While Wendy Waszut-Barrett is traveling for research and art acquisitions (October 14-29, 2017) she is reposting the first fifteen installments from “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar Acquiring: The Fort Scott Scottish Rite Scenery for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center.” Here is her eighth post from February 22, 2017.
Part 8: Our First Day on the Job in Fort Scott
I was unable to conduct a complete evaluation due to time restrictions imposed by the CEO on our August road trip. My preliminary evaluation only depicted the individual drops and I needed to accurately record how each drop was paired with others to stage a complete scene and the subsequent spacing. This was crucial to any understanding of the entire collection as a whole prior to its removal and transportation. It was also imperative that there be “before” pictures for both historical documentation and as a resource during restoration and installation. Furthermore, as Curatorial Director one of my tasks would be to create a publication documenting the acquisition, restoration, significance and artistic provenance of this scenery collection. Therefore, the first two days in Fort Scott were spent documenting all of the scenes.
The project’s lead rigger, Brandon, and his second, Todd, were on site that first day. The remaining two members of the crew were still in transit from Jackson, Tennessee, hauling up the necessary supplies and tools for the project. The first morning, after cordial but stilted introductions, we left for the Scottish Rite.
Upon entering the building, we noticed the chill. Our working environment was going to be a cold one. Before lowering anything, we decided to explore the theatre area and inspect our working environment. It was also an opportunity for us to gradually become acquainted with each other. Within the first fifteen minutes of our journey I knew that everything would be fine throughout the duration of the project. Our personalities were well matched. It was obvious that both men were smart, easy going, and had that perfect amount of self-deprecating humor to make any project entertaining.
There is something delightful about exploring all of the nooks and crannies in an abandoned building with others who also see it as an adventure. The space adjacent to the theatre had been a bank and only the old safe remained as a silent reminder of its past grandeur. The space was now a deteriorated shell, the windows all gone. Puddles suggested a recent rainstorm and the only remaining inhabitants were birds and vermin. We left the space feeling slightly deflated, barring the doors once again with a tree branch to prevent unwanted visitors into the theatre.
We went on to examine the staircase leading to the space above the auditorium ceiling. In all of my travels, I have crawled high above stages and balanced on planks above plaster ceilings. Every time, it was a treasure trove of artifacts left by the original workmen. Unexpected finds often included Prince Albert in a can, old newspapers, tools, and other abandoned artifacts long forgotten by various individuals. This investigation is always delightful when accompanied by fellow explorers, each seeking clues from a long-forgotten time. Although short and uneventful, this quest formed a basic foundation for the entire project.
Returning to the stage floor, we slowly began the time-consuming process of pairing drops to create the appropriate settings for each degree. We also tried to backlight any transparent area. Lighting was limited as many of the stage lights were missing. I would soon realize that we had not viewed the entire Fort Scott collection during our August visit. There were many more than 80 drops, 94 to be exact. That was eighteen percent more scenery than I had anticipated for this project. In the big picture, all of my estimations were off and it would be a challenge to complete the project before Thanksgiving.
This was a direct result of the CEO ignoring my expertise and request to complete a proper evaluation. Ironically, I would end up shouldering the blame for his ignorance.
To be continued…
