Superintendent Diane Sipos’ Message: Restoration Projects and BHMN

The Virginia Robinson Gardens is an exceptional public garden and historic estate dating from 1911, and with this comes much maintenance and care. The County of Los Angeles has operated and maintained this unique estate for almost fifty years and is very fortunate to have a strong partner in the Friends to help steward this beloved property. The Friends of Robinson Gardens was established as a non-profit in 1982 specifically to partner with the County to preserve, program and protect this public jewel thus fulfilling Mrs. Robinson’s legacy. 

The beautiful architecture, landscaped gardens and the extensive artifact collection reflect Harry and Virginia Robinson’s celebrated lives. Rooms and objects tell stories of the past, and Harry and Virginia Robinsons’ lives and their contributions to the cultural and historical landscape of the time is an important story to tell. The Friends have played a vital role in sharing this important history with the public through their support of the restoration and preservation of the gardens and collections. 

Listed as a historical landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and the City of Beverly Hills, we must follow the rigorous standards set forth by the US Department of the Interior for preservation. The high standards of stewardship ensure the estate maintains its original historical fabric. Whether painting a room, repairing a step, or treating a 300-year-old statue, to name a few, every effort must be made to match the composition, material, color, scale and other visual qualities specific to that era thus reflecting the historic, architectural and cultural period of the time. Work must be performed by experts in their craft with knowledge of the standards to ensure the object’s original integrity. Finding the right person – or preservationist – is not always easy but is critical in our role as stewards.

Here are recent examples of restoration work:

Recently, the two lion urns and Neptune statue in the Italian Terrace Garden were restored.  Conservationists from RLA Conservation of Art & Architecture, one of the top conservationists in the region, painstakingly treated these 300-year-old cast terracotta sculptures over a period of several days. The objects had several hairline cracks and fissures, mineral deposits and discoloration due to exposure to the elements, and bio growth such as lichens. RLA was able to bring Neptune and the two lions back to life where they reside happily guarding the Italian Terrace Garden. 

The fabric of the dining room chairs was faded and worn over time, with a significant portion torn.  Several of the chairs were damaged with nicks and some breakage in the wood.  Ellen Levitt along with Tim Lindsay spearheaded this project.  Ellen tirelessly searched across the globe to find a fabricator to recreate the original textile to match the color palette and pattern of the original design. After extensive research, she found Clerici Tessuto – a century old company near Lake Como, Italy – to manufacture the textile.  Catherine Fellowes oversaw the design elements, scrutinizing every detail of the project. The next step will be to replace the drapery panels with the same fabric as the chairs. Once completed, the new upholstery and drapes will transform the dining room to its former glory. Many thanks to Ellen, Catherine and Tim for their hard work on this project! This project was made possible by a generous donation by Friend Ann Petersen and proceeds from the 2024 Annual Gala, with special thanks to Laura and Harvey Alpert for their very generous patronage.

Prior to her death in 1977, Mrs. Robinson bequeathed her property and its contents to LA County, including all her exquisite antiques. Several objects were in need to be restored, and that’s where Flatsker Fine Art Restoration came in. A specialist in art and antique restoration, Melinda Flatsker is highly skilled in repairing antiques. Below are several “before” and “after” photos. A big thank you to the Friends for providing the funds for the repairs!

The gardens provide an oasis for children, where they can turn off social media and disengage from the stresses in their environment, developing stronger resilience and strategies for healthy well-being. On February 8^th, we hosted youth on a special field trip in collaboration with Building Healthy Minds in Nature (BHMN). BHMN is a program through UCLA aimed at improving the mental health of children and youth in South Los Angeles through engagement with nature. According to the organizers of this program, BHMN’s project’s mission is to empower youth from low-income communities to lead healthier lives by scaffolding their knowledge and confidence to make healthy decisions through enriching experiences. The project’s intended audience is youth and park staff who are part of Los Angeles County’s Department of Parks and Recreation afterschool park program, called “Our Social Places and Opportunities for Teens,” or Our SPOT.

Guided by our dedicated recreation staff and UCLA volunteers, the students participated in various activities including a walk through the garden, arts and crafts, wellness programs including yoga and sound bowl, and plant-based cooking. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the theme for the crafting projects centered on self-love. Students crafted a “self-love jar” with positive affirmations from garlands out of paper hearts completing the following sentences: “I have…”, “I deserve…,” and “I can…” and placed them in their paper “jars.” They made healthy snacks such as home-made salsa which was delicious! The youth enjoyed their visit to the gardens and expressed excitement about returning.       

According to Angelica Fregoso, Research Project Manager, UCLA Health, Medicine-Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, “The Virginia Robinson Gardens field trip helps achieve our project’s mission by providing novel opportunities to program participants to learn how to put health-promoting activities into practice, such as partaking in yoga and sound bowl meditations, as well as creating self-love art and plant-based snacks, all while connecting with their peers and nature.” Many thanks to the Friends for generously providing refreshments.

Photo credit: Matthew Gonzalez