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IAE Bicentennial sculpture conservation and rededication plans highlighted; Zaner Conservation completes work
Summary
The council outlined conservation work and the IAE Bicentennial sculpture schedule, including travel by sculptor John Raimondi, conservation by Zaner (funded by the Cooper Foundation), QR-code interpretive signage, and a touring exhibit tied to the 500-mile sculpture garden and America250 programming.
Board members heard a multi-part update on the IAE Bicentennial Sculpture Project and related public‑art work across Nebraska. Staff said conservation work by Zaner Conservation (Kansas City) has been completed at multiple rest-area sculptures with Cooper Foundation funding and that a rededication schedule is planned for July 4 events, including artist talks and community receptions in several communities.
Staff said John Raimondi will participate in panels and talks, with events scheduled at Mona (Kearney), the Joslyn and a civic center program tied to the rededication; they also described interpretive signage and QR codes to link travelers to the council’s public-art database and an augmented-reality effort to digitally restore removed pieces at rest areas.
Public‑art staff described Zaner’s surface‑conservation techniques and estimated annual maintenance costs of roughly $15,000–$20,000 per large sculpture for ongoing surface conservation, and said the council plans a webinar with the conservation contractor to help communities plan for conservation when commissioning works. Staff also noted active public-art projects funded through the 1% for art program, including a UNMC residence-hall project (approx. $600,000) and a smaller $100,000 project at Chadron State College.
The council flagged the upcoming Nebraska State Arts Awards (Oct. 10) and the role of local museums and partners in the broader public-art and touring exhibit work.
