The Grand Lobby is home to the Kate Tiedemann and Ellen Cotton Cabaret Theatre, which
features Ruth Eckerd Hall students performing on the Holt Family Stage. Decker Ross’
design touches can be found throughout, from the attractive new furnishings and Paparazzi
Paintings of Stephen Palladino to the circular patterned installation of the tile and carpet.
Located in the Dress Circle Lounge, the Glass Donor Wall
features traditional stained and leaded glass panels, along
with 180 fused glass panels that incorporate painted donor
names. While Katglass Stained Glass Studio of Clearwater
was completing the glass art production, Waylon Smith of
All Metals Custom was fabricating the welded aluminum
framework to hold the glass pieces in place. “The biggest
challenge was to be sure that all of the glass fit in the correct
location,” Smith said, “along with the tremendous amount
of time required for welding and installing this project.”
Katglass Stained Glass Studio encouraged Suzan Decker
Ross, Marci Tempesta and Susan Crockett to create a custom
glass piece to be included in the donor wall, and a framed
quad set of dichroic fused glass art compositions that were
created by Suzan hangs in the upstairs Dress Circle Lounge.
“Whenever possible, we strive to include the work of
local artisans in our designs,” Suzan said. “Because the
mission of a performing arts center is to enrich the cultural
lives of the community it serves, I particularly wanted to
bring in the work of as many artists as possible.”
Decker Ross was inspired to bring in artist Stephen
Palladino to paint two murals from his series known simply
as Paparazzi Paintings. “I am beyond honored that I was
asked to add my work to the walls of Ruth Eckerd Hall. It
was surreal to paint these pieces in a place I visited many
times in my life,” Palladino said. Decker Ross also playfully
added the colorful, upcycled mosaic musical instruments
made by Safety Harbor artist Holly Apperson of GinHol
Mosaics to several locations in the Dress Circle Lounge
and Grand Lobby.
“We asked Suzan to bring a breath of fresh air that would
leave guests breathless from the personal touches,” said
Crockett, Ruth Eckerd Hall’s CEO. “Ruth Eckerd Hall is
renowned for consistent quality with joyful moments woven
into the experience. We wanted the interior to reflect that.
I knew we were in good hands with Suzan and Marci.”
Suzan Decker Ross is thrilled to have played the lead in
the design of a lifetime. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Decker Ross Interiors, an award-winning
design firm led by Suzan Decker Ross of the American Society
of Interior Designers, is located at 1445 Court St. in Clearwater,
(727) 442-9996, or visit DeckerRoss.com.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 103