company and Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts and Humanities Boards of Directors, and has been an Americans for the Arts delegate.

• Dale Brown: Dale originally joined GCFA as the Mayor’s representative during her tenure as the City’s Community Development Director from 2002 to 2005. She was later re-appointed as the Mayor’s representative to the Committee in 2006. In 2008 she was appointed as a regular member of the Committee and serves as the Treasurer. Dale has worked in municipal public administration for over twenty years. She is an active member of the Chorus North Shore.


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• Roger Armstrong: Roger, a GCFA member since January 2009, has been a co-owner of two art galleries for the past ten years, State of the Art I on Rocky Neck and State of the Art II in downtown Gloucester. He has been a member of the North Shore Arts Association (NSAA) Board of Directors for the past eleven years, serving as President from 2003 to 2005. He was instrumental in mounting a highly successful Frederick Mulhaupt retrospective at NSAA in 1998. Roger designed Gloucester’s WWII Veterans Memorial in 2006.

• Sharon DuBois: Sharon is the Mayor’s representative on the committee. As Grants Administrator for the City of Gloucester, Sharon administers federal and state grants for economic development programs. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Art History and Economics from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY and a Master's degree in Communications from Fordham University in the Bronx, NY.

• Marcia Hart: Marcia has been a GCFA member since 2008. She is a working member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, the nation’s oldest artist colony, and was the chairperson for the successful effort to have Rocky Neck designated “One of the Ten Most Endangered Resources in the Commonwealth” by Preservation Mass in 2005. She participated in the development of the on-line Rocky Neck Historic Art Trail, and served on the Gloucester Historic Commission sub-committee for the preservation of the Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory.

• Eric Schoonover: Eric joined GCFA in 2011. He is a Professor Emeritus of American Literature and New England Studies, specializing in maritime culture and literature. His most recent publication is The Gloucester Suite and Other Poems. He is also a watercolorist and a boat builder.

• Peter Williams: Williams, who founded Museum Services in 1972, specializes in the conservation and restoration of 19th and 20th century American and European oil paintings, murals, and picture frames. He has completed condition assessments and restoration work on Frederick Mulhaupt and Charles Allen Winter paintings for private collectors and galleries. A selection of major clients includes Boston Symphony Orchestra, Massachusetts Historical Society, and Boston Public Library.

• Susan Erony: Susan was Associate Curator for Exhibitions at Cape Ann Museum and Executive Director of seARTS in Gloucester. She consulted on the role of art in society to Facing History and Ourselves, an international human rights organization. She has twenty years experience teaching and lecturing on art history and art practice and curating arts exhibitions. She was a GCFA member from 2004 to 2006, and an independent consultant from 2006 to 2009 with a focus on WPA mural research and public education.

Community Preservation General & Historic Preservation Criteria The WPA murals restoration project at City Hall meets all of the Community Preservation Committee’s general and historic preservation criteria.

1. This project is consistent with the City’s intention to preserve and protect City-owned historic resources. According to the Historic and Cultural Resources section of the 2001 Community Development Plan, it is the City’s goal to “maintain and celebrate the heritage of Gloucester through preservation and interpretation of its historic sites, buildings, and monuments.” The Plan states that the City intends to meet this goal by providing assistance and seed funding for historic preservation.

2. By restoring these murals that reflect Gloucester’s history, GCFA will help “preserve and enhance the essential character of the City.”

3. The restoration process will protect these cultural and historical resources, which would otherwise be threatened if their preservation needs were not met.

4. The mural restoration project in City Hall meets one of the four “CPA purposes.” It is not feasible to serve multiple purposes as this project is not related to Affordable Housing, Open Space, or Recreation.

5. As outlined above, GCFA has a strategic plan for the three-year restoration process, has built strong partnerships within the community, and has reasonable fundraising and time line expectations for the project, indicating that this is a practical and feasible project that can be implemented within budget and on schedule.


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6. GCFA works closely with other arts and heritage organizations in Gloucester to increase cultural tourism in Gloucester. By investing in the mural restoration, the City of Gloucester and businesses will benefit from the cultural tourism opportunities this project represents.

7. CPC funding will allow GCFA to pursue certain historic preservation grant opportunities that require matching funds, giving GCFA the opportunity to leverage CPC funds to attract more foundations, major donors, and research institutions.

8. This project preserves the intended purpose of these City-owned assets, which is to bring publically accessible art to the general community that reflects Gloucester’s civic, maritime, and cultural history for the enjoyment and betterment of all.

