2023 conservation conducted in collaboration with Versteeg Art Fabricators. Number Three section shown following repainting with PPG Coraflon Low-Gloss Black Fluoropolymer.

Two pieces from the edition shown in spray booth following coating with AwlGrip low-gloss black polyurethane in 2019. Conservation conducted in collaboration with Amaral Custom Fabrications.

Sculpture elevated on steel supports during 2019 conservation conducted in collaboration with Welding Works. The sculpture was completely dismantled and all bolted connections rebuilt during this deep-cycle restoration.

Completed sculpture coated with PPG Coraflon Low-Gloss Black Fluoropolymer.

2019 conservation conducted in collaboration with Eleonora Nagy of Modern Sculpture Conservation and Jamie Chasse of Explicit Airbrush. Image showing X-raying of sculpture components to understand the construction and configuration of internal armatures.

Sculpture component during media-blasting with plastic grit to remove paint coatings without damaging underlying gel-coat.

Filling cracks in the gel-coat prior to painting.

One of four components being hand-painted. Photographic projection in combination with paper templating was used to precisely establish line boundaries.

Conserved sculpture back on display at PepsiCo Headquarters in Purchase, NY.

2019 conservation conducted in collaboration with Versteeg Art Fabricators. Image showing trial assembly to check fit of replacement glass and to rehearse assembly procedure for installation.

Interior of obelisk point during 2016 conservation conducted in collaboration with Promoco. All components comprising pinned connection between obelisk point and pyramidal base, including exterior surfaces in the vicinity of the junction, were replaced with stainless steel in order to forestall corrosion and facilitate drainage of condensation from obelisk section.

The machined stainless-steel block that was embedded in the construction of the obelisk point. A second, identical block was embedded in the pyramidal point. The Cor-Ten side panels of the pyramid and obelisk points engaged, and were welded to, steps in the block, leaving only a small strip of stainless above and below the join-line exposed. Exposed stainless was textured and “seeded” with iron filings in order to stain the surface to match the surrounding weathered steel.

The machined stainless block incorporated into the obelisk point.

Crew texturing the repaired areas on obelisk point with a pneumatic needle scaler to approximate weathered steel surface texture.

Reattachment of obelisk point following refabrication of junction assembly in stainless steel.

Sample flame-cut edge for partial replacement of skirt at base of pyramid.

Completed sculpture back on display at The Menil Collection in Houston, TX. Interior and exterior surfaces will be periodically oiled to forestall galvanic action between dissimilar materials.

2018 conservation conducted in collaboration with Versteeg Art Fabricators.

Close up of repaired areas infilled with 3M Scotch-Weld DP6310NS Urethane Adhesive. Cured material was chased with a carbide burr to match texture of surrounding surface.

Restored areas on top of sculpture including complete rebuild of lifting eye receiver.

Hand application of PPG Pitthane polyurethane. Painting proceeded in an allover fashion working different areas of the sculpture concurrently and building up contrasting layers in keeping with the artist’s original treatment.

Completed restoration.

Heat being applied to straighten plate edge during 2015 conservation conducted in collaboration with Welding Works.

Sculpture suspended by epoxy-primed flower petals during painting of leaves. Sculpture conserved in 2015 in collaboration with American Stripping Company.

Completed restoration ready to be wrapped and crated.

Disassembled caterpillar track during extensive restoration conducted in 2010 in collaboration with Welding Works and New England Boatworks. Upright portion has been sandblasted to reveal extent of corrosion.

Track components removed from mounting plate in order to address corrosion between layered components.

Restored tracks oxidizing outdoors in order to develop the reddish-brown appearance characteristic of weathering steel. Overlapping components in the construction are now seal-welded at their perimeters to prevent water from wicking between layers and causing corrosion.

Painted aluminum and FRP lipstick column following restoration.

Conservation conducted in collaboration with Abigail Mack of Mack Art Conservation and Gordon S. Anderson Manufacturing. Evaluation of internal components controlling the filling and tipping of cylindrical sculpture components.

Custom tooling developed for supporting deformed stainless cylinders from within during planishing. Mild deformation could be repaired in this fashion; severe deformation required the component to be cut apart, repaired, and reassembled.

Planishing of severe deformation.

Main support table and water supply lines. Each kinetic component required a dedicated, valved internal supply line to trickle water into the collecting trough at the extremity of the tipping components. Once enough water collected in each trough, it would tip forward, spill out its contents, and, with the weight of the water gone, gravity would tip the component back and reset the process.

Conserved sculpture back on exhibition at Bard College, Annandale-On-Hudson, NY.

Three Legged Buddha shown during Condition Inspection and de-installation in Brussels, Belgium in 2009

2007 conservation carried out in collaboration with R M Lill. Image showing annotated scale model identifying areas to be thermal arc sprayed with zinc prior to the application of protective coatings.

Corresponding full-scale component with areas to be thermal arc sprayed laid out per annotated model.

Structural engineer’s cardboard mock-up developed to address undersized connection in the original fabrication. A new steel flange was fabricated and incorporated into the construction based on this guidance.

Conserved sculpture reinstalled at Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, NY.