How do you save a historically important place without turning it into a museum? For Paula Wallace, the President and Founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the answer is simple: with celebration.
To that end, SCAD breathed new life into a flawlessly restored medieval French village with art and music in a grand puppet parade designed by artist and SCAD alumnus Sam Lasseter.
Made from recycled cardboard, the giant papier-mâché puppets and the celebrations are an inspiring example of how historic preservation need not be a dull experience.
Founded in 2002, SCAD Lacoste is a study abroad campus set in a medieval village with stone structures that date as far back as the 12th century.
Many of the buildings have been carefully restored and converted into student dorms, offices, classrooms, and studios with modern amenities without compromising the village’s historic integrity.
Student-created art punctuates the village and buildings for a delightful contrast between old and new, however, the real beauty of SCAD Lacoste lies with the school’s enthusiasm for engaging the local French community and hosting events that bring new life and purpose to the village, rather than forcing the site to stay stuck in time.