Fraser Panels
Fraser Panels Fundraiser - Help Us Install This Work of Art at Weston History & Culture Center
The Weston History & Culture Center is seeking funding for an extraordinary work of art: The Fraser panels. This bronze sculpture depicting the history of the United States was created by renowned artist, Laura Gardin Fraser.
The Fraser Panels: A brief background:
In 1965, the United States Military Academy at West Point installed the Fraser Panels, representing American history through several hundred bas-relief vignettes. The images symbolize U.S. history, highlighting its pivotal moments and the individuals involved, including political conflicts, industrial evolution, and advancements in knowledge.
Why has West Point decided to deaccession this work of art?
In 2022, West Point decided to deaccession the work. New scholarship, evolving interpretations, and contemporary perspectives on art led West Point administrators to seek a new home for the panels.
Why the Weston History & Culture Center?
West Point approached the Weston Culture & History Center because Laura Gardin Fraser lived and created her art in Weston/Westport. In addition, the Town of Weston owns the plaster casts from which the panels were made.
What is involved in installing the Panels?
The Fraser panels will be installed on the exterior wall of the Visitor Center's lower level. The stone patio and stairwell will serve as a gallery for the sculpture, allowing visitors to observe them up close.
To install the panels, each weighing 1,000 pounds, a structural engineer will design a support system that considers gravity and wind pressure to ensure stability. Additionally, a curator will create an interpretation that includes a history of the artist, the panels' evolution as a sculpture, a guide to the historical references in the vignettes, and an analysis of the era in which they were created.
How much will this cost?
Weston History & Culture must raise $70,000 to complete the project, which includes conserving, transporting, interpreting, and installing the panels.
Your contribution will help to:
- Fund the engineering, building and installation of a structure to support the panels
- Install the panels
- Conserve the panels
- Research, write, design, and produce interpretive signage and a gallery guide
For more information, contact:
Weston History & Culture Center
Email: info@westoncthistory.org
Phone: 203-226-1804
Please help us preserve this distinctive sculpture for future generations.
Funding Levels:
Bronze: Up to $499
Silver: $500 to $2,499
Gold: $2,500 +
The Weston Historical Society (tax ID: 06-6038732) D/B/A The Weston History & Culture Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Membership and donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Thank you in advance for your support!
All donations made by check must be made out to the Weston Historical Society.
Please mail to: PO Box 1092, Weston, CT 06883