City Journal Article |
To Protect and Preserve
Keeping Boston’s precious outdoor art crud-free requires more than manning a hose. A good chunk of the grime-fighting falls to Joshua Craine, sculpture conservator extraordinaire.
By Greg Ryan
1. Diverse Appeal
What Craine likes best about the art he cleans in Boston is how varied it is. With his company, Daedalus, he works around the country, and reports that other cities tend to be heavy on military heroes. Here, though, the 500-plus outdoor pieces are dedicated to a range of causes and icons, from public advocates to religious dissidents. “It’s really impressive that people put the money, time, and effort into memorializing these kinds of figures,” he says.
2. Buffer Zone
Restoration takes more than a sponge and some suds. For example, after a bronze sculpture’s muck is removed with high-pressure water, its surface has to be restored with a blowtorch and oxidizing chemicals, then protected by an acrylic coating and a layer of wax. Conservators avoid permanent fixes, though. “[The goal] is to keep the integrity of the artist who created the work,” says Craine.
3. Public Inquiry
As Craine works, gawkers ask him questions—not just about his job, but about the art, too. That’s inspired an academic thirst that he slakes by reading up on the artists and the historical figures they’ve portrayed. He’s happy to share—but when he has blowtorch in hand, people tend to keep their distance.
4. Monumental Tasks
Depending on a piece’s size and condition, restoration can take weeks and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Boston does catch a break on one item: Craine adores the memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment in front of the State House so much that he does it for free. “It’s the nicest piece of artwork in the country,” he says.
5. Blade Runners
In addition to battling the elements, Craine must undo manmade damage. Graffiti is common, but theft really peeves him. The sword in the George Washington monument in the Public Garden has been stolen four times in the past 20 years, and each time Daedalus has crafted a plastic replica to replace the long-gone bronze blade.
Dirty Art
Three tricky cleanup jobs.
The detailed wrinkles in the Shaw Memorial near the State House require precision cleaning with a tiny brush, followed by a mild soap wash. There’s no hose connection nearby, so Craine has to lug a large tank of water with him.
To keep the tombstones in King’s Chapel Burying Ground from crumbling, Craine uses a syringe to inject cracks with adhesive. When stones break, he drills holes in the pieces and fastens them with quarter-inch-wide steel rods.
The bronze lining of the Post Office Square Fountain is a favorite target of skateboarders, who grind the alloy down to its dull metallic base. To restore it, Craine developed a paint that matches the unscathed portion.
What Craine likes best about the art he cleans in Boston is how varied it is. With his company, Daedalus, he works around the country, and reports that other cities tend to be heavy on military heroes. Here, though, the 500-plus outdoor pieces are dedicated to a range of causes and icons, from public advocates to religious dissidents. “It’s really impressive that people put the money, time, and effort into memorializing these kinds of figures,” he says.
2. Buffer Zone
Restoration takes more than a sponge and some suds. For example, after a bronze sculpture’s muck is removed with high-pressure water, its surface has to be restored with a blowtorch and oxidizing chemicals, then protected by an acrylic coating and a layer of wax. Conservators avoid permanent fixes, though. “[The goal] is to keep the integrity of the artist who created the work,” says Craine.
3. Public Inquiry
As Craine works, gawkers ask him questions—not just about his job, but about the art, too. That’s inspired an academic thirst that he slakes by reading up on the artists and the historical figures they’ve portrayed. He’s happy to share—but when he has blowtorch in hand, people tend to keep their distance.
4. Monumental Tasks
Depending on a piece’s size and condition, restoration can take weeks and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Boston does catch a break on one item: Craine adores the memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment in front of the State House so much that he does it for free. “It’s the nicest piece of artwork in the country,” he says.
5. Blade Runners
In addition to battling the elements, Craine must undo manmade damage. Graffiti is common, but theft really peeves him. The sword in the George Washington monument in the Public Garden has been stolen four times in the past 20 years, and each time Daedalus has crafted a plastic replica to replace the long-gone bronze blade.
Dirty Art
Three tricky cleanup jobs.
The detailed wrinkles in the Shaw Memorial near the State House require precision cleaning with a tiny brush, followed by a mild soap wash. There’s no hose connection nearby, so Craine has to lug a large tank of water with him.
To keep the tombstones in King’s Chapel Burying Ground from crumbling, Craine uses a syringe to inject cracks with adhesive. When stones break, he drills holes in the pieces and fastens them with quarter-inch-wide steel rods.
The bronze lining of the Post Office Square Fountain is a favorite target of skateboarders, who grind the alloy down to its dull metallic base. To restore it, Craine developed a paint that matches the unscathed portion.
Originally published in Boston magazine, August 2007
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