Outdoor Sculpture
Research on approaches and materials for the conservation of Modern and Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture
Project Details
- Category
- Years 2012 – present
- Status
- Organizer
View of the South Fields, Storm King Art Center with works by Mark di Suvero: Pyramidion 1987/1998; Beethoven's Quartet, 2003, For Chris, 1991 lent by the artist and Spacetime C.C., New York. Mon Père, Mon Père, 1973-75; Mother Peace, 1969-1970; and; Jambalaya, 2002-2006, Gift of the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, Inc., collection of Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, New York. Art: © Mark di Suvero
Photo: Jerry L. Thompson, reproduced courtesy the artist and Storm King Art Center; © Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, New York
About
Goal
Conservation of outdoor painted sculptures is challenging given the uncontrolled and harsh environments to which works are exposed. Yet there is the expectation painted surfaces should remain pristine. As paint layers hold a crucial protective role for the substrate, treatment of these sculptures routinely involves full repainting, often with stripping of previous paint layers.
This project seeks to address this by developing protective coatings for unpainted metal substrates of these outdoor works to minimize the frequency of conservation treatments.