The Orpheum Theatre, located in Oxford, North Carolina, recently underwent a dramatic renovation to restore it to it’s former Art Deco glory. Instead of a theatre, it now serves as a fantastic wedding and event venue. During the process of restoration a period mural from the 1920’s was discovered, and found to be heavily damaged. The stakeholders turned to Max Dowdle at NC Public Art to refurbish the mural. Though challenging, the project ended in a beautiful state, and the Orpheum received historic preservation credits due to the expert renovation.
Ouch! Apparently the space was at one time used for refrigerated storage and water regularly leaked through the roof, and clearly damaged large sections of the antique mural.
Though the mural is a runner located nearly twenty feet in the large entrance area, Charles Woods Builders was kind enough to provide a platform for access. Here’s the entire length of the 35′ mural in all its damaged glory.
Detail of damage which had already been patched and filled, making our job a lot easier.
Many paints developed and utilized in the early part of the twentieth century were composed of fugitive and sometimes downright toxic elements. The gold used for this mural is long gone, and what was still extant was heavily cracked and flaking. It was up to us to find a match that would closely resemble what was there, as well as acting as a sealant for the paint. Here we have seven gold paints lined up for a visual test. As one can see, number 5 was a near perfect ringer for the old gold.
After much masking, spraying, freehand painting, and sealing we have a finished restored mural!
Side by side comparison. Damage and rebirth!
Here is the mural in situ within the finished interior. What a striking detail to have the restored mural complementing the beautifully-wrought and tastefully built interior!