HomeMy WebLinkAboutAward Restoration of the Charger Sculpture�1L Lk
CITY OF PALM DESERT
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: REQUEST FOR AWARD OF BID FOR RESTORATION OF THE
"CHARGER" SCULPTURE
SUBMITTED BY: RICHARD L. TWEDT
DATE: JANUARY 12, 2006
CONTENTS: BIDS
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion, award the bid for the restoration of the "Charger„ to Michael Volpone,
39-192 Bel Air Drive, Cathedral City, California 92234, in the amount of $4,900.00.
Discussion:
On December 16, 2005, sealed bids were opened for the restoration of "Charger". The
following proposals were received.
Michael Volpone $4, 900.00
Sculpture Conservation Studio $8,350.00
After reviewing the bid proposals, staff recommends that the bid be awarded to Michael
Volpone. Funds are available in account #240-4650-454-3372.
Executive Summary:
The "Charger", an artwork in the City of Palm Desert's public art collection located north
of El Paseo where Highway 74 and Monterey Avenue meet, is in great need of
repainting and repair. Currently, the artwork is rusting, the paint is peeling and fading,
and there are marks scratched into the body of the horse. The artwork will be
sandblasted, primed, and repainted.
Submitted bAPublic
"cl
w
and L. Twedt, Arts Man ger
Approval:
a4-11k `
Carlos Ortega, City Manager
AIR
Community Services
Paul Gibson, Director of Finance
Michael Volpone
59192 5el Air Drive Cati�edral City CA 92234 760-324h106 cell 760-219-1347
December 15, 2005
TO:
PROPOSAL
City of Palm Desert Public Art Department
Restoration of Charger:
Sandblast, grind and sand old paint & corrosion from surface of Charger
Prime & prep for paint
Repaint with Ameron paint - red as per scope of work in bid packet
A barrier will be constructed to prevent debris from blowing into traffic and to protect
project from pedestrian traffic
All materials, rentals and supplies will be my responsibility
Clean up work area each day and hall debris away
Total bid $4,900.00
Sculpture Conservation Studio
Treatment Proposal
Client: City of Palm Desert
72-567 Highway 111
Palm Desert CA 92260 12/15/2005
Phone / Fax: Richard Twedt
Project:
Charger
ID Number.
4553
Artist:
Ted Gall
Period/Date:
1994
Materials:
Metal, paint
Dimensions:
16' x 8'
Location:
Palm Desert
Examination report:
The artwork is set into a rocky/sandy area adjacent to the street and parking lot. The painted metal horse
sculpture depicts a horse in the motion of running with it's proper right leg raised upward and the other three
legs together at the base of the artwork. The horse is three dimensional with metal cut-outs, such as the
cheeks, eyes, mane and legs bolted over the main body form to create depth. Perpendicular strips of metal
are attached to the inside, outside and the hooves of the horse. The horse is painted a semi -gloss red with
the edges of the perpendicular sections painted a lavender color. The base is a rectangular flat sheet of
unpainted, uncoated stainless steel. There are three cloud shaped formations that represent grass or dirt
mounds that are secured to the base and used to secure the back hooves of the horse. These three
mounds are painted lavender on the inside and a pale green on the tops and outsides of the mound. It
appears that the sculpture has been repainted since it was originally installed.
Condition: The sculpture is stable, but in very poor condition. Overall, there are losses of paint, graffiti
scratches, marks, insect nests, sand, dirt and large areas of white where the red paint has been "cleaned"
off.
Proper left side of the horse: The entire side appears to have been accidentally cleaned with a strong
detergent which has removed large sections of the red paint. There are scratches visible on the rear leg,
insect nests in the bolts on the thighs and areas of peeling paint, where the original paint still remains and is
visible. There is a large area of peeled paint below his eye and behind the cheek. This area has lifted
around the edges and is revealing a dark red semi -gloss paint underneath. Another loss is visible on the
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3300 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034 voice: (310) 839-5300 fax: (310) 839 5044 e-mail: sculpconsCaol.com
Insiae or ine nosinl. t nere IS a verucal Wnlre streaK IOCarea a[ ine ena or me mane Wnicn runs aown ine
body. (See addendum)
Proposed treatment:
1. All before and after treatments will be documented with 35mm and digital photography.
2. The sculpture will be washed using Orvus, a pH balanced biodegradable detergent diluted with distilled
water and then rinsed with distilled water.
3. The corrosion, flaking paint, pitting and graffiti will be removed mechanically.
4. The sculpture will be sanded and all voids will be bonded flush with the surface.
Bead blasting is expensive, messy and requires a lot of preparation time to set up a tent SCS feels that
sanding will have the same smooth final result.
5. The sculpture will be primed with a prime that works with the paint system.
6. Research will be done to determine the original paint system used.
7. The artwork will be repainted and an anti -graffiti coating will be applied.
8. The corrosion on the base will be removed or reduced mechanically and the losses filled.
9. Discuss with the client whether to repaint the base or apply a clear coat.
10. Discuss with the client whether to cover the base area with sand or small stones.
Estimated costs:
1 Conservator @ $700.00 per day for 5 days =
$3500.00
1 Senior Technician ® $600.00 per day for 5 days =
$3000.00
2 rooms for 4 nights ® $100 per night per room
$800.00
Per Diem for 2 people for 5 days @ $40 per day
$400.00
Travel time =
$250.00
Materials and documentation =
$400.00
Total costs: $ 8.350.00
Treatment estimate:
Other Expenses:
Conservator(s):
$8,350.00
Andrea Morse, Jeff Chang,
3300 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034 voice: (310) 839-5300 fax: (310) 839 5044 e-mail: sculpconsoaol.com
SCULPTURE CONSERVATION STUDIO
3300 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90034
ADDENDUM
Reference Number: 4553 Client Name City of Palm Desert
To the right of this streak is a round indentation with loss of paint that appears to have been an impact hit with
a rock or hard object. This round indentation is approximately 1/4" round. The hooves are corroded with
lifting paint. The bolts are still well coated with no corrosion visible.
Proper right side:
The tail has several bubbles of lifted paint over the surface, with one of them broken open and starting to crack
and flake. It appears that there was an area of loss at the bottom edge of the horse which was uneven with the
lower surface, and has been painted over red. This area is beginning to rust again and flake. Dirt and cracking
of paint is visible where the second layer of decorative cut-out metal meets the main part of the tail. The body
of the horse is covered with scratched graffiti. The graffiti marks are a series of four vertical short lines with a
diagonal line through them representing a counting system using the system of 5. The legs on this side do not
appear to have been stripped of their paint, as the other side, but both are faded with vertical white streaking
visible. There are four large round indentations on the neck, appearing to be impact hits created by being hit
with a small hard rock or stone. Numerous small scratches into the paint are visible around these impact hits.
There is peeling paint visible on the ears, but the face on this side appears in good condition. The hooves on
this side are also dirty, faded with losses of paint visible all over.
Steel base:
The base is completely pitted with spots of brown corrosion in the center and large sections of corrosion on all
four sides. It appears to be secured under the base plate into the sand by two metal flat bars which were once
covered with sand and are now exposed and corroding. Areas of the base around the hooves and grass
formations have been overpainted red and green respectively, and are now very corroded with deep areas of
metal loss visible.