The Ritz Theater Minneapolis

Built in 1926, the Ritz Theater is one of the more storied buildings in NE Minneapolis. The Theater has been home to classic Hollywood movies as well as a Polish movie house in the 1960s and screening Asian movies in the 1980s. It has seen three theater troupes and survived one bombing! 

I was asked by the Ritz theater foundation in 2005 to complete four exterior lanterns for the Ritz Marquee and 28 interior sconces for ambient lighting. In considering the designs for the lighting I used cues from the original build and the 1935 modern redesign from architect Perry Crosier.

The concept of the design was further deepened by refering to the mission of its new occupant Ballet of the Dolls. The goal was to interconnect every piece of artwork with each other while creating 23 unique pieces of glass. Design motif and color played an integral role in this regard. In each executed sconce there are colored pattern elements called pattern bars, cut from the original color panels in the Marquee lighting.

The concept of the design was further deepened by referring to the mission of its new occupant Ballet of the Dolls. The goal was to interconnect every piece of artwork with each other while creating 23 unique pieces of glass. Design motif and color played an integral role in this regard. In each executed sconce there are colored pattern elements called pattern bars, cut from the original color panels in the Marquee lighting.