9. In addition to the organizations and committees listed above, GCFA has received endorsements from the following organizations and committees in support of this initiative: Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, seARTS, Rocky Neck Art Colony, Cape Ann Museum, and City Hall Restoration Committee. All of these organizations and committees strive to preserve Gloucester’s cultural heritage, promote Gloucester’s rich historical and artistic resources, and encourage cultural tourism to benefit Gloucester’s local economy. GCFA receives support from these groups through developing mutually beneficial partnerships. The partners work together to promote Gloucester’s cultural and historical resources, develop new educational programs, reach new audiences, and leverage resources.

10. This project preserves, enhances, and restores City-owned resources of historical and cultural significance that are in danger of further deterioration, and helps preserve the historical function of City Hall’s interior. The mural restoration project demonstrates a public benefit, as it restores these cultural heritage resources for the residents and visitors of Gloucester, ensures that the murals will continue to be accessible to the public, and allows GCFA to continue to provide community education opportunities. The professional preservation of the murals based on the condition report is the most that can be done “to provide permanent protection” for these historic resources.

Evaluation GCFA will evaluate the success of this project based on the following criteria: raising at least $14,000 by January 2012 to commence conservation work; completing conservation work on at least two of the murals by the end of year one; and by receiving press coverage on the restoration work to attract further funding and interest.

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C I T Y O F G L O U C E S T E R C O M M U N I T Y P R E S E R V A T I O N C O M M I T T E E

BUDGET FORM

Project Name: WPA Murals Restoration Project

Applicant: Gloucester Committee for the Arts

SOURCES OF FUNDING / 3-YEAR BUDGET (2012-2014)

Source Amount

CITY SUPPORT

Community Preservation Act Fund $15,000 2012 projected ($5,000 per yr.)

50% of $3,000 Annual City appropriation 2012-14

$4,500 2012 pending ($1,500 per yr.)

FOUNDATION / PRIVATE SUPPORT

2011 Bruce J. Anderson Foundation (BJA) $8,000 pending in 2011 to use Jan. 2012

BJA Foundation 2012-14 $9,000 2012 projected ($3,000 per yr.)

Additional foundation support $2,500 2013 projected

Private donations $3,000 2012 projected ($1,000 per yr.)

Total Project Funding $42,000

PROJECT EXPENSES

Expense Amount Please indicate which expenses will be funded by CPA Funds:

Consultant Fee: Paintings Conservator Labor & Materials to restore 6 WPA murals (This total cost is based on a project quote in the attached condition report)

$42,000 $15,000 in CPA funds would support 36% of the conservator’s fee

Total Project Expenses $42,000

Please feel free to photocopy or re-create this form if more room is needed.

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C I T Y O F G L O U C E S T E R C O M M U N I T Y P R E S E R V A T I O N C O M M I T T E E

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Please provide a project timeline below, noting all project milestones. Please note that because the City Council must approve all appropriations, CPA funds may not be available until up to two months following Committee approval.

Activity Estimated Date

Project Start Date:

Conservator commences work January 2012

Project Milestone:

2 murals restored in one year Jan 2012 – Dec 2012

50% Completion Stage:


Project Milestone:


Project Completion Date:

Project completed January 2015

Please note: If the project is approved, the recipient must provide progress reports to the Committee on a quarterly basis (the end of September, December, March and June). The recipient shall also provide an interim report at the 50% Completion Stage, along with budget documentation. Please feel free to photocopy or re-create this form if more room is needed.

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PETER WILLIAMS/ MUSEUM SERVICES Fenway Studios #110, 30 Ipswich Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215

Tel. 617-536-4092/ Fax. 617-536-7119/ E-mail. [email protected]

www.peterwilliams.org

The Gloucester Committee for the Arts June 7, 2010

Attn: Judith Hoglander, Chairwoman ( Revised from May 25)

Gloucester City Hill Formatted for disk

9 Dale Avenue

Gloucester, MA 01930

CONSERVATOR’S EXAMINATION OF MURALS AT GLOUCESTER CITY HALL:

This work has been supported by the National Endowment for Humanities through a

Preservation Assistance Grant to the City of Gloucester Committee for the Arts. Any

views, findings conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report do not

necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

INTRODUCTION

On April 13, 2010 I completed an examination of murals at Gloucester City Hall by

artists including: Charles Allen Winter, Alice Winter (attributed), Frederick Mulhaupt,

and Oscar Anderson. I have examined each of these murals from the floor and from a

stepladder and have performed solvent tests on every painting for the purpose of

determining if the murals can be safely cleaned and what the result might be if they were

cleaned. The murals were checked for adhesion to the wall support. Additional

examinations were made to determine areas of cracking, flaking paint, areas of grime,

physical damage and suitability for conservation/restoration treatments.

