Finally, lichen-themed wallpaper. Ferns and mosses are also personal favorites, so I locked in immediately when the RISD Museum shared a photo of artist, Andrew Raftery, installing his new wallpaper in a museum bathroom. And check out the 3-D effect of this trellis, particularly where it turns the corner. For me, the artwork evokes the lanai-inspired, indoor-outdoor decor of the fifties — all that’s missing is the bamboo furniture and Nana serving iced tea. That may not reflect the artist’s vision. The museum informs us:
RISD printmaking professor Andrew Raftery designed and installed his wallpaper, “Green Wall,” in our newly remodeled downstairs restroom. The wallpaper was printed in Providence at DWRI Letterpress, founded by Dan Wood (RISD alumni, adjunct professor, and Andrew’s former student!)
We know Dan! I first met Mr. Wood in 2019 when I visited his letterpress facility, so I had seen the presses and equipment, and I could not figure out how they could accommodate rolls of wallpaper. Dan was not around yesterday when I stopped by, but production coordinator Tom Sprenkle was kind enough to interrupt his day and get me up to speed. This wallpaper was not printed on rolls but was printed on small, rectangular panels (see below). And if I had looked more closely at the RISD post, I would have noticed that.
To view this new “installation” one must visit the newly remodeled restroom at the RISD Museum. Entering on the Benefit Street side turn right into Café Pearl. A door on the right leads to a staircase down to the bathroom in the basement. And it’s a beauty — this restroom would definitely be at the top of George Castanza’s list.
And it turns out I was already an Andrew Raftery fan. He created “The Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates” that has been on display in the middle gallery for a few years now (see below). The wall text identifies him as a “skilled gardener.” The new wallpaper is proof of that.
(And don’t miss the new French Wallpaper exhibition up now.)
************************************
Artist: Andrew Raftery.
The twelve plates.
Below is a view of the DWRI facility. The wallpaper samples up on the wall are a bit misleading — they are about four times larger than the panels used by Raftery. But I just love the shambolic chaos out of which DWRI produces such pristine work. Someone had dropped a deck of cards on the floor! (Please don’t get Tom in trouble for letting me photograph behind the scenes.)
