BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL (BCC) November 2019 - June 2020

Blue Sky View has been contracted by BCC to deliver a Maintenance Trial for the City’s collection of public art.

BCC’s public art collection comprises a diverse mix of artworks ranging from traditional bronze sculptures to contemporary works with digital lighting programs. The majority of the artworks are major art commissions by prominent Australians and are rated as having high artistic, social, cultural or heritage significance. The $25 million collection comprises 193 artworks (with 480 parts).

Blue Sky View will provide a layered maintenance approach that includes; Cleaning and Inspection; Planned Maintenance; Specialist Inspections and Maintenance.

Blue Sky View will provide a 2-month report on the condition of the collection and the tasks undertaken to be added the BCC’s Vernon Collection Management System (CMS).

MAINTENANCE AND CONSERVATION PROJECT - DECEMBER 2019

Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection - PA No: PA 692
Location: Corner Roma and George Streets, BRISBANE 4000

Following the April 2019 Condition Assessment for Emblem, prepared by Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, Council engaged Blue Sky View for the following scope of maintenance and conservation works:

Surface-clean the structure to removed dirt particulate, bird excrement and superficial copper corrosion products;
Consult with the artist to assess the desired approach to mitigate the ageing of the artwork - maintain the blue-green corrosion product and permit this process to continue organically; and
Reapply a red paint coating system formulated with superior resistance to outdoor conditions, including UV radiation and water .

Located at a difficult site, on a traffic island in the CBD, Blue Sky View developed a plan using steel scaffolding that did not require any road closures.

RESTORATION PROJECT - June 2017
Tweed Shire Council Collection
Location: Commercial Street, MURWILLUMBAH

Restoration Work: Provide expert advice for the cleaning and restoration of the Treasures of the Tweed mural; prepare a Safe Work Method Statement and Environmental Management Plan for approval by TSC; Following consultation undertake the cleaning (H2O pressure clean) process for Treasures of the Tweed mural.; Following consultation undertake the painting restoration process for Treasures of the Tweed mural.

The mural runs along the levee wall. A length of approximately 560 meters was restored.

CURATION / PROJECT AMANAGEMENT - August 2018

Commissioned by The Old Ambulance Station for the Horizon Festival, 2018

Transdimensional is fully interactive with multiple laser sensors, allowing people to alter the height and colour of each lamp as they move under it. The lifting mechanism is an elaborate custom made servo actuator that accentuates the industrial aesthetic and celebrates its own mechanism and function. Transdimensional is made of over 3,000 components. All were designed and fabricated in Russell’s solar-powered studio, located on the Sunshine Coast. The sculpture’s movement and lighting can be programmed in many ways, to create a specific mood, colour range or flow of interaction.

Transdimensional was funded by the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

CONSERVATION PROJECT - June to September 2018
Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection - PA No: PA 231
Location: City Botanic Gardens, Alice Street, BRISBANE

Conservation Work: Stage 1: Project investigation / consultation / liaise with BCC, engineers and suppliers; Apply for the required permits for the sculpture removal and installation of the plinth at the new site; Coordinate the cleaning and light polish of the sculpture; Oversee the fabrication of the ‘lifting frame’; Coordinate the jacking of the sculpture and fix the lifting frame; Coordinate the removal of the sculpture and relocation to the temporary site within the gardens; Remove the base plate and grind clean the protruding bolts for safety; and Secure / fence the sculpture within the temporary site.

Stage 2: Coordinate the fabrication and installation of the sculpture base plate; Apply for the required permits for the sculpture installation to the new site (including Parks; Street & Paths; and Traffic Management permits); Coordinate the fabrication and installation of a new plinth at the new site.

Stage 3: Construct a purpose built dolly to move the sculpture; Coordinate the sculpture move and installation to the new site; Finalise any landscaping works / liaise with gardens staff; and Prepare a Final Report and finalise the project.

CONSERVATION PROJECT - May 2018
Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection - PA No: PA 232
Location: City Botanic Gardens, River Walk, Alice Street, BRISBANE

Conservation Work: Remove the sculpture from foundation and transport to off-site location.; Abrasive blasting to strip paint system and reveal metal substrate.; Galvanised and powder coated each base plate; Powder coat black each component; Sanded and filled - Raptor matt black was sprayed on site.; Re-install the sculpture on existing concrete foundation with new fixings (painted); and Pressure clean washed the sculpture.

CONSERVATION PROJECT - May 2018
Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection - PA No: PA251
Location: Captain Burke Park, Kangaroo Point BRISBANE

Conservation Work: Assess the artwork at height and pressure clean the artwork to remove dirt, biological growth and loss clear coating: Assess the paint system (exterior water-base gloss); Scuff / sand flacking areas; and Matched colours and repaint areas as required.

CONSERVATION PROJECT - June 2017
Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection - PA No: PA 432
Location: ‘Lovers’ Walk’ Sandgate/Shorncliffe Foreshore, BRISBANE

Conservation Work: Cleaned artwork; Assessed areas of the work for structural stability and repair cracked welds; Electropolish the stainless steel

CONSERVATION PROJECT - June 2017
Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection - PA No: PA 406
Location: ‘Lovers’ Walk’ Sandgate/Shorncliffe Foreshore, BRISBANE

Conservation Work: Removed the Stainless Steel forms for polishing; Electropolished the stainless steel; Treated the timber affected by rot; Reinstated the copper capping and stainless steel forms; Replaced any missing or worn fixtures