Outdoor Art & Sculpture Conservation

As part of the renovation efforts at the Princeton University Art Museum, EverGreene was engaged to evaluate the overall condition and establish treatment recommendations of four significant artworks on the museum grounds: Rudolf Hoflehner’s Human Condition, the Starn Brothers’ (Any) Body Oddly Propped, Scott Burton’s Public Table, and Michele Oka Doner’s Titan.

Following the assessments, three of the sculptures underwent conservation treatment, strictly following American Institute for Conservation (AIC) guidelines of reversibility and minimal intervention, achieving the highest standards of treatment. A comprehensive written report documenting all findings and treatments was provided to the museum.

Conservation of the sculptures began with a general cleaning to to remove superficial deposits and grime. Public Table was also treated with a biocide to remove any remaining deposits of biogrowth. The sculpture had received storm damage, which broke a piece of the concrete that was not able to be reattached and required replacement.  Human Condition and Titan, both metal sculptures, required the removal of corrosion and application of a protective coat of wax.