MARTIN HOUSE UNVEILS REPLICA STATUE OF NIKE – THE WINGED VICTORY OF SAMOTHRACE – AS THE FOCAL POINT OF RESTORED CONSERVATORY (6/07) Statue celebrates return of mythological goddess to her proper place in Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece BUFFALO, NY – The Martin House Restoration Corporation today proudly unveiled a 9 foot 6 inch replica statue of Nike, also known as Winged Victory, which will be installed in the Martin House conservatory as the crowning feature of Frank Lloyd Wright’s remarkable design for the Darwin D. Martin house in the City of Buffalo. The unveiling will mark the conclusion of the most involved phase of the restoration project, the reconstruction of the once-demolished pergola, conservatory and carriage house. “Having the Nike once again grace this focal point in the Martin House Complex is a victorious moment in the restoration,” said Mary Roberts, Chief Operating Officer for the MHRC. “This wonderful vista that Wright created from the front door of the house, down the 100-foot pergola, to this niche where Nike stood in the conservatory is one of the most breathtaking aspects of the house. It is amazing now to see how dramatic Wright’s vision for this house really was and of course, it is a thrill to complete the conservatory with Nike standing again in her rightful place.” Central to the ceremony surrounding Nike’s arrival, is long-time Martin House volunteer, Judy Kieffer, whose heart-felt donation for replication of the cast for the classical sculpture was made in memory of her late husband, James Kieffer. “We are so delighted that Judy Kieffer wished to make this very special gift in Jim’s memory. Judy is a treasured volunteer and this statue of Nike will forever be associated with her and Jim. It is a wonderful tribute,” Roberts continued. “Matchless human achievements like the Martin House are rare,” said MHRC board president, John N. Walsh, III. “The Martin House was extraordinary when designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright a century ago. And it is extraordinary in its renewal and restoration in this era, “ he continued. “A unique community of friends has rallied to this cause with a passion and commitment second to none; truly inspirational support made this victory possible!” In several of his buildings, Wright used smaller replicas of Nike as grace-notes to his otherwise highly rectilinear designs. In the Martin House, Wright placed a full size plaster replica in the cathedral-like apse of the conservatory, seemingly as a statement about Darwin Martin’s victories over the hardships of his youth. “The telescopic view of the Nike of Samothrace, visible from the main entrance to the Martin House was the most powerful and compelling synthesis of architecture and narrative anywhere in Wright’s work,” said Wright scholar, Martin House curator and professor of art history at the University at Buffalo, Jack Quinan, Ph.D. “Wright transformed into architectural and sculptural terms the story of Darwin Martin’s life ? the long and difficult journey fraught with loneliness and adversity that culminated in wealth, prestige, a splendid home and stable family.” The Nike in the present-day conservatory was created especially for the Martin House by the Giust Gallery of Woburn, Massachusetts. While the statue that was originally here was a plaster version of the ancient sculpture cast in 1906 by P.P. Caproni & Brother of Boston, the new one is created in fiberglass and finished with the same type of pearly wash that was used on the early 20th century version. The Giust Gallery contracted a laser scanning company to create a virtual model from smaller Caproni casts of the original winged goddess. Software then scaled this up to 9’-6” from which Giust created a clay model built in sections. From the clay model, they created a rubber mold that was then used for the final sculpture produced in fiberglass resin. The new Nike will look exactly like the plaster version owned by the Martin family, except that the modern version is crafted for longevity. Over time, in a warm, moist environment like the conservatory, plaster has a tendency to break down, which is likely what happened to the first Martin House Nike. This change to modern-day materials is one of the modifications made in historical restorations that are found to be permissible when the adjustment is not visibly identifiable and when it will enhance long-term performance and durability. The Nike was installed in four pieces – torso, two wings and the “swish” of drapery that extends from the goddess’ hip. The original winged Nike was carved to adorn an altar in the shape of a ship’s prow in the Hellenistic Period in Greece, circa 200 BC. The statue was “discovered” on the island of Samothrace in 1863 by French consul and amateur archaeologist, Charles Champoiseau and is now exhibited in the Louvre in Paris. The Martin House Restoration Corporation is a New York not-for-profit corporation founded in 1992. It has a 30-member board of directors and more than 350 active volunteers. The MHRC is restoring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin complex to its condition as of 1907. The historic Martin House site is open for tours on a year-round basis. More information about this National Historic Landmark can be found at www.darwinmartinhouse.org.