Conservancy awards prestigious Jewish Cultural Heritage grant to Astoria Center of Israel
Conservancy awards prestigious Jewish Cultural Heritage grant to Astoria Center of Israel
Detail of Art Deco murals illustrating a well-known aphorism from the Talmud tractate Pirkei Avot (Chapters of the Fathers): “Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion, to carry out the will of your Father in Heaven.”
Conservancy awards prestigious Jewish Cultural Heritage grant to Astoria Center of Israel
Leaking roof at the Astoria Center of Israel. photo by Cutsogeorge Tooman & Allen Architects, P.C.
Conservancy awards prestigious Jewish Cultural Heritage grant to Astoria Center of Israel
Roof restoration critical to survival of Art Deco masterworks
The Conservancy is pleased to announce our second-ever Jewish Cultural Heritage award: a challenge grant of $30,000 to the Astoria Center of Israel, a showcase of unusual Art Deco murals by renowned French painter and decorative artist Louis Rigal, for the restoration of its roof and balustrade. The grant will help the congregation launch a major capital campaign to accomplish $300,000 in critically needed roof and balustrade restoration. Roof leaks have caused damage to the sanctuary’s peerless decorative finishes, and threatened to displace shared space congregation, Astoria Community Church, from 2nd floor classrooms.
Designed by architect Louis Allen Abramson, an innovator of the early 20th century synagogue-center movement, which combined worship buildings with modern educational, recreational, and social and cultural facilities in an integrated design, the Astoria Center of Israel was constructed in 1925-1926. The synagogue-center features a Classical Revival masonry façade, with two-story, fluted ionic pilasters, supporting an entablature and topped by a cast-stone balustrade. The sanctuary is unusual for its program of interior murals, added in 1929, by Ecole des Beaux Arts –trained, French Art Deco artist Louis Rigal, on Biblical and Talmudic themes, and its decorative metalwork by prominent German born metal craftsman Oscar Bach, known for his innovative use of color in architectural metalwork. Rigal’s work at the synagogue was mentioned in a recent New York Times article (click here to read the story).(murals also illustrated on ACI website).
The Conservancy was first contacted by the Astoria Center of Israel in 2003, after a Center board member attended an event highlighting the Conservancy’s work at Congregation Tifereth Israel in Corona [link to top 10 item in newsletter]. In 2009, the Conservancy obtained National Register listing for the synagogue, and in 2010, worked closely with the synagogue to assess and stabilize active roof leaks, providing grant funding and referrals to preservation architects Cutsogeorge Tooman & Allen; and working with the congregation and Conservancy-referred roofing contractor Baschnagel Brothers to design and install temporary waterproofing at the deteriorated cast-stone balustrade and copper cornice. The Conservancy funded water testing and a detailed roof assessment by CT&A which pinpointed the source of leaks, and recommended the $300,000 reconstruction of the balustrade and adjacent parapets. The temporary roofing at the balustrade, and the Jewish Heritage Fund challenge grant, will protect the interior while the congregation raises the balance of funds needed for this comprehensive repair.
