Stewardship & Conservation
Caring for our art collection is a fundamental component of Madison's Public Art Plan. We watch the collection, provide maintenance, and develop plans for at-risk works. We know many of the City's works are in need of conservation. Often conservation and maintenance of these treasures engages community input.
Annie Stewart Fountain
Frederick J Clasgens created the fountain in 1925. It honors the memory of Annie (Anna) C. Stewart (17 January 1867 – 8 April 1905). Stewart was a charitable community member who died by suicide.
A 2008 report noted the work needed to be conserved. In 2017, Madison Parks commissioned a conservation plan from InSite Consulting Architects. Madison Parks then budgeted for investigatory steps (3D scanning) recommended in the report. In 2022, we hired Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio, Inc. to complete these steps and propose a conservation plan. They provided the following:
- 2022 Review of Existing Conditions
- July 10, 2023 Community Meeting Recording and Presentation (including FAQ)
- 2023 Assessment Report and associated attachments
You can find other reports including survey results in Legistar.
We are working with the Annie Stewart Fountain Work Group and City staff to determine next steps.
Capitol Square Fountains
From 2003-2005, Living Habitats of the Flow Forms America Team was commissioned by the City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission to redesign, fabricate, and install fountains and planters originally designed by M. Paul Friedberg in the early 1970s. These fountains were created by Heidi Natura and Sven Schunemann. The City of Madison had the fountains cleaned and conserved by Craig Deller. Arts staff hope to have an RFP for conservation work on the fountains released in 2026.
Timekeeper
The public art piece Timekeeper by Robert Curtis was commissioned by the City of Madison and the Madison Arts Commission in 1983.
In 2021, conservator Craig Deller proposed a two-phase conservation plan to the Madison Arts Commission. Phase one included concreate cleaning and initial graffiti remediation. Phase two started in 2022 to complete the graffiti remediation and repairs which were fully finished in 2023. In 2024, the gravel was replaced by Kafka Granit.
Effigy Tree and Badger
City of Madison staff have Effigy Tree (acquired in 1991) and Badger (acquired in 2019) by Harry Whitehorse Cleaned.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, replica donated by the Boy Scouts of America was conserved by Tony Rajer and Eric Meulemans. City staff has it regularly cleaned as well.
Zweerts Mosaic
The "Wisconsin Landscape" mosaic by Arnold Zweerts is displayed in the boardroom of the Parks Lakeside Offices at 330 E. Lakeside Street. Created in 1977 while Zweerts lived in Postville, Wisconsin, the mosaic was bought years later by Madison residents Don and Barbara MacCrimmon, who were lifelong friends of the artist.
In 2022, the MacCrimmons sought to place this piece into a public collection with the assistance of mosaic artist and historian Lillian Sizemore, who reached out to the City of Madison as a possible steward. The mural was donated to the Kohler Foundation, Inc., who in turn transferred ownership to the City of Madison and generously underwrote the costs of conservation, transportation, and installation, ensuring the work reaches its new home in pristine condition.
The City extends its gratitude to the MacCrimmon family for their generous donation, to Sizemore for bringing this opportunity to Madison, to The Bodgery for workspace support, and to the Kohler Foundation, Inc. for its significant investment towards the conservation and public placement of this historic artwork, and to the Madison Community Foundation and Friends of the Madison Arts Commission for providing additional financial support. Special thanks also go to the team of master carpenters and professional installers who ensured the careful handling and placement of this impressive work of art.
To learn more: