SOW__SS_America_Mural.pdf

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STATEMENT OF WORK

RELOCATING SS AMERICA MURAL

U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY

KINGS POINT, NY

OVERVIEW

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is located at Kings Point, New York, along the southern shore of Long Island Sound. Several of the academy’s buildings are converted private residences from the turn of the century. A 2005 cultural resources survey report concluded that the buildings that encircle the central quadrangle comprise a historic district that meets National Register Criterion A (historical association) and Criterion C

(architectural values). This study further concluded that the American Merchant Marine Museum

(former William S. Barstow house) is eligible and has been listed in the National Register under

Criterion C for its place among the early twentieth-century high-style estates of the region.

SCOPE

This mural is to be moved from Delano Hall to the rear of the stage in Ackerman Hall. The mural presently covers a relief sculpture and plaque commemorating merchant marines lost in

World War II. The purpose for moving the mural is to reveal the relief sculpture and plaque to inspire USMMA’s midshipmen with the deeds of their forebears.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

USMMA/Delano Hall

300 Steamboat Road

Kings Point, N.Y. 11024

Note: Majority of work takes place in Delano Hall, which serves as the Midshipman dining hall. All work must be done in such a way as to have minimal impact on food services. Given that the mural is located on a dias, it is anticipated that it will be easy to continue work with no impact on meals, but the contractor should consider setting up a curtain system to isolate the work being done from dining services.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

All work is to be completed on or before September 15, 2018 after notice to proceed (NTP) is approved.

Note: The project should be performed during normal business hours unless approval is granted by the

Contracting Officer (CO).

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SS AMERICA MURAL

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SS AMERICA MURAL CANVAS

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S.S. AMERICA

BACKGROUND

The mural was painted by Howard B French in 1945. It is painted in oil on canvas adhered with paste to plywood. The painting measures approximately 190” high by 139 ½” wide. The plywood is part of a wooden structure which also serves as the frame for the mural. The wooden structure consists of a base 29 inches high, and a 13 ½ inches wide decorative stepped facing framing the painting. The outside measurements for the frame are approximately 247” high by

167” wide. The frame juts out from the wall 20 inches. The frame is hollow (built over the relief) and appears to be constructed from sheets of plywood supported by a frame of 2 x 4’s attached to the side panels of the framing structure. The decorative stepped facing of the 13 ½” frame surrounding the painting is 3” thick and is attached to the framing base as a separate element. This decorative stepped facing imitates the original frame surrounding the relief sculpture and plaque on the wall. The entire frame is painted with a faux marble finish. There are electrical outlets set into the side of the lower right of the frame. As part of the process of moving the mural and frame, this electrical line will have to be cut which is the responsibility of the contractor.

Testing has shown that it is possible to mechanically remove the canvas from the wooden support. The preferable treatment for moving the painting is to remove the canvas from the support, disassemble the framing structure, reassemble the structure in the desired locating and re-install the mural on the reassembled structure. The alternative of cutting out the mural with the supporting wooden structure is problematic because the only way to remove the structure from the building would be through a window sash which would require removing and reinstalling a window. Cutting the painting into sections and reinstalling them pieced together is unacceptable because of the seams it would create.

The niche in the back of the stage for the mural is 194 inches wide. This means that if the frame was assembled as it stands now there would be approximately 14 inches from each edge to the angled wall of the niche. There are two fluorescent lights on the angle side walls of the niche which would be covered by the frame. It is the contractor’s duty to have these lights removed.

Although a precise measurement of the height of the niche could not be determined, it appears to be approximately 240 inches. Therefore, the present frame which stands 247” high could not fit into this space, and the 29” base of the frame will have to be shortened to fit the mural in the niche.

The painting is presently in generally good condition. There appears to be no varnish present with a thin grime layer with various accretions to be removed. A main goal is to preserve the frame so that it may be used in the reinstallation. Thus the ability to remove and disassemble the frames with the least amount of damage is important.

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OUTLINE FOR REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION OF MURAL

The outline for removal below serves as a general guideline for a possible way to complete the project. The contractor may choose to follow this methodology or make their own. It will the responsibility of the contractor to protect the floors and general areas where work is to be performed. All necessary scaffolding will be provided by the contractor.

• Cut electrical line(s).

• Clean painting.

