ICA - Art Conservation

Follow ICA via social media and stay connected!

jsouerschevraux — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:58:18 +0000

Want to know what’s new at ICA? We regularly post news, photos, and links to relevant content on our Facebook page and Twitter feed. ICA is also sharing photographs of our great conservation projects via pin boards on Pinterest. We even have company page on LinkedIn. Click on these links and follow us to receive all of our updates.

Tour Robert Maschke homes and support ICA

jsouerschevraux — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:55:24 +0000

Check out this Cool Cleveland video and learn more about Cleveland architect Robert Maschke and the September 18th home tour featuring two of his notable local designs.

Tour the White Boxes with Robert Maschke

ICA Conserves Mosaic Tiles From Ancient Antioch

jsouerschevraux — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:48:20 +0000

Last year, Bowling Green State University asked the ICA to take on a fascinating project. Could we treat a series of mosaic tiles from the ancient city of Antioch (in modern-day Turkey) that date to the 2nd or 3rd century CE? The university wanted both to have the tiles conserved and also for ICA objects conservation staff to offer advice on how best to display these very old and beautiful pieces.

The mosaics, which depict decorative elements such as birds and theater masks, will go through a multi-phase conservation treatment process that will involve: the removal of a previously applied, yellowed coating; surface cleaning; consolidation of crumbling mortar and loose tesserae; and remounting on lightweight, rigid panels. The panels will then be installed under a protective glass layer in the floor of a new theater building that is scheduled to open at Bowling Green in 2011.

Carousel Conservation Now Underway

jsouerschevraux — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:13:16 +0000

ICA conservators have begun treatment of the historic B & B Carousell (sic), the last remaining carousel from New York’s world-famous Coney Island amusement park. Restoration of the ride, which dates from 1919, is only a small part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar redevelopment of Coney Island and its boardwalk.

Over the next twelve months, conservators will clean some fifty component pieces of the carousel, with names like inner rim panels, rounding boards, band organ panels, and chariot backs. The central band organ of the B & B Carousell is particularly interesting, as it was manufactured by a famous organ manufacturer in Munich, Germany; the company produced organs in series and the B & B is the only functional instrument still in existence from its particular series.

The carousel horses are being treated by a company in Marion, Ohio called Carousels and Carvings. Because they were used so heavily, the horses had been repainted many times and had very little original paint. ICA assisted with the color analysis process and C & C will now completely repaint the animals in accordance with the original color scheme.

Mural Installation of Cleveland Artist Elmer Brown Completed

jsouerschevraux — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:56:38 +0000

ICA staff recently completed the installation of two murals by WPA-era Cleveland artist Elmer Brown (1909-1971). Brown, one of the few African-American artists working for the WPA in the region, painted two depictions of life in his adopted city now known as “Cleveland Past” and “Cleveland Present.”

The murals were originally installed in the Valleyview Housing Project in Tremont, a neighborhood on Cleveland’s west side. ICA removed the murals from Valleyview several years ago, as it was scheduled for demolition and reconstruction as a new housing development now called Tremont Pointe. Cleveland State University contributed money toward the conservation of the Brown murals and is now taking them on long-term loan, while slightly smaller scale digital reproductions of the pieces have already been installed at Tremont Pointe.

The original murals will grace the new multi-million dollar Cleveland State University Student Center, scheduled to open on Euclid Avenue in Fall 2010.