Midland: City of Modern Explorers
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TITLE: Midland: City of Modern Explorers
ARTIST: Corrado "Joseph" Parducci DATE: 1942 TYPE: Relief Sculpture ABOUT: Corrado "Joseph" Parducci moved from New York City to Detroit in 1924 on what was meant to be a short excursion and instead fell in love with the city. Parducci quickly became a prominent Detroit sculptor, who became famous during the architectural boom of the 1920's. He was able to work in a variety of styles, his work melding beautifully with the buildings his work was meant to reside in. This piece, Midland: City of Modern Explorers, was commissioned by William Cassiday, an entrepreneur who wanted the bas-relief to sit above the doorway of the lobby inside the former Midland Theater. In the mural, one may notice figures representing Midland's history, including: Native Americans, loggers, farmers, and Dow Chemical workers. In the center is Lady Liberty, with Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Herbert Henry Dow looking upon her visage. This piece has been in a variety of locations around Midland since the day it was installed in the former Midland Theater, which resided in Ashman Circle. The mural was discovered when the Midland Theater was in the process of being demolished in the late 1990's, and had to be recovered quickly before the building came down. It was sent to Freeland, MI to be restored and conserved, then installed in front of the Midland Center for the Arts, and later, the Ned S. Arbury Centennial Park on Midland's Main Street. READ MORE: https://bldgconservationco.yourwebhosting.com/parducci.htm LOCATION: Ned S. Arbury Centennial Park, Midland, Michigan |
