Connecting to Collections Care

 View Only

  • 1.  Conservation of large outdoor sculpture

    Posted 11-05-2019 15:59
    ​Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn NY is the proud home to an epic outdoor steel sculpture, "Ascendance" by Osamu Shimoda that was donated to us in 1977. It is the first thing visitors to our campus see.  However, it is in need of conservation - the paint is peeling and there might be rust.   As a community college we have no idea how to proceed with this project, nor do we have the financial resources.  Can you help guide us toward seeking advice and funding?  Thanks.

    ------------------------------
    Kathryn Giaimo
    Manager of Corporate & Foundation Relations
    Kingsborough Community College
    Brooklyn NY
    (718) 368-6858
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Conservation of large outdoor sculpture

    Posted 11-05-2019 18:41
    Hi Kathryn,

    I am the C2CC Monitor for this week and have a few suggestions for you.  First, you may want to take this webinar: https://www.connectingtocollections.org/inside-out-outdoor-sculpture/.  Another resource is this pdf file from the old Save Outdoor Sculpture program: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/hp/PDFS/SOSMaintenanceConsiderationsToSaveOutdoorSculpture.pdf.

    Your institution may also qualify for a NEH Preservation Assistant Grant to help fund conservation of the sculpture.  Here is the link to the page:  https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/preservation-assistance-grants-smaller-institutions.  I would also suggest talking to the maintenance department or the development office/president's office of your community college and asking if any kind of upkeep is budgeted for art around the school.  I would also try to find out who dealt with the donation and see if there were any stipulations made for the preservation of the piece.  

    You may try finding an objects conservator in your area (https://www.culturalheritage.org/membership/find-a-conservator).  Some conservators may charge for their time in answering questions but may talk to you for free; most will charge for time evaluating the damage and letting you know what they suggest as a treatment so when finding funding you have a ballpark figure to aim for.

    Lastly, you should use the search function of this discussion group and read what others have asked about outdoor sculptures.  For example, there was an inquiry not too long ago about protecting outdoor sculptures and this may be pertinent to your institution as winter can be harsh on objects outside.  

    I hope that provides you some guidance on how to begin.
    Warmly,
    April Smith
    C2CC Monitor

    ------------------------------
    April Smith
    Booksmith
    Austin TX
    (512) 693-2665
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Conservation of large outdoor sculpture

    Posted 11-06-2019 10:53

    Hi Kathryn.
    Im a sculpture conservator in Manhattan who has been able to work with the various institutional clients through not only the federal grants April mentioned, but also private and state funding.  One great grant in the area that would cover this is http://www.greaterhudson.org/nyscaghhn-conservation-treatment-grant.html.  They usually only give funding to each of the counties in the state, but your project sounds like a good one.  

    I have also worked with IMLS on both projects and grant reviews https://www.imls.gov/news/imls-conservation-project-support-application-and-guidelines-available-imls-web-site.

    I know there are others out there I just can't think of locally but feel free to contact me if you would like more information.  A lot of these grants require you to have a conservator in mind when applying.  I can also help you find someone or give an assessment to aid with the grant proposal.

    paigeisaacs@hotmail.com



    ------------------------------
    Lauren Isaacs
    Owner, Chief Conservator
    Flying Pig Art Conservation, LLC
    New York NY
    (716) 830-1349
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Conservation of large outdoor sculpture

    Posted 11-06-2019 17:10
    Hi Kathryn,
    I don't have the answers but I have an idea of who might have some suggestions. When I lived in Fort Wayne, IN the art museum there also has a large outdoor painted steel sculpture that was hit by a drunk driver. They had it repaired though so they might have some insight for you on the restoration process. I worked at a different museum so I don't have much more to offer about it.

    Here is there site:

    Good luck!
    Karen




    Original Message


Related Content