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from the issue of November 9, 2006
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Sheldon completes conservation work on six outdoor sculptures
BY TOM WHITE, SHELDON MEMORIAL ART GALLERY
The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden recently completed a two-year Institute of Museum and Library Services grant that helped to fund the conservation of six of its outdoor sculptures.
The Sheldon received $50,000 in federal money to provide conservation treatments for the outdoor sculptures "Willy" by Tony Smith; "SANDY: In Defined Space" by Richard McDermott Miller; "Nanticoke" by Robert Murray; "Floating Figure" by Gaston Lachaise; "Greenpoint" by Richard Serra; and "Fragment X-O" by Juan Hamilton.
In the summer of 2003, Nathan Otterson, senior objects conservator for the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis completed a comprehensive assessment of the Sheldon's outdoor sculpture collection. Otterson prioritized the sculptures according to the condition and then made recommendations for the six highest priorities to be conserved. The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded the Sheldon $50,000 in 2004 for the proposed project.
The overall project included three components: conservation treatment, environmental improvements and staff training. In late summer 2005, Otterson completed four of the six conservation treatments. The current senior objects conservator, Donna Haberman, completed the remaining two conservation treatments in the summer of 2006.
Treatments for the sculptures addressed issues such as failing paint systems, uneven patina and water damage.
Sheldon worked with UNL Landscape Services to make environmental improvements around the sculptures. Landscape Services removed pea gravel around the sculptures and replaced it with wood mulch ground cover. In addition, irrigation heads were removed or redirected so that regular watering was not directed toward the sculptures.
The third component of the outdoor sculpture project was staff training. The Sheldon collection department was trained by the conservators on how to properly maintain the outdoor sculptures. Staff was on hand during conservation treatments to observe and ask questions of the conservators.
The presentation "Willy, Wax and Blowtorches" was presented to the public by Shannan Kelly, collection manager, and presented a second time to the 2006-07 Sheldon docents by associate registrar Stacey Walsh. The presentation focused on conservation and highlighted the outdoor sculpture project.
This project was part of a larger campus sculpture initiative that includes several components. During this project, three of the components were realized: publication of "Sculpture from the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery," new identifying labels for the outdoor sculpture were produced, and the publication of a new sculpture garden brochure. In addition, the Sheldon's Web site now features a podcast of the outdoor sculpture garden, which can be viewed online or downloaded to an iPod and listened to while walking through the sculpture garden. It is available at www.sheldonartgallery.org.
The project's completion and success are expected to bring further attention to the Sheldon's collection of outdoor sculpture
For more information on the Sheldon, go online to www.sheldon.unl.edu or call 472-2461.
GO TO: ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 9
ARTS HEADLINES FOR NOVEMBER 9
Just playing along
American Life in Poetry
Dominic Gaudious to perform at East Union
Flower powered rug exhibition at Hillestad
Lied Center hosts Good Humor Men Nov. 15
Sheldon completes conservation work on six outdoor sculptures
'Tales of the Rat Fink' plays the Ross
732624S36430X
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