Category Archives: Community Projects

gilded proscenium-web

Where: Pontiac, Illinois

When: April 14 through 19, 2016

What: Gilding the proscenium arch at the renovated Eagle Theater and gilding a little fiberglass art car that will be on display in front of the Museum of the Gilding Arts.

Details: Work in progress, above. We parcel gilt elements of the arch. It was oil gilded, mostly using patent and roll leaf.

Certification Requirements: The arch is approximately 16 ft. high, 40 ft. long and 16 in deep, so scaffolding was needed. To work on the scaffold above 6 feet, you MUST be OSHA trained in Scaffold Safety. Online training is available at www.OSHA.com (cost $20) or at www.360training.com. Volunteers asked to do the sizing for the project MUST have had OSHA certified HAZCOM training (also available at the above online training sites).

The art car gilding was also done at the Eagle site, with a combination of gold leaf and aluminum leaf.

See more about the Eagle Center at the City of Pontiac’s Visitors’ site.

Meals: The City of Pontiac generously gave each volunteer meal vouchers for lunch and dinner during the project.

Arch Dimensions

2015 Glessner House Ceiling – Chicago, IL

The dining room ceiling of Chicago’s Glessner House (1886), a National Historic Landmark, was originally gilded, but later covered with layers of imitations. During the 2015 conference week it was restored to its former glory by a crew of volunteers under the deft management of Michael Kramer and Jill London. More

2012 Desert Storm monument – Pontiac, IL

Desert Storm work executed by past President, Peter Miller and past vice president, Smith Coleman.

In conjunction with the opening of the Society of Gilders “Museum of the Gilding Arts”, the ribbon ornament on Pontiac’s Desert Storm monument was gilded. The monument is located across the street from the museum, on the grounds of the historic County Courthouse. The first of what will be many community projects in Pontiac, it was a gesture of gratitude to the City for their generosity to the Society.