AIC's 53rd Annual Meeting

This presentation shares the story of two large-scale outdoor sculpture installations at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Georgia Welles Sculpture Garden—Josiah McElheny’s Moon Mirror (2019) and Roxy Paine’s Interim (2002) —and highlights how collaboration and lessons learned from one project informed the success of the other. Both installations involved unique conservation challenges and relied heavily on cross-disciplinary teamwork, demonstrating the impact of connections and shared problem-solving.

Moon Mirror, a mixed media work incorporating glass blocks within a stainless steel frame, was acquired by the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) in 2022. Its installation, however, faced significant delays due to unforeseen revisions needed for the sculpture’s substructure. These changes required close collaboration between conservators, engineers, and the artist to adapt the design for outdoor conditions and ensure the long-term stability of the piece. The challenges presented by Moon Mirror offered valuable insights into how to manage mixed media artworks in outdoor environments, influencing future decision-making and preventive strategies.

Building on the lessons learned from Moon Mirror, the installation of Roxy Paine’s Interim benefited from a more streamlined approach. This sculpture, an early work in Paine’s Dendroid series which stands at over 35 feet tall, came with its own set of technical challenges, particularly related to its size, assembly, and structural requirements. Installed on a tight timeline as part of a major bequest, the project required collaboration with engineers, riggers, and welders. By applying strategies developed during the Moon Mirror installation, the team was able to address complex issues more efficiently, ensuring that Interim was installed on schedule and with a preservation strategy that also kept the artist’s vision in mind.

Both installations involved close collaboration with the artists, who played key roles in site selection and decision-making, further emphasizing the importance of building strong connections between conservators, allied professionals, and living artists. The lessons from Moon Mirror not only informed the technical execution of Interim but also reinforced the value of shared knowledge and adaptive problem-solving across projects.

This presentation explores the pivotal role that collaboration played in both installations, highlighting how the challenges faced and lessons learned from one project can directly inform the success of another. Attendees will gain insights into the power of interdisciplinary partnerships and the ways in which past experiences can drive innovation and more effective conservation outcomes in future projects.