Restored Mahogany WPA Relief Sculptures to Return to Lane Tech

CHICAGO - March 15, 2002 On Thursday, March 21, 2002, one day before the opening of To Inspire and Instruct: Art from the Collection of the Chicago Public Schools at the Art Institute of Chicago, Bernacki & Associates, Inc. will be reinstalling two recently restored WPA relief sculptures to their perch of over 66 years in Lane Techs Library/Media Center.

CHICAGO - March 15, 2002 On Thursday, March 21, 2002, one day before the opening of To Inspire and Instruct: Art from the Collection of the Chicago Public Schools at the Art Institute of Chicago, Bernacki & Associates, Inc. will be reinstalling two recently restored WPA relief sculptures to their perch of over 66 years in Lane Techs Library/Media Center. The relief sculptures, titled Controlling the Elements and Evolution of the Book, were a part The Federal Art Project/Illinois Work Progress Administration, a depression-era relief effort that put Chicago Public Schools (CPS) on the map as the most prolific public mural project in the United States. These two 15 x 6 (approx.) wood relief sculptures consist of twelve mahogany panels designed by PeterPaul Ott and carved in 1936.
   This sorely needed restoration came as a result of a five year effort of art consultant Kathleen Bernhardt of Corporate Art Source to save the art in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Their mission was to assess the art collections" of the CPS, taking a genuine interest in the preservation and celebration of what may be some of Chicagos least appreciated, yet most often viewed treasures. Chicago area conservator, Bernacki & Associates, Inc., was contracted to restore the twelve panels, as they had severe finish degradation (65-70%) from the effects of time, moisture, and exposure to direct sunlight.        Bernacki & Associates performed solvent/UV testing to determine the finish, removed what was left of the degraded finish through the least abrasive method, restoring them to their original condition.
While the Friday commencement of the Art Institute exhibition will certainly give deserved recognition to the art collections of the Chicago Public Schools, Bernacki & Associates reinstallation of the treasured WPA relief sculptures marks the completion of the five year project, as the last of the collections to be reinstalled. May they continue to inspire and instruct students for generations to come.
For more information:
Contact: Stan Bernacki or Bart Bjorneberg, 312-243-5669, stan@bernackiconservation.com