Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Samuel McIntire—renowned architect and master woodcarver of Salem, MA and one of the founders of America’s unique neoclassical style—the Museum gathered over 200 objects from private and public collections. The goal was to exhibit these artworks with a sense of the settings they originally inhabited. From an intimate parlor corner to the carved urns originally atop 90-foot spires of Salem’s South Church, MDA designed a visitor experience that evoked a sense of McIntire’s early 19th century Salem.
MDA worked closely with PEM curators to conceptualize and design a series of recreated monumental architectural elements and detailed vignettes, created full design documentation and specified all finishes. MDA was also responsible for: integrating media work by PEM, bidding and negotiations with six vendors for fabrication, supervising all fabrication and installation of exhibits, and coordinating with the Museum and loan couriers during object installation.
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