In the course of this work, details of each painting were digitally imaged. The areas

photographed are indicated on the enclosed printed pages for each painting. Diagrams of

the tested areas or areas where there are physical concerns can be seen on the page for

each specific painting. The enclosed printed materials can be used as a guide when

viewing the murals on site. Photographs taken by Paul Goldberg have been noted, while

I took those not credited.

I have tried to prioritize the paintings most in need of conservation treatment, explain

flaws that are uncorrectable and estimate what the cost of conservation work might be in

the future. The glue adhesive bonding the murals to the wall support has held up well

except for a small strip of canvas along the top of the sky portion of a mural by Frederick

Mulhaupt. Except for an expected layer of grime, which is found on every mural, all the

murals except for three are in overall good condition. Fortunately only one mural in the

building has been coated with varnish. It is the mural by Oscar Anderson. The varnish

layer on the Oscar Anderson is discussed below. It will be easier to clean the murals in

future years if they are not varnished after they are cleaned All the murals are painted on

canvas stock with certain standard widths and the seams of the canvas should not be

confused with any unusual defect.

(Continued to next page)




Conservator’s Report Page 2 (continued)

MURALS OF SPECIAL CONCERN (3)

(#1) “School Days” 71” x 80” (author’s title) attributed to Alice Winter (by author)

Solicitor’s Office (non public area).

This charming painting is in stable condition and is presently not in any extraordinary

physical danger of deteriorating. However, it has suffered considerable prior damage

possibly from being rolled up at some point in its history. There are hundreds of small

areas where there are paint losses, which could be filled and in-painted. A complete

treatment of this painting would require several weeks and the Solicitor would be

significantly inconvenienced or might feel required to temporarily re-locate while the

mural was being restored. Estimate to clean mural fill losses and in-paint Est. $9500

(#2) Untitled, Oscar Anderson, 50” x 86” Mayor’s Reception Area (semi-public area).

This mural has suffered prior damage including mechanical punctures, rips and holes,

which are now concealed by restoration. Artistically it does not seem as strong as most

of the other murals in the building. One of the figure’s faces has been over-cleaned.

The mural has been coated with a picture varnish, which has turned yellow brown, and

trying to remove it would cause further harm to the painting. Several weeks would be

required to restore this mural and the Mayor’s secretary would need to be re-located

within the building. I do not recommend attempting this job.

Estimate $20,000

(#3) “Poetry”, by Charles Allen Winter 8’ 6” x 10’ 6’ (public area) over Doorway City

Clerk.

“Poetry” is probably the only mural in City Hall, which could be considered “at risk”.

Part of this mural is located over a radiator in the hall, which blasts hot air over the left

side of the mural. Some sort of projecting ledge or shield could be built over this radiator

to deflect the heat generated in the winter. Throughout this mural there are areas of

flaking paint. There are also areas where the paint film is very cracked, but the paint is

apparently stable. The present condition of the mural could have been caused by

unsuccessfully combined materials, heat from the radiator, or both.

Estimate to clean mural, secure flaking paint, fill and in-paint $8,000

(Price does not include building protective ledge)




Page 3 Conservator’s Report

(Continued)

MURALS WITHOUT APPARENT TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

(#4) “Education” by Charles Allen Winter 12’ x 9’ 6” Mayor’s Office (non-public area).

One may feel a tinge of sadness when one views this uplifting and highly accomplished

mural with many wonderful portraits, expressions and gestures of Gloucester students,

because it is located in a room where the public can not enjoy it. It is possibly Winter’s

greatest achievement. Estimate to clean and in-paint losses, fill and in-paint canvas

splices top and bottom. (See test area on chart) Will clean well.

Estimate $8,500

(#5) “City Government” by Charles Allen Winter 11’x7’ Over Door Mayor’s Office.

This mural will clean well and is in good but grime coated condition and will respond

well to cleaning Estimate $7,500

“Welfare” (#5A), “Protection” (#5B), “Health” (#5C), “Planning” (#5D) (narrow

aches in hall 77’ 2” x 11’ by Charles Allen Winter.

These murals will clean well and are in good but slightly grimy condition.

