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This renovation project presented special challenges and conventional ones in the creation of an art gallery. The setting for this project was in an existing storefront on the main street of a small community--one in which there are more art galleries concentrated than in any other community nationwide. To give this particular gallery an identity amongst the many others was handled by an abundance of glass on the street facade. The signage begins to offer a hint to the interior with its composition of perforated sheet metal, steel channels and natural metal. The entrance was given additional prominence by introducing a pale green slate floor with a special interior canopy suspended overhead.
The canopy is punctuated by four jewel like light fixtures set in a wood soffit. The wall adjacent to the canopy is paneled in wood to accentuate this entry condition. The existing wood rafters were salvaged because they produced the effect of a suspended ceiling in an otherwise tall space. These rafters also provided the opportunities to fasten the various mechanical, electrical and architectural fixtures which would be new to the space. The rafters and the exposed roof construction were painted in a color complimentary to the existing concrete floor. Most of the partitions were painted in an antique white in the space, as well.
One partition was treated in a corrugated metal to suggest a focal point within the gallery--this wall usually reserved for the more important paintings.
The various furniture elements were all designed by the architect. The reception desk and reference table are in a bird's eye maple and galvanized sheet metal. The rolling display unit is all in metal. This unit features glass shelves for the display of object d'art and, when rotated on its casters, the unit becomes a portable easel for the display of large paintings.
All of the merchandise requires ample lighting and this was accomplished with track lightning positioned low and high in the ceiling spaces. In particular, the lower tracks were fastened to special metal light monitors suspended from the rafters and feature curved sheets of translucent perforated sheet metal. This metal creates interesting effects of illumination in the space and as a group they create an impressive sculpture within the space. In this gallery, the architecture is an assertive background to the art that is on display--creating a tension in the space but never overshadowing the changing displays. POSNER
GALLERY •523 N. OLD WOODWARD AVENUE |
