ABOUT
About US |
Guardian preserves and protects the tangible assets of our clients.
Our services include secure storage, transportation, packing & crating, installation, collection management, appraisals, and more. These comprehensive services are also available a la carte and you don't need to store with Guardian to use our fine art services. Our new facility in the Chicago-Milwaukee metropolitan region uses state-of-the-art technologies, including four essential features:
All of this makes Guardian one of the most highly effective art storage facilities in North America, as well as one of the most efficient and economic. |
our Mission |
Our mission is to protect and preserve the tangible assets of our private clients, families, estates, museums, and corporations. Above all, we respect the confidence and privacy of our clients.
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our Vision |
In collaboration with others, we will be known as an institution that continually improves preservation practices, based on efficacy and efficiency. We will do this for our clients and our community.
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BUILDING HISTORY |
The 1635 building was constructed in 1924 by the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company. Located in the Menomonee Valley, this building was a smaller version of the company’s headquarter building located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company manufactured plumbing, heating, and cooling parts and over time merged with other companies. The building was eventually sold to Geuder, Paeschke & Frey, a tinware manufacturer, who operated several buildings in the Menomonee Valley. In recent years, the building was used for storage. It was purchased in 2015 by John Shannon to not only be the site of Guardian Fine Art Services, but also the site of Warehouse Art Museum (WAM).
Shannon purpose-renovated the Guardian building for secure storage with strict environmental controls. The brick and ferrous concrete construction makes it ideal for secure storage. Guardian is Wisconsin's only fine art storage facility and is a CHUBB Insurance Service Provider for Fine Art Storage and Transportation. |
OUR TEAM
Chief Executive Officer |
John Shannon Favorite aspect of work: Creating new enterprises. Industry innovation and leadership.
Weekend hobbies: Running (off list right now), biking, reading. Best visual artist: Excepting family, David Hockney and William Kentridge. They change, grow, surprise, delight. |
Chief Financial Officer |
Patrick Mattern Favorite aspect of work: The fact that we provide kind of a niche service for a niche market in Milwaukee where it essentially did not exist previously, and that in a short time, approximately four years, we’ve become very good at what we do.
Weekend hobbies: Hiking, cycling, travel Best visual artist: Paul Klee |
Chief Operations Officer |
Katie L. Steffan Favorite aspect of work: Every day is different.
Weekend hobbies: Sewing Best visual artist: Hans Holbein the Younger |
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Appraiser & Private Client Advisor | Christine Anderson, ISA AM
Favorite aspect of work: Providing meaningful appraisal reports with accurate values.
Weekend hobbies: Reading, working on ceramics, and kayaking. Best visual artist: Toshiko Takaezu |
Operations Manager | Lydelle Abbott Janes
Favorite aspect of work: My favorite aspect of work is creative problem solving - looking at a project from a bird's-eye view and fitting all the pieces together to most efficiently coordinate complex logistics. I also enjoy the physical aspect of implementing projects and how varied day-to-day work is in the arts ecosystem.
Weekend hobbies: I enjoy spending time with friends and family, exploring nature, reading and writing - when I have the chance, and binging a new streaming series or the occasional movie. Best visual artist: While generally, I am most drawn to architecture and design, I appreciate the work of highly experiential and monumental visual artists such as Richard Serra and James Turrell. |
Project Manager | Abby Christensen
Favorite aspect of work: Every job is like a puzzle, and it's exciting to find all the pieces and fit them together into a complete picture that meets everyone's needs.
Weekend hobbies: Quilting, embroidery, and drinking coffee on the porch. Best visual artist: I don't know if I could ever pick an overall BEST artist, but lately I've been thinking a lot about Ana Mendieta. |
Project Coordinator | Aislinn Sanders
Favorite aspect of work: I like working with our team. We all come from different artistic & academic backgrounds, which makes for a unique work environment. There’s no shortage of interesting stories here!
Weekend hobbies: Going to a coffee shop or getting breakfast & then spending the day at home. Lately, I’ve been getting into plant care & hikes on nice days. I like to curl up on the couch with a good book or watch some random movie I find on streaming platforms. Best visual artist: The Daniels (film), Lois Van Baarle (illustrator) |
Project Assistant | Ella Anderson
Favorite aspect of work: Inventories. There is nothing more satisfying than documenting 100+ pieces of artwork and putting it all together in an organized spreadsheet.
Weekend hobbies: Sewing, playing Stardew Valley, and napping with my dog. Best visual artist: Helen Frankenthaler & Alex Katz |
Fleet Supervisor & Preparator|
Leonard Cicero Favorite aspect of work: I love our team. Comprehensively we all bring so much to the table and have such varied backgrounds that we can do a lot. I also like how we discuss most projects as a team to come up with the best solutions to the problems each job presents.
Weekend hobbies: Beer and yoga. My brother and I started homebrewing last year and have been fairly successful (all have been drinkable, and some have been delicious.) And then yoga helps me maintain balance in my life, physically and mentally. Best visual artist: Maholy Nagy |
Shop Manager & Preparator |
David Mueller Favorite aspect of work: Creative problem solving. I enjoy working with a strong team of creative thinkers that are very capable of a wide range of aesthetic solutions.
Weekend hobbies: When not working at Guardian, I’m in my studio, painting. I primarily use acrylic paint and wood surfaces, but on occasion find other ways to make a mess. Best visual artist: Jim Henson |
Lead Preparator | Nicholas Pipho
Favorite aspect of work: Creative problem solving is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job. Whether we’re deciding how to pack and move a complicated object or finding a way to install a challenging piece, our team is always coming up with interesting solutions.
Weekend hobbies: My favorite weekend activities involve being outdoors. I try to go camping and fishing as often as I can. We’re lucky in Milwaukee to have so many great parks and green spaces nearby. Best visual artist: I don’t have a favorite artist, but I gravitate towards printmaking. The variety of techniques and the processes involved are fascinating. |
Preparator | Mitch Smith
Favorite aspect of work: I enjoy the fact that no two days are exactly alike. We provide a wide range of services which lends itself to some unique experiences that always keep the job interesting.
Weekend hobbies: I enjoy golf and spending time outdoors with my dog. Best visual artist: Alex Kanevsky |
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Preparator | James Rogers
Favorite aspect of work: My favorite aspect of working at Guardian is the wide variety of artwork and projects we engage with. Every day brings new challenges that require creative solutions.
Weekend hobbies: In my spare time, I enjoy fixing up vintage motorcycles. Best visual artist: Fransico Goya |
Preparator | Ken Sager
Favorite aspect of work: The privilege & opportunity to see and handle such diverse collections of artwork.
Weekend hobbies: All manner of outdoor activities including gardening, foraging, and camping. Best visual artist: Alex Schweder |
Facilities Manager | John Voith
Favorite aspect of work: Guardian is a great place; the people are fun to work with and coming in every day to new and interesting projects keeps me excited about the job.
Weekend hobbies: My weekend hobbies are building things and spending time at my cabin in the north woods. Best visual artist: One of my favorite artists is Pablo Picasso. |
Facilities Caretaker |
Sherene Tomaszewski Favorite aspect of work: Keeping the facility pristine, so that people get to focus on the artwork and my coworkers can focus on their work. I genuinely love the people I work with and getting the chance to constantly learn.
Weekend hobbies: Volleyball, volleyball, volleyball, coaching, and spending time with my kids. Best visual artist: The one, the only, Jan Serr. |
