Gazebo at Mt. San Angelo
For more than two decades, the gazebo at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) has been a focal point, gathering place, and space for poetry readings, spoken word, and musical events for the regional community. Designed by Lynchburg-based architect and VCCA board member John Owen, the evocative wood structure was built out of historic materials from the original 19th-century house which was on site but burned in 1978. Today, the gazebo shows the effects of decades of environmental exposure and deferred maintenance, rendering it no longer useable.
In a pilot project designed to tap the expertise and energy of its Fellows, VCCA is accepting applications for Gazebo Restoration Fellowships. Applications are open for two fully-funded spring 2020 residencies lasting from four to six weeks and include a private bedroom, separate studio, and all meals in a community of 25 visual artists, writers, and composers.
Gazebo Restoration Fellows will be expected to work half of their residency time on the gazebo restoration project and the other half on their own creative endeavors. The restoration work will entail replacing stair treads and decking, milling replacement balustrades while restoring those still in fair condition, and replacing all newel posts, in addition to small wooden elements of the cupola. Sanding, scraping, caulking and sealing of all surfaces will be done before painting. All work will be done under the direction of a professional preservation craftsman.
Candidates for these fellowships must have demonstrated proficiency in woodworking and finish carpentry, in addition to meeting the criteria of artistic achievement or promise of achievement. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2019. Apply today!