The exhibit "Rust Happen(s): Caring for the Public Art Collection" opened at Cambridge Arts Gallery 344* in March, but I didn't get there till the end of June. It will close on July 19, 2024, so I'm posting quickly now to maximize remaining time for you to enjoy this revelatory exhibit.
"Outdoor public artworks face a range of challenges that can be surprisingly different from those inside the carefully controlled galleries of museums—rust, gum, spills, graffiti, storms and even truck accidents. "Rust Happen(s)" highlights the ingenuity and science and careful effort Cambridge Arts' conservation team, led by Director of Art Conservation Craig Uram, uses to maintain these community treasures for the future." ( quote from Cambridge Arts New Exhibition: How We Care For 280+ Public Artworks)
"The exhibition also features tools of the trade—brushes, solvents, wax and patina kits, gold leaf, ladders, syringes, vacuums, pressure washers, graffiti removers, bio-enzymatic urine digester." ( quote from Cambridge Arts New Exhibition: How We Care For 280+ Public Artworks)
"Picture a work of art. Now imagine it covered in sap, spider webs, bird poop — even graffiti. That's the reality for hundreds of outdoor pieces across Cambridge, which has the largest public art collection in New England. ,After each long, messy winter, the city's conservation team mobilizes to take care of that massive trove." (quote from How Cambridge's public art protectors fight graffiti and grime, Andrea Shea, July 1, WBUR)
"The show pulls back the curtain through a display of tools, photos, videos and lots of stories. There's also a cute tent in the middle of the gallery. It holds a gold replica of one of the city's most cherished sculptures.".... "People love to touch the piece, so Uram's team has to restore its gold leaf every couple of years. "We set up the tent because gold leaf is very light and it blows with the wind," Uram explained."( quote from How Cambridge's public art protectors fight graffiti and grime, Andrea Shea, July 1, WBUR)
"...Konstantin Simun's bronze tribute to Igor Fokin's puppet DooDoo, which was created as a memorial to Fokin at the spot in Harvard Square where Fokin regularly performed before his death in 1996."( quote from Cambridge Arts New Exhibition: How We Care For 280+ Public Artworks)
Of course, this exhibit has already raised new topics** for future posts on ART OUTDOORS:
**"Millers River Mosaics crafted in 1979 by Lilli Ann Rosenberg, known for enlisting community members... in making her artworks. "
**Mural by Mela Lyman: Anxiety of Beauty-Revisiting the Fountain of Youth, Pain Park, 2009
KEY RESOURCES: The exhibit's online site connects to valuable videos of teams restoring art. And don't miss Andrea Shea's lively interviews on WBUR with great photos of the transformative work!
*"Rust Happen(s): Caring for the Public Art Collection," through July 19, Gallery 344, Cambridge Arts Council, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
No comments:
Post a Comment