The highlight of the June 2003 Professional Fresco Painting Workshop run by fresco artist iLia Anossov and his "Nationwide Fresco Painting Workshop Program" (http://FrescoSchool.com) was a lecture on fresco restoration by leading American Restorer/Conservator Nathan Zakheim. The lecture took place in Mr. Zakheim's studio in Marina Del Rey where 45ft long fresco by Alfred Ramos Martinez is just being delivered and installed for a year long restoration. Unlike many frescoes painted before WW2 which were destroyed or painted over by indifferent or little educated contemporaries this particular fresco was well kept in the high-end restaurant frequented by many celebrities including Marilyn Monroe, who was photographed dining in front of the fresco. However restaurant has suffered a major fire and fresco was damaged. It was decided that after the restoration fresco will be reinstalled in San Diego Public Library. Apparently the "good fortune" of R. Martinez's fresco was not over and it received a second chance in life when Mr. Zakheim took it under his wing and accepted the undertaking to restore and reinstall the masterpiece.
Fresco Workshop students learned from Mr. Zakheim details of restoration process and
eye witnessed the studio installation. Many questions were asked and many answers were given. Removal of the fresco required custom engineering and building of heavy-duty crates as well as supports, coatings, and removal techniques designed and invented by Nathan Zakheim to safely "cut" the fresco off the original wall-beams pack and transport to his studio. Fresco painting is a family tradition for Zakheims, Bernard B. Zakheim, Nathan's father, was a renowned fresco artist of WPA era, and one of the organizers of Coit Tower Fresco Project in San Francisco. Nathan Zakheim begun his career as a restorer at the age of 22 when the building with three frescoes by his father was declared to be unsafe and scheduled for demolishing. At that time there was little knowledge and experience in relocating frescoes in America and even less people to do it. The building demolishing timeframe was near. Bernard Zakheim almost gave up hope to save his frescoes. "I had to do something to save my father's work!" - Mr. Zakheim told students.
Growing in the family of fresco artists, Nathan have been exposed to "walls and plaster from the day he was born" however, he had to invent the whole system of techniques to do the job. It was not something that 22 year olds do "all the time," but it did not scare Nathan. The method he developed was so advanced that it was adopted abroad, in Florence, Italy during major restoration efforts after the devastating floods.
Fresco plaster and it's application is a domain of a very few and it is not a surprise that Nathan Zakheim and Ian Hardwick(fresco plastering instructor) had a lot to talk about. Ian had pointed out many specific details and aspects of the plasterwork and the application of the intonaco layer, noticeable only to the eye of the professional plasterer.
"Fresco is a family business for Zakheims" - says Nathan to iLia Anossov, Ian Hardwick and Glenn Fischer (fresco color instructor) as Kuva Zakheim, his son, shows Fresco Workshop students through impressive steel-supported crates used to transport the fresco and explains the materials and techniques. Kuva leads a team of restoration assistants on all of Mr. Zakheim's projects and there are many! Right beside the fresco-crates, in adjoining room, are rolls of "strappos" - removed for restoration/conservation sections of landmark Los Angeles murals.
Seeing the work of the two Masters - Artist and Restorer was a great deal of inspiration for the Fresco Workshop students and instructors. iLia Anossov and Nathan Zakheim announced their plans to join forces and fuel the contemporary fresco revival by organizing in Los Angeles a similar to Coit Tower fresco project that became a San Francisco's major landmark housing over 20 frescoes as well as oil and tempera murals involving 26 artists.
To be continued...
June 2003
iLia Anossov
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Follow this link to enroll in our Fresco Painting Workshop - http://FrescoSchool.com
Next workshop starts on August 7th 2003 (one student space avalable). as well as our Fall schedule will be announced in July.
You can contact:
iLia Anossov's Studio at:
(310) 337-2783
Nathan Zakheim Associates at:
(323) 512-8100
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