painted form board concrete restoration

concrete sculpture restoration

Homage to Simon Rodia, by J. J. Beljon

 
This monumental concrete sculpture was created for the 1965 Sculpture Symposium at California State University at Long Beach. The piece was poured in situ and consists of nineteen large geometric forms that were painted white. The artwork had been repainted at some time in the past and the overpaint was peeling, revealing fungal growth between layers. Other issues included cracking and losses to the concrete, rebar corrosion, mold growth, heavy dirt and debris accumulation and soil staining. The repeated repainting campaigns had masked the delicate formwork that is essential to the aesthetic of this work.

RLA used archival research and collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute to define the paint finish. RLA selected a proprietary, acrylic latex-based paint system as the topcoat. An un-tinted white was selected in accordance with the research and the particular self-priming system was selected for its exceptional durability, mildew-resistance, and extreme resistance to blistering, peeling, and color fading.

Treatment also involved extensive controls to prevent our water for cleaning from infiltration the topsoil, as well as adhering to stringent university safety regulations.