Creating a Tribute to Fenwick & West history
- Portrait of Fenwick & West, two original paintings of Fenwick & West Founders Bill Fenwick and Hank West
- Limited Edition commemorative cards—for Firm employees and clients
- Unveiling of the Paintings at the annual State of the Firm
- Presentation for Installation Ceremony and Toast at the Silicon Valley Center
- High Resolution digital slideshow chronicling the creation of the art
- Assistance in the architecture of project pages for the Fenwick.com corporate website
Background
Fenwick & West, one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in Silicon Valley, is deeply intertwined with Valley history. The Firm incorporated Apple Computer in 1976 and took Oracle public in 1986. To honor 35 years of their storied history, Chairman Gordon Davidson commissioned Drue to create an original work of art that could serve as the visual centerpiece for Fenwick & West's Silicon Valley Center in Mountain View, CA. The chairman envisioned Sumi-e portraits of the Firm's two legendary founders Bill Fenwick and Hank West.
Client Goals
Gordon Davidson felt Drue's art, steeped in an ancient tradition yet infused with an innovative spirit, was aligned with the Firm's culture. He charged her with capturing the great traditions of the Firm as well as its forward-looking creative edge. He wanted to honor Founders Bill Fenwick and Hank West. He also wanted to recognize the many remarkable partners, associates, staff and extraordinary clients who have built the Firm into the institution it is today.
Drue's Solution
- In-Depth Research - Drue commenced with a well-thought out plan to research the Firm's history. She conducted in-depth interviews with Bill Fenwick, Hank West, Gordon Davidson and members of the Firm. Drue attended Firm events, presentationsand ceremonies to internalize Fenwick & West's essence.
- Selection of Custom Materials - Drue flew to Tokyo to order two custom silk scrolls from Kyukyodo, one of Japan's oldest and most respected purveyors of calligraphic and Sumi-e materials. She consulted with their staff to select silk designed to harmonize with the concept of the art and the tones of the Fenwick & West lobby.
- Original Sumi-e Portraits of Bill Fenwick and Hank West - Drue created Portrait of Bill Fenwick: Codes of Freedom and Portrait of Hank West: What's on Your Alleged Mind?
Read Drue's Zen introduction to the portraits
Read Drue's commentary for
Portrait of Bill Fenwick
Read Drue's commentary for
Portrait of Hank West - Original Commentaries and Poems - Drue's wrote two commentaries and poems, each with the distinctive essence of Bill and Hank.
- Custom Framing and Installation - Drue's chose the custom frames to complement the scrolls and interior of the Silicon Valley Center Lobby. She worked with Todd Ayers, General Manager of University Art for the exquisite framing of the two portraits.
- Limited Edition Commemorative Card - To recreate the feeling of experiencing the portraits in person, Drue designed commemorative cards featuring the two paintings, two commentaries and poems with a beautiful gate fold.
Spotlight Fact
Portrait of Fenwick & West was unveiled during the annual State of the Firm at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts for partners, associates and staff from the Mountain View, San Francisco and Seattle offices. Chairman Gordon Davidson told the audience about the research and meaning of the project. During his talk, the audience watched a digital slide show on a jumbo screen with images highlighting the project. Drue had the honor of inviting Founders Hank West and Bill Fenwick to unveil their portraits. As the two portraits were revealed, the audience gave Bill and Hank a standing ovation.
