Community Projects

Our community service projects provide a unique opportunity for our members, combining hands on training outside the classroom with professionals in the field and the chance to help strengthen both our gilding community and communities in need.  Take advantage of these exceptional opportunities to spend time with other gilders, further your gilding knowledge and support your Society of Gilders.

2013 Community Project - New Orleans, LA
2013 Community Project: Location: St. Alphonsus Church in the lower Garden District of New Orleans. 2030 Constance St. This is one block below Magazine Street by St. Andrews Street.

We hope to finish the St. Alphonsus Church project. A few members of the SOG's board, who have been involved from the very beginning of the project, will coordinate the work of the volunteers.

Dates: More info to come on the actual date, but we're looking at April 2013.

New Orleans - Ongoing Project 2007

The SOG New Orleans Community Project was a great success!  There were two venues where we worked on gilding and restoration. At St. Alphonsus Catholic Church we worked on architectural gilding and conservation of sculpture. Also we worked with the Louisiana State Museum on their frame collection.  Thanks to all that donated their time and resources!

To see more photos from the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church project at the following link:
http://s578.photobucket.com/albums/ss221/ArtisanFrameworks/SOG%202009%20NOLA/?albumview=slideshow

Iwo Jima Memorial - Washington DC  2008

In September of 2008 during the SOG’s Gilding at the Smithsonian conference, members contributed their time to the Community Project of re-gilding the lettering and medallions on the base of the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwo Jima Memorial.  This monument is one of the most visited sites in the region and the National Park Service was thrilled with the contribution by the members of the Society of Gilders. Thanks to all that contributed their time and expertise!

Marconi Memorial - Washington DC  2006

In September of 2006 during the SOG’s Gilding at the Smithsonian conference, members contributed their time to the Community Project of re-gilding the Guglielmo Marconi Memorial.  The National Park Service contracted with The Gilders’ Studio, Inc. to prepare and prime the bronzes for gilding, which was done by the members of the Society of Gilders. 

Church Restoration - Charleston, South Carolina 2000

The annual conference of the Society of Gilders was truly about camaraderie, gilding and community. For the first time in the history of the society, gilders of all specialities and abilities converged on the St. Johannes Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The church is a neighbor of the Coleman Art Gallery, and the pastor graciously consented to Smith Coleman's request to have the gilders work their magic on the interior. The object was to restore the trim on the altar, hymn board, lectern and pulpit. Originally some pieces had been gold leafted, however, deterioration and several painters' brushes had left them tarnished. When the job was completed in time for the Sunday service three days later, the gleam in the eyes of Pastor Dr. C. Lynn Bailey and his congregation was awesome. We left our mark and a bit of our passion behind for all to enjoy." The project would not have been possible without the generosity of the following SOG member-businesses that without hesitation donated 22k gold leaf, 12-hour Lefranc size, and all the materials necessary to complete the project. It was estimated that over $2,000 worth of supplies were donated. The man-hours of expert artisans would have been around $6,000.