• Remove 3’ decorative stepped facing of frame from plywood structure

• Construct apparatus for large diameter tube to roll painting onto

• Carefully remove mural from frame rolling onto tube as canvas is removed

• Disassemble frame with care to not damage relief sculpture. Attention should be paid to conserve the stepped frame facing, base and faux finished sides. It is not as important to conserve the internal structure since a new structure will have to be designed and built to fit into the space in the rear of the stage in Ackerman

Auditorium

• Move painting and frame elements to new site in auditorium. Everything can be brought in through the side door/loading dock on the left side of the stage.

• Roll out painting, clean back of canvas

• Create new structure for frame and painting to fit into new location on the stage in

Ackerman Auditorium. Since the ceiling in the new location is approximately 7 inches shorter, the 29-inch base can be reduced by the necessary size to fit into the space. The old stepped frame facing, base and faux finished sides will be incorporated into the new frame structure. A flat surface to hold the painting can be constructed from biscuit joined plywood or taped and spackled drywall. The surface must be flat with the seams well hidden. Shorten base and add to sides as necessary to adjust for new location.

• Remount painting onto frame with clay based paste after preparing surface

(covering seams, priming).

• Apply thin varnish to painting

• Retouch frame with faux marble decorative finish as necessary.

• The mural can be presented with curtains on either side of the fame (which would neatly cover the gap between the sides of the frame and the wall). The painting should be lit from above with spot lights at an angle, controlled by a wall mounted dimmer device.

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RESTORATION AND COMPLETION OF 142 MONUMENT

Behind the SS America mural is a relief sculpture and plaque honoring the USMMA midshipmen who died in combat during World War II. The relief sculpture was realized by

Robert Gaston Herbert (1873-1954). It represents a USMMA midshipman firing an anti-aircraft gun during World War II, and includes an incomplete list of the 142 Cadet-Midshipman killed in action during World War II. The relief sculpture and plaque was originally intended to remind and inspire to the Regiment of Midshipmen of their heritage and the high expectations the nation holds them to.

Because the relief and bronze work has been concealed since 1944, its condition is unknown, but it is thought to be in generally good condition.

• Clean and restore plaster relief to as-new condition.

• Clean, restore, and complete bronze lettering listing 142 Midshipmen who died during World War II. The staff of the American Merchant Marine Museum shall provide a complete list of the 142 in bronze lettering consistent with the existing lettering, or if possible or desirable use three existing plaques listing the 142 that are in storage in the American Merchant Marine Museum.

• Provide and install an appropriate frame for the frieze and bronze work that matches the aesthetics of the Delano dining hall.

• Provide dramatic LED lighting mounted from the ceiling or concealed in the framework of the frieze. Said lighting shall be provided with a wall-mounted dimmer to control the intensity of the lighting. Contractor responsible for all electric work.

• Provide a temporary curtain appropriate for a formal unveiling ceremony, whereby the curtain drops away to reveal the entire assemblage.

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IMAGES

The images provided are for information purposes only. It is highly recommended interested vendors take their own measurements and photographs.

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CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY

• Furnish all labor and material, transportation and supervision in the performance of all tasks detailed in this statement of work

• Ensure all materials and parts are compatible with the specific unit specified in this statement of work

• Maintain a work area compliant with safety standards

• Area worked on shall be cleaned and secured on a daily basis

• Any damage to existing facilities or appurtenances shall be repaired or replaced in kind, by the contractor at no additional cost to the Government.

• Examine existing conditions prior to any repair activities, a site visit will be scheduled to inspect the site where services are to be performed.

• Excess material and debris shall be disposed of in accordance with local and state ordinances.

• No vehicles shall be driven on the sidewalks or grass. Unless granted specific exception due to site access limitations. Repair of landscape, if any, will be the sole responsibility of the contractor.

• Make every effort to minimize the impact to the daily routine of the Academy.

DELIVERABLES

• Timeline: All work except the final report shall be completed no later than close of business on September 15, 2018.

• The Contractor shall thoroughly document all aspects of work and prepare a thorough report of approximately 3,000 words with twenty to thirty (20-30) color images accompanying said report.

• This report shall be submitted in digital format to museum@usmma.edu no later than thirty (30) days after the completion of the moving and restoration project.

mailto:museum@usmma.edu