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Tamarack
Lighting
Reed Staircase
Trace Fork
Georgetown
University
The Gates of
Heaven
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 Georgetown
University
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As
is often the case, the chain of events that
brought Jeff into this project are worthy of note.
Chris McCullough, a Washington DC architect, had
spent time in West Virginia with the local Catholic
church.
Upon returning to the DC area, Chris was
approached to design a meditation garden focused
around an existing statue of Mary on the grounds
of Georgetown University. |
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After
developing a preliminary design, he contacted Jeff
to see if he would accept the commission to forge
the canopy and chairs for the project. Chris
returned to Spencer to introduce Jeff to the
project. |
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The
organic nature of the project was inspired by the
art nouveau style in which Jeff and Chris found a
common interest. Using Jeff's knowledge of
forging, they discussed the particulars of
fabricating this design. |
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What emerged
was a cantilevered
canopy
that protects the statue while contributing to the serenity of the
garden. The canopy will be forged steel with a
hammered copper roof. The hand-forged
chair will use cedar slats for the seat and
back. |
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Jeff
and Chris (center) presented the final drawings to
the committee overseeing the project. With
their enthusiastic approval, the project entered the
next stage - that of finding donor to fund the
meditation garden. |
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Again the use of a
mock-up came into play. Jeff had made a scaled
wooden model of the canopy which he brought to
Georgetown. Going through this
process not only provides a visual check to the
design but also helps identify potential problem
areas. |
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Unfortunately, due to some
administrative changes at the university and funding
issues after 9/11, this commission is on hold. |
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