An Invisible Art

At the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, a rare and impressive collection of hand painted backdrops has been added to the permanent collection.

When Kamal Zargar (Crozier Fine Arts) first stepped foot inside the Hurd Gallery, he was overwhelmed by the scale and magnitude of the iconic backdrop from Alfred Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959). From a distance, it’s as if you’re really looking at Mt. Rushmore, seen in the film during one of its most pivotal scenes. While on one hand overwhelming and completely immersive, viewers are also able to get up close and see each individual detail from the artisans who created these massive works of art.

Like those who created the backdrops, Kamal and the team at Crozier Fine Arts also are working behind the scenes to help the Museum build a custom storage solution for preservation. Since they range in size dramatically (one of the largest is 72 feet wide and over 30 feet tall!), the Crozier team had to come up with a plan that could respond to this collection today, as well as the potential for additional backdrops in the future.

“So when I came to Crozier with this particular storage need, I had a lot of really specific guidelines. It was a tall order. The backdrop tubes are really big. You can't just move most of them on a regular truck. You need to transport them with a tractor trailer, for example. You can't put these backdrops on the ground, they can't stack, you can't tie down anything on the surface.” - Renée Kiefer, Registrar, Permanent Collection

Crozier’s ability to listen to and understand the Museum’s needs helped them imagine a new cantilevered racking system custom made for this project. Now, the backdrops can be accessed at any time in a safe, secure facility for the museum staff. It was a moment of understanding the client’s unique needs, then elevating the project with a custom solution.

“When a client comes to us with a challenge, the more we listen and the more thoughtful we are, the better that we can serve them. Their artistry, their value, and the value of the objects that they are holding.” - Kamal Zargar, Sr. Business Development

Since the Museum’s opening in late 2021, Crozier has been a trusted partner to help with special exhibits that include a wide variety of historic film props and artifacts that bring to life the incredible art form of the motion picture. From The Godfather to Casablanca, Jaws to The Sound of Music, these films have been part of the cultural fabric of our world and the Crozier team is playing a critical role in ensuring they are accessible to generations for years to come.

“It takes a lot of people to work towards the preservation of these objects, and not only the museum staff, but outside partners like Crozier who bring so many specialty skills to the effort, such as art handling, knowledge of proper materials, and methods to store items long term. Those skill sets are incredibly valuable to preserving our cultural heritage as well.” - Sophie Hunter, Senior Objects Conservator

“Films are a major part of the broader cultural landscape. I saw a lot of these sort of iconic films like North by Northwest, Casablanca, and The Godfather as a teenager. To come 15, 20 years later and be part of a team to help preserve those objects is really special. I'm really proud of that.” - Kamal Zargarr, Sr. Business Development