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The Heart of the Hearth

Conrad Malicoat, born in Provincetown in 1936 to renowned artists Philip and Barbara Malicoat, developed a distinctive artistic style that blended bohemian roots with practical function. His most celebrated works are the unique fireplaces he crafted in various homes and businesses throughout Provincetown, turning functional structures into unmovable works of art. Each fireplace is instantly recognizable by its characteristic jumble of bricks, tumbling appearance, rakish angles, and often incorporates local motifs such as jumping marlins or scallop shells. David W. Dunlap, a New York Times reporter and creator of the "Building Provincetown" project, has meticulously documented Malicoat's work, identifying fireplaces in at least 14 homes and two restaurants: the Red Inn and Napi's. Dunlap highlights the madcap yet soundly engineered nature of these creations, noting their durability and the way they encapsulate Provincetown's spirit of eccentricity. Owners of properties featuring Malicoat's fireplaces express immense pride in these unique installations. Notable examples of his work include the bold, angular fireplace in the lobby of the Red Inn, and the "loving chaos" of a wall of Malicoat's design framing a doorway at Napi's. A massive hearth at 8 Pearl Street is so admired that its residents keep the room dimly lit at night for passersby to enjoy. Comedian Kate Clinton and writer Urvashi Vaid inherited a Commercial Street home from Roslyn Garfield that features impeccable millwork and a rare external fireplace by Malicoat. This particular fireplace, visible from Atwood Lane, depicts a breaching whale and is a beloved local landmark, with neighbors ensuring its visibility. Malicoat, an inaugural fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center from 1968 to 1970, was also an accomplished sculptor in various materials, with four pieces housed in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Since his passing in 2014 at age 78, there has been a growing effort to preserve his legacy, ensuring future homeowners recognize the significant artistic value integrated into their properties. His daughter, Galen Malicoat, emphasizes her father's mathematical background and mind, which underpinned the precision and daring of his designs, despite his approach of not planning much in advance. She recounts his saying, "Be not disheartened by how the first brick lies," reflecting his artistic process. Functionally, Malicoat’s fireplaces were highly efficient. He expanded upon the Rumford fireplace design by Sir Benjamin Thompson, ensuring maximum heat projection and effective drafting of smoke and cold air up the chimney. Dunlap notes that Malicoat’s fireplaces are unparalleled in other communities, lacking any comparable site-specific, artist-integrated architectural feature. They are considered joyful additions to Provincetown’s architectural landscape, likened to discovering an "Easter egg" for those familiar with his distinctive style. #ConradMalicoat #ProvincetownFireplaces #ArchitecturalArt #MasonryDesign #LocalArtistry #HomeDecor #DavidWDunlap #SiteSpecificArt #ArtLegacy #ConradMalicoat #ProvincetownFireplaces #ArchitecturalArt #MasonryDesign #LocalArtistry #HomeDecor #DavidWDunlap #SiteSpecificArt #ArtLegacy

102 months ago

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