A hidden art treasure “uncovered in the walls at West of the Lake Home” has now been restored and, will be open for public viewing in late Spring. The one-of-a-kind mural by renowned portraitist, Lester Bentley, of Two Rivers was created for ‘Ruth West’ in the latter portion of the 1930s. Tom Bare, President of the West Foundation Board, said Ruth used the garage to serve food and beverages for her Tulip Teas but she “needed something to decorate the area.”
But, Tom Bare explained she grew tired of those teas in the 1960s, and after building a new garage, John and Ruth West converted the old space into a butler’s pantry covering up the mural entirely. Any evidence of it didn’t resurface until 4-years ago this Spring when they repaired a leaking skylight.
A huge amount of work and money was required to restore the mural, which represented Bentley’s travels for artist trips to Mexico & Haiti. Gail Fox, a foundation board member & secretary, on an Illinois firm hired to lead efforts to re-do the entire room.
Fox, who has been directly involved in a Two Rivers community collection of Bentley paintings and artwork, said the mural had a lot of challenges but was definitely worth it.
Local historian & researcher, Bob Fay, was asked to write a history of the West house shortly after objects on the wall were uncovered.
Tom Bare explains the stunning mural will be open to the public for the first time this Spring.
Bob Fay on the lesson learned from this.
Local artist & photographer, Janel Maples of Manitowoc, documented the piece from its’ discovery through the completion of the project and also aided the experts in reproducing sections of the mural too heavily damaged to be conserved. Lester Bentley lived from 1908-to-1972.
