It's a wall. These crates are a marvel. I want them to look like works of art in themselves, so when someone opens the back of the truck he will see these beautiful objects. They're like sculptures. Each painting or sculpture gets a custom crate specially designed or refitted for it by Smallwood.
Some paintings can be tray-packed in layers in one box.
Held in place by clips attached to the frame, they are protected against accident by a lining of ester foam, which cushions and also creates a thermal barrier. One elaborate marble, a William Henry Rinehart sculpture depicting sleeping children, was all but impossible to handle because of its shape and weight, so it travels on its pedestal, on wheels. Smallwood helped design a ramp for its crate, allowing the work to be rolled inside and braced. A faux marble collar hides the wheels when the piece is on the exhibition floor. Then there's the Benton mural.