Arcangelo Cascieri
Encyclopedia
Arcangelo "Angelo" Cascieri (February 22, 1902 – January 14, 1997) was an influential sculptor and a major figure in the evolution of the Boston Architectural College in Boston
, MA.
in 1902 to Corrado and Maria Cascieri. Arcangelo's father was a cabinet maker
with the ability to send wireless messages for the town. Arcangelo's mother received no formal education, although she excelled in the ways of the home such as cooking
and weaving
. When Arcangelo was three, his mother gave birth to another son, named Tito. Soon after, Corrado left the family to move to Boston's North End in hopes of finding wealth and prosperity.
In 1907, Maria and her sons joined Corrado in Boston, after a lengthy trip across the Atlantic
by boat. The family welcomed another child, Mary Dominica, in 1908. Eventually, the family chose to leave the North End in favor of East Boston, which Corrado felt was more similar to their hometown in Italy. It was at this time that Arcangelo began attending school and learning English, although his family continued to speak Italian at home.
factory in order to help the family financially. During this time, Arcangelo learned woodworking
and began to carve. As his ability increased, Arcangelo was approached to be an apprentice to Johannes Kirchmayer
, chief sculptor at W.F. Ross Studio in Cambridge
. As an apprentice to Kirchmayer, Arcangelo met many sculptors and carvers from all over the world who had settled in the Boston area, including such notables as Joseph Gabler and Natale Giacone. It was also Kirchmayer who told Arcangelo about the Boston Architectural Club, the institution in which he would be involved for the rest of his life.
and finished the program in four years, graduating a year early. After graduating, he chose to study at the School of Fine Arts at Boston University
until 1936. In 1937, Arcangelo became the head of the Boston Architectural Center. In 1943, Arcangelo was appointed Dean of the Boston Architectural Center and throughout the 1940s, the school continued to grow. Notable architects such as Buckminster Fuller
and Frank Lloyd Wright
lectured at the Center.
, in 1952. Together, they were involved in several large projects throughout the world including the American World War I Memorial at Belleau Wood
in France
and the World War II Memorial at Margraten
in the Netherlands
. Many of their works can be seen in Boston, the most famous being the Parkman Plaza fountain in Boston Common
.
firms during the day and attend class at night. This was a very different style of learning from other American architecture programs and it is a feature that continues to make the BAC unique today. Dean Cascieri remained an important figure at the school until shortly before his death in 1997.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MA.
Early life
Cascieri was born in Pescara Province, ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1902 to Corrado and Maria Cascieri. Arcangelo's father was a cabinet maker
Cabinet making
Cabinet making is the practice of using various woodworking skills to create cabinets, shelving and furniture.Cabinet making involves techniques such as creating appropriate joints, dados, bevels, chamfers and shelving systems, the use of finishing tools such as routers to create decorative...
with the ability to send wireless messages for the town. Arcangelo's mother received no formal education, although she excelled in the ways of the home such as cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
and weaving
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
. When Arcangelo was three, his mother gave birth to another son, named Tito. Soon after, Corrado left the family to move to Boston's North End in hopes of finding wealth and prosperity.
In 1907, Maria and her sons joined Corrado in Boston, after a lengthy trip across the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
by boat. The family welcomed another child, Mary Dominica, in 1908. Eventually, the family chose to leave the North End in favor of East Boston, which Corrado felt was more similar to their hometown in Italy. It was at this time that Arcangelo began attending school and learning English, although his family continued to speak Italian at home.
Apprenticeship
In his early teens, Arcangelo was taken out of school and sent to work in the shipping room at a shoeShoe
A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture to culture, with appearance originally being tied to function...
factory in order to help the family financially. During this time, Arcangelo learned woodworking
Woodworking
Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
and began to carve. As his ability increased, Arcangelo was approached to be an apprentice to Johannes Kirchmayer
Johannes Kirchmayer
Johannes Kirchmayer was one of the leading woodcarvers in the United States, active primarily in the Boston area....
, chief sculptor at W.F. Ross Studio in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. As an apprentice to Kirchmayer, Arcangelo met many sculptors and carvers from all over the world who had settled in the Boston area, including such notables as Joseph Gabler and Natale Giacone. It was also Kirchmayer who told Arcangelo about the Boston Architectural Club, the institution in which he would be involved for the rest of his life.
Formal education and the BAC
In 1922, Arcangelo began studying at the Boston Architectural CenterBoston Architectural College
Boston Architectural College , formerly known as the Boston Architectural Center, is New England's largest independent college of spatial design. It offers first-professional bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and design studies...
and finished the program in four years, graduating a year early. After graduating, he chose to study at the School of Fine Arts at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
until 1936. In 1937, Arcangelo became the head of the Boston Architectural Center. In 1943, Arcangelo was appointed Dean of the Boston Architectural Center and throughout the 1940s, the school continued to grow. Notable architects such as Buckminster Fuller
Buckminster Fuller
Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller was an American systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, futurist and second president of Mensa International, the high IQ society....
and Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
lectured at the Center.
Personal projects
Because all of the faculty lectured on a volunteer basis, Arcangelo supported himself as a sculptor, opening a studio with his brother-in-law, Adio diBiccariAdio diBiccari
Adio diBiccari was a noted American sculptor.DiBiccari was born in Revere, Massachusetts to Italian immigrants, grew up in East Boston, and after high school received a full scholarship to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by a further scholarship that covered the expenses of a...
, in 1952. Together, they were involved in several large projects throughout the world including the American World War I Memorial at Belleau Wood
Belleau Wood
Belleau Wood may refer to:* The Battle of Belleau Wood, near Château-Thierry, France, the scene of heavy fighting by U.S. Marines in World War I* USS Belleau Wood, two United States Navy ships that have been named after the Battle:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the World War II Memorial at Margraten
Margraten
-History:In Margraten is the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Europe's third largest war cemetery for unidentified soldiers who died in World War II. 8,301 soldiers are buried there under long rows of white crosses and stars of David. All graves are adopted by locals, who attend the...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Many of their works can be seen in Boston, the most famous being the Parkman Plaza fountain in Boston Common
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
.
Later years
In 1976, the school, undergoing a major change, began to grant degrees. At the same time, the formal Work Curriculum Program began, which allowed students to work in architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
firms during the day and attend class at night. This was a very different style of learning from other American architecture programs and it is a feature that continues to make the BAC unique today. Dean Cascieri remained an important figure at the school until shortly before his death in 1997.