CLEVELAND’S WORLD-RENOWNED ‘FREE STAMP’ SCULPTURE ENCLOSED WITH CHAIN-LINK FENCE!

WHAT’S UP???

CLEVELAND’S ‘FREE STAMP’ SCULPTURE IS UNDERGOING REHABILITATION TO RESTORE IT TO A LIKE-NEW CONDITION AFTER EXPERIENCING GRADUAL DETERIORATION FOR 24-YEARS!

Designed by Artists: Claes Oldenburg & Cossje van Bruggen (husband & late-wife team) and installed in October, 1991 – the ‘Free Stamp’ sculpture is located in Willard Park on the south side of Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio.

The sculpture adjoins City Hall and was a gift from British Petroleum America.

The painted steel and aluminum sculpture which is huge in size (49 ft. long x 28 ft. 10 in. x 26 ft.) has deteriorated surface coatings, steel corrosion, and minor graffiti after 24-years of display in an exterior environment.

A rehabilitation done –16 years ago appears not to have addressed the deterioration satisfactorily.

The current rehabilitation is being conducted by ICA -- Art Conservation of Cleveland, Ohio.

BP America is paying the estimated $96,000 rehabilitation cost as part of its original agreement when the sculpture was gifted to Cleveland.

According to the ICA website:

*ICA has been retained by the City of Cleveland and The Sculpture Center to restore Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen’s monumental sculpture, the Free Stamp, to like-new condition. After years of weathering and deterioration endured by this iconic artistic treasure, the City of Cleveland recognized the need to preserve this Cleveland landmark for future generations. ICA is overseeing a complete conservation treatment of the Free Stamp beginning Monday, May 5, 2014.

*ICA has a long and rich history of working to preserve our region’s artistic and cultural heritage, treating important public artworks around Cleveland, including the murals at Playhouse Square, WPA era murals for the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority, and a variety of projects for the Cleveland Public Library and City Hall.

*The Free Stamp conservation project, initiated by The Sculpture Center, is a unique collaboration of the City of Cleveland and the technical experts at ICA and Thomarios. ICA is leading a team of national experts in several specialties, including outdoor sculpture conservation.

*The Free Stamp is not the first of Oldenburg’s works to be treated by ICA. ICA has worked on the Giant Three-Way Plug of the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio, and the Inverted Q of the Akron Art Museum. Thomarios, an Akron-based firm with expertise in restoration and metal coatings, will provide technical support for the treatment and restoration.

*Commissioned in 1982 by the Standard Oil Company of Ohio, the Free Stamp was created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Brueggen, installed in its current location of Willard Park near Cleveland’s City Hall in 1991. Mr. Oldenburg has been consulted by ICA in the Free Stamp project, and contributed to the aesthetic decisions made regarding specifics of the treatment, ensuring that the results remain faithful to his and Van Brueggen’s original vision for the artwork. All interior and exterior surfaces will be thoroughly prepared and repainted using high-performance coatings matched to the original colors provided by the fabricator, Lippincott Inc., of New Haven, CT.”

NOTE: The first, second, third, and fifth photographs were taken during a visit on June 6, 2014. The photograph with the SAVE JOHN MARSHALL (HIGH SCHOOL) signs was taken on June 20, 2012. The photograph with the VOTE NO ON SIN TAX (Issue 7 in the May 6, 2014) election was taken on April 18, 2014.

REFERENCE LINKS:

*Website of the Artists: Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen (husband and late-wife)
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&u...

*BP America sponsors rehab for 'Free Stamp,' Cleveland's Pop Art masterpiece by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer, May 9, 2014
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&u...

*Pop Art master Claes Oldenburg revisits his once-controversial 'Free Stamp' (gallery), Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer, May 22, 2014
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&...

*ICA Art Conservation:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ica-artconservation.org%2Ffree-stamp-conservation-project-begins%2F&ei=oUykU-yLJpWRqAb7-oCwDA&usg=AFQjCNHkEjqMVM-Hq2v2s5b514LsNpBoZQ&bvm=bv.69411363,d.b2k&cad=rja

*ICA Art Conservation:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ica-artconservation.org%2Fthe-free-stamp-project-is-now-underway%2F&ei=oUykU-yLJpWRqAb7-oCwDA&usg=AFQjCNHWprfL0mcUvRWiczuRFA2j-0u7yg&bvm=bv.69411363,d.b2k&cad=rja