FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 1998

MEDIA ADVISORY

U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES

ART INSTALLATION AT THE

UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE, CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA

Rafael Borrás, Regional Administrator, United States General Services Administration (GSA), Mid-Atlantic Region, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced today an art installation at the new United States Courthouse and Federal Building, Charleston, WV. The architectural glass work by artist David Wilson was commissioned by GSA's Art-in-Architecture Program.

The installation consists of approximately 2,000 square feet of glass: a large expanse on the 5th and 6th floors of the building and three tall sections in the three-story main lobby. Borrás noted that the art adds warmth and beauty to the building.

David Wilson designed an intricate pattern of diverse colors, textures and types of glass to create a multidimensional surface. Transparent glass allows the viewer to see the exterior landscape, while darker colors and more opaque glass hold the surface. Warm colors and geometric motifs complement those used throughout the interior and exterior architecture. The Southern exposure of the glass "walls" effected by the change of light during the course of the day, night and season will create a wide range of conditions to catch the eye of the interior occupant or passerby on the street.

The artist was born in England in 1941. He has been working as a stained glass designer and fabricator in the United States since the early 1960s. Since establishing his own studio in the late 1970s, his commissions have encompassed works for numerous private residences, religious institutions, corporations, and civic buildings throughout the United States.

Art in Federal buildings has been an American tradition since 1855 when the United States Congress commissioned Constantino Brumidi to paint frescoes in the committee rooms of the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC. Today GSA proudly contributes to this heritage with the acquisition of fine art for the nation's Federal buildings through the Art-in-Architecture Program. Also, GSA conserves and maintains this national collection for the enjoyment of future generations.

More than 200 works of art have been commissioned by GSA nationwide since the Art-in-Architecture Program was established in 1963. Commissioning works of art is a public process whereby GSA sets aside between .5% and 1% of the estimated construction cost of every new Federal building, and substantial renovation project, for an Art-in-Architecture project. A Community Arts Panel is appointed to advise GSA on potential locations and types of artwork to be considered. After reviewing artists' portfolios, the panel recommends a short list of finalists to GSA, which selects and contracts with one of the nominated artists. The artist prepares a proposal that is reviewed by the community participants, who give their final recommendations to GSA. Following acceptance of the proposal by GSA, the artist proceeds with the fabrication and installation of the work.

For more information on this project please contact John Thompson, Director, Public Affairs, (215) 656-5523.