Hotel Indigo Savannah DistrictÊhas announcedÊthe completion of its new six-story art installation, Radiant Awakening, created in collaboration between Noble Investment Group, the boutique hotel’s ownership, and Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD) Collaborative Learning Center.
Through a 10-week custom class, SCAD students created a unique concept and design exclusively for Noble’s new Hotel Indigo in Savannah.Ê Ten School of Fine Arts students from SCAD Atlanta worked together for the success of this exciting and monumental project. The class included a dynamic team of artists, illustrators, photographers, printmakers and sculptors.
“SCAD knows a thing or two about adaptive new use, art curation, and collaboration,” said Paula Wallace, President and founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design.Ê”When Noble decided to create a beautiful new hotel out of a bygone building in downtown Savannah, and needed a statement work worthy of its historic significance, they knew who to call. Our students rose to the challenge (all six stories!) of this art installation to produce a sculpture that reflects both the hip tenor of Hotel Indigo’s renovated interior and the city’s suffusive charm. Savannah’s coolest new hotel coupled with the coolest creative minds Ñ it’s a perfect match.”
While the class created the ultimate design for Radiant Awakening, the initial concept of the art installation was developed by SCAD student Natalie Cranor. Her design was selected by Noble following individual concept presentations from each student. Cranor’s original source of inspiration for the contemporary art installation was drawn from the intricate wrought ironwork found throughout the historic squares and gardens of the city. Specifically, the design was based upon a wrought iron staircase railing from the Art Nouveau period, the same period in which the Guckenheimer Building was constructed in 1892.
“Once Noble acquired the property in 2014, we set about the task of bringing the Guckenheimer Building back to new life,” said Roy Croop, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Noble Investment Group. “With so much being done to enliven the interior of the hotel, Noble wanted to treat the exterior similarly and ultimately create a work of art unlike any other in Savannah.”
Although it shares the same original Art Nouveau source of inspiration, the Radiant Awakening art installation reveals a new and contemporary design that is custom-made to work with the existing features of the building. The intricate pattern design was waterjet cut from metal sheets, and features tracks of LED lights installed behind the metal components which will be programmed to change colors, adding visual interest and vibrancy to the design at night.
“Radiant Awakening is elegant, engaging, and our unique way of welcoming everyone to Hotel Indigo,” said Hotel Indigo Savannah General Manager Michael Cooper. “In a city known for such attention to historic detail, Radiant Awakening’s intricate ironwork provides a layer of visual interest to the original brick building facade.”