Estimate to clean and in-paint (4). Estimate $2500

(#6) “City Council in Session” by Charles Allen Winter 11’ x 7’ Over Tax Collector’s

Window.

This is a naturally darker mural than “City Government” across the hall, and will not

clean as well, There are some large areas of paint separation in dark browns under some

chairs but these are stable and should most likely not need to be painted out after

cleaning. Estimate to clean and in-paint $7500

(#7) “Protection of Fishing” by Charles Allen Winter 7’2” x 11’ over Computer Room

Doorway.

Cleaning this painting will make it brighter. Some rough areas along the bottom edge

could be cleaned up. Estimate to clean and in-paint $8000

(Continued to next page)




(Conservator’s Report page 4 (continued)

(#8) “De Champlain Surveys Le Beauport”, (#9) “Landing of Gloucester Colonists”,

“Gulls” complete size 8’6” x 21’ by Frederick Mulhaupt Veteran’s Wall Hallway.

Historical painting may not be the area of art for which Frederick Mulhaupt will be most

remembered, however what is consistent in this work with his normal method of painting

is his preference for a dark pallet and the avoidance of bright colors. Cleaning this set of

murals will not create a huge improvement in the tone of these canvases. A thin strip of

canvas at the top in the sky, which bridges the two main themed canvases is not fully

attached and this should be re-adhered to the wall. The canvas joints are distracting, but

cannot practically be improved. A display case would have to be moved to provide access

for a ladder. Estimate to clean and in-paint $15,000

(#10) “The Founding of Gloucester” by Charles Allen Winter 12’ x 20’ Auditorium

Estimate to clean and in-paint $20,000

Scaffolding $2,500

SUMMARY:

All of the murals in Gloucester City Hall are in good stable condition with the exception

of three, which have been mentioned at the beginning of my report.

All are coated with a normal layer of urban grime. The solvent tests we have done

indicate all the murals could be safely cleaned with the exception of the mural by Oscar

Anderson. I would not recommend attempting to conceal areas were there are canvas

joints nor would I recommend varnishing any of the paintings in City Hall after the

paintings have been cleaned, for the reason that they may be harder to clean in the future

as well as reasons mentioned in the introduction.

Total Estimate $109,000.

Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Williams, Conservator

( #1) School Days Mural

Photo Credit: Paul Goldberg

Notes:

*white squares depict photo details taken showing paint loss and cleaning tests.

Located in the Solicitor‟s Office, closed to the public

Of all the murals in City Hall this may need the most work. It has scores of paint losses throughout the entire picture plane and is

very dirty. There are over 100 areas, which need filling an in-painting, which cannot be seen in an overall photograph, We have

cleaned the side of a cheek of the boy and photographed the area to demonstrate the extent of the filth in the mural. Some areas of

loss have been photographed to show some of the extensive loss, possibly caused by the painting being rolled up.

The painting is well laminated to the support and was painted on a single piece of canvas measuring 71” x 82”. The painting is

unvarnished and is soluble to certain solvents and must be carefully cleaned. This would take about 2 months and could be

disruptive to the legal office.

Poor condition but stable.

(#2) Boys on Beach with Dory- Oscar Anderson

Notes:

Location in Mayor‟s Outer Office

82” x 172”

Somewhat flawed restored condition

Mounted on board- restored

Several old repairs (abrasions in lower edge in area of signature especially)

Face of boy over-cleaned by prior restoration.

Does not clean safely

Old restoration has discolored

This would require several weeks to restore. Solvents would likely affect the staff in the office.

The painting has been previously restored and varnished.

Varnish has darkened and may not be entirely safe to remove.

(#3) Poetry


Notes:

The painting is cracked throughout the entire canvas, with some flaking and losses.

The radiator heat could be a problem leading to more cracking paint.

I suggest a shield over the radiator to deflect the heat.

The paint is “at risk condition” with flaking at all levels. It needs consolidation, filling and in-painting.

There is a normal grime layer.

(#4) Education Detail 1


Notes:

*white square denotes break in canvas or canvas seam (Best seen on site)

*white circle denotes cleaning test

Location in Mayor‟s Office (not in public area)

This may be Winter‟s greatest mural. It reveals scenes of different gestures, attitudes and demanding

portraits all of Gloucester High School students.

Condition:

The mural has been mounted on an independent set of three panels attached to the wall.

There are 12 filled but not in-painted tack holes in the bottom edge.

There is a break in the canvas due to movement in the support

from the girl in the red dress to the boy‟s shoe. This cannot be easily corrected without re-hanging the entire picture,

which is not advised.

