Whitney Museum of American Art: Watch and Listen: Conservations

Conserving Calder’s Circus

Whitney Museum of American Art — Thu, 30 May 2013 19:02:19 -0400

In this video, Whitney conservators Carol Mancusi-Ungaro and Eleonora Nagy, archivist Anita Duquette, and art historian Joan Simon describe the process of restoring one of the most beloved works in the Whitney's collection, Alexander Calder's Circus. The research team enlivens the character of the Circus through contemporary associations and offers a new look at conserving the inherent fragility of the figures that have delighted Whitney audiences for generations.

Claes Oldenburg discusses Ice Bag–Scale C, 1971

Whitney Museum of American Art — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:09:50 -0400

Claes Oldenburg discusses his 12-foot diameter Ice Bag–Scale C, 1971. Characteristic of Oldenburg’s work, the prosaic object is transformed through a dramatic increase of scale. However, it is the addition of movement that produces what Oldenburg describes as the Ice Bag’s “magic effect.”

Conserving Claes Oldenburg’s Ice Bag–Scale C, 1971

Whitney Museum of American Art — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:51:59 -0400

In this video, Whitney curator Dana Miller, conservator Eleanora Nagy, and artist Claes Oldenburg discuss the conservation process of Oldenburg’s Ice Bag–Scale C, 1971. Also included is commentary by the team of specialists who assisted in the restoration including a hi-fi engineer, an electrician, an auto body restorer, and a custom fabric designer.

October 30, 2008Open Studio: Conserving Calder

Whitney Museum of American Art — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:30:51 -0500

Calder’s Circus (1926-31) is one of the Whitney’s most beloved artworks and a seminal piece in Calder’s oeuvre. Eleonora Nagy, a conservator specializing in modern and contemporary sculpture who worked with the Circus, speaks about her techniques and approach to conserving the work.

Open Studio allows visitors to engage with artists and practitioners in the galleries through performance and public participation.