Christian Lewis: Cocoanut Grove Etched Bronze Doors

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The last remaining photo of the original entry way.

Full size 6' x 8' pen and ink drawing.

Paul Armstrong and Dalton Jannuzzi, installation time.

Finished product.

Los Angeles Daily News, July 10 2010.

Here are some photos hot off the press from the famous Cocoanut Grove project. We were commissioned to replicate the original bronze doors that disappeared mysteriously during one of the many restorations that started with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1978. This night club was originally built in the 1920's and played host to celebrities from Samuel Goldwyn and Douglas Fairbanks to

Frank Sinatra and Donna Summer. The club was nestled in the Ambassador Hotel where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. The site was acquired by by the Los Angeles Unified School District after a ten year battle with Donald Trump, a host of celebrities, the Los Angeles Historical Society and the Art Deco Preservation Society. It has been turned into the most expensive school ever to be built by the district with a whopping $ 600,000,000.00 price tag. The demolitions of the hotel and the club began in 2005.

By the time we got the commission there was only a single photo left for research purposes and a bad one at that. We spent about a month and a half back and forth to the library and LA City Hall before we were ready to start the preliminary sketches for approvals involving a variety of agencies. I did a full size drawing, which was then India inked cross hatch style, digitized and sent over to the etchers Creative Metal Industries in San Diego who completed the etching of the bronze panels and patina process. All in All about 300 man hours including research. I did this work with Republic Fence Co. Inc., as well as quite a few other items on the interior of the Cocoanut Grove and also a variety of items in the Robert F. Kennedy Inspiration Park.

I will be doing further posts of this project as the bronze "Monkey Door" panels and overhead transoms are quite enough for this particular post.

Thanks for visitng MetalGraphic, Christian Lewis.

Image and Post property of Christian Lewis Productions.

Wood Clad

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These are a couple of wooden gates recently completed, all three reside in Beverly Hills. Our facility is complete with a full finish carpentry shop which features the fine finish carpentry of Mr. Devin Veditz. Hidden in the interior of the gates is a metal frame work which makes for a sound structure and prevents any sagging and also accommodates the metal hardware required to connect the gates to any operations equipment.The green colored gate at the bottom actually passes through the pilaster which seems simple but can be a complicated application, we worked closely with the architects and masonry company in the engineering and installation of the pilasters to ensure a successful installation with tight tolerances. In the background of this photo you can see some of our lattice work which acted as an enclosure for the tennis court.

The fact that our facility is equipped for finished carpentry gives our clients the advantage of a turn key product. We also do decks. siding, custom wood doors and are experienced in constructions of all types of hardwoods and finishes.

Call us at 818-540-5325 or 646-226-9563 ask for Christian Lewis

e-mail is christiansgates@yahoo.com

Thanks for Visiting MetalGraphic !!!!

Images and post by: Christian Lewis Productions

July 2010

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This month has some exciting developments, firstly, we are proud to announce our new sponsors and collaborators, Nite-Lite Signs and Coral Industries. Secondly is the development of the designer furniture company DeckSide International. Prototypes are in production and we will be posting sneak peeks soon.

Our sponsor Nite-Lite Signs' CEO Jon Due and I have had a relationship that is going over a decade now and has always resulted in successful and superior contract completions. Nite-Lite Signs, who are currently providing signage for Crocs on a national basis, are reliable and have been in business since 1973.

Sponsor, Coral Industries with Keith Elliot will be providing custom cast glass and C&C services to the DeckSide International furniture project . Coral Industries is located in Alabama and provides me with a host of services that are quite convenient for high end and east coast projects.

I would also like to introduce my assistant and nephew, Codee Maves who does a bit of my photography and also all of my Photo Shopping and puts up with me and the insane demands of being involved with an artist.

Happy Birthday USA!!!!!

Thanks for Visiting MetalGraphic.......

Christian Lewis

Stairs and Lighting Fixture

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A couple more collaborations with artist Juan Carlos Vargas.

Modern

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Stainless Steel Gates and Aluminum Railings, Steel and Glass Railings.

Mig, Tig and Heliarc are a specialty we are experts at.

Anything with in a 6 block radius of the ocean,

we always suggest non-ferous metals which will never rust and carries a good warranty.

Thanks for visiting MetalGraphic,

Christian Lewis.

Images and Post by: Christian Lewis Productions

Christian Lewis: We do Signs !!!

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Here are some of my recent Sign Projects. First is CnC'd Aluminum with #4 line finish done for Mario Moya's Fall Collection, Second is Stainless Steel and Plexi glass both projects were done in collaboration with Jon Due CEO of Nite-lite Signs.

Image and Post by: Christian Lewis Productions