The painting is very dirty (see test area on girl with yellow dress), but overall wonderful condition

except for slight layer of grime.



Notes:

*white line denotes canvas seam

*white square denotes cleaning test area

Located in Mayor‟s Office

Test area in globe shows heavy grime on painting.

Other areas show liquid spatters

Canvas seam is noticed from right side when entering (not a flaw).



Notes:

Located in Mayor‟s Office

A detail from Winter‟s most uplifting mural shows his great gifts for portraiture, gesture and composition.

Excellent overall condition, but detectable layer of grime.

(#5) City Government


Notes:

*white squares denotes cleaning test areas. (Notes listed on detail pages)

Overall in very good condition.

Painting has dark film of grime.

Lighter palette than „City Council‟

Will respond to cleaning, painting and canvas are stable

(#5) City Government -Detail


Notes:

Outside Mayor‟s Office

Overall sound condition

Will respond to surface cleaning

Not varnished

(#5A) City Government –Welfare Detail


Notes:

*white square denotes cleaning test area.

Painting is quite dark.

Location just over water fountain

(#5A) City Government-Welfare Detail 2


Notes:

Outside Mayor‟s Office

Mural is in overall good condition

Would respond to cleaning

The painting is not varnished

(#5B) City Government -Protection Detail


Notes:

Over Mayor‟s Office

Paint is stable

(#5B) City Government –Protection Detail 2


Notes:


Painting has an overall layer of grime.

Cleaning test areas will be more obvious on site

(#5C) Health & (#5D)Planning


Notes:

These murals are in good physical condition, but covered in a thin layer of grime

Murals are not varnished, this will make the cleaning process simpler and will expose people

in the building to fewer fumes.

(#5C) Health Detail


Notes:

Sound condition

Canvas well bonded

Some urban grime removal would improve appearance

(#6) City Council in Session 1937- Tax Collectors Office


Notes

Overall good condition except for areas of cracked paint such as under the table.

All paint is stable and will respond to cleaning

(#6) City Council in Session 1937- Tax Collectors Office


Notes:

*white square denotes large area of cracked dark paint.

Paint is stable in this area.

Painting is dark due to choice of palette, than due to varnish

Will respond to cleaning

Good condition

(#6) City Council in Session 1937 Detail


Notes:

*white square denotes area of cracked dark paint.

Paint is stable in this area

*white circle denotes area needing in-painting.

Painting will respond to cleaning

Overall good condition

Paint and canvas are stable and will respond to cleaning

(#7) Protection of Fishing


Notes:

Over computer room door

The canvas is mounted on an independent pressed board support,

but attached to the wall.

Solvent tests reveal a heavy grim layer covering the painted surface. (see photo above)

Viridian green has low solubility. The painting will be much brighter after cleaning.

* white square denotes where solvent test was done.

The painting is currently unvarnished and I recommend it remains so.

Needs in-painting in lower right corner.

Slight delamination in that area

Overall good physical condition

(#8) De Champlain Surveys ‘Le Beauport’ by Mulhaupt


Notes:

Located on left side of Honor Roll

*white line denotes seam in canvas

*white square denotes staining

Edges slightly delaminating where it joins the sky (Section over Honor Roll- not seen)

Canvas pulling off decorative border in top of sky (top left- not seen)

Staining on bottom in need of correction

Unfortunate seam in canvas caused during mounting over joint

of two panels (wall board), is uncorrectable.

We will need to move display cabinet to clean

„Sky with Sea Gulls‟ over Korean War Honor Roll

101” x 46”

The Mulhaupt murals will not respond as well to cleaning as the paintings done by Winter

(#9) Landing of Dorchester Colonists 1623 by Mulhaupt


Notes:

Located on the right side of the Honor Roll

*white line denotes seam in canvas


*white circle denotes delaminating canvas

Distracting seam caused during mounting to panel underneath, probably not correctable.

Objectionable canvas seam off center to the left due to imperfect mounting

on panel for display.

Cannot be corrected with out removal from panel

Will not respond as well to cleaning as with the Winter murals

(#10) Founding of Gloucester 1934


Notes:

*white lines denotes canvas seams


Location in Kryouz Auditorium

Plaque on center bottom: Public Works of Art Project

Cleaning test shows area of light water staining under test spot

Seams in canvas are caused by panels canvas is mounted on. Not practically correctable

Overall excellent condition with exception of a layer of urban grime

Unvarnished

wpa murals restoration project – gloucester committee for

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