"Man and Freedom" Sculpture Declared Healthy Following Extensive Checkup

Monday, August 21, 2000

CONTACT: Rachel Nicholas 507-266-2641 (days) or John Murphy 507-538-1385 (days) 507-284-2511 (evenings) email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

For Immediate Release

Reinstallation scheduled for August 23 beginning at 5:30 a.m.

ROCHESTER, MINN– After coming down from the north wall of the Mayo Building two years ago, the "Man and Freedom" sculpture has undergone a thorough checkup and has been given a clean bill of health to return on Wednesday, August 23, 2000.

The sculpture was removed from the Mayo Building after the start of the Gonda Building construction. On the statue's return, it will be installed on the south wall of the Gonda Building Atrium, which also is the north wall of the Mayo Building.

The statue, which was first erected in 1954, went through an extensive evaluation and restoration during its time down. "It was a successful treatment," says Kristin Cheronis, senior objects conservator with Midwest Conservation of Minneapolis, the firm that evaluated the statue.

"Everything was just fine," says Sally Poduslo, Facility Project Services at Mayo Clinic. "There were no complications."

"Man and Freedom" came from the hands of the late international artist, Ivan Mestrovic, as a part of the building's art theme, "Mirror to Man." Mestrovic's straight-backed sculpture depicts man's concept and love of freedom through the portrayal of a young man straining to reach the sky.

The 6,500-pound sculpture was removed from the Mayo Building wall in September 1998, placed on its back and moved to storage in Rochester, where cleaning and restoration began on the stomach and front area.

In April, evaluation continued when two cranes lifted the 28-foot sculpture into a standing position. From this standing position, conservators from Midwest Conservation conducted a 24-hour stress test to evaluate a small crack on the statue's right arm.

Following the successful stress test, "Man and Freedom" was lowered onto its stomach to continue a thorough restoration of the back of the sculpture. While in this position two tasks were accomplished: conservators cleaned and restored the back side of the statue and contractors looked at pipe fittings needed for reinstallation.

"A lot of corrosion and holes had developed over the years, which caused some disfiguring. It really detracted from the beauty of the piece," says Cheronis. "But now, the sculpture looks like it did when it was made. It is just beautiful."

To guarantee a structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing sculpture, conservators cleaned the surface with brushes and a detergent solution to remove grime and bird guano. They removed loose corrosion particles using a low-pressure water jet and removed remaining deposits by hand.

Because "Man and Freedom's" new location is indoors, four weep holes that had been used drain rainwater were filled and toned to blend with the rest of the surface of the sculpture.

Following a one-day installation on August 23, Cheronis will apply a protective wax coating to the surface of the sculpture. Cheronis is preparing a maintenance program for Mayo staff to use in order to maintain and preserve "Man and Freedom" for years to come.

"Working on a sculpture as beautiful and big is 'Man and Freedom' has been very challenging, but also very gratifying at the same time," says Cheronis.

Mestrovic, the statue's artist, was born in Croatia, but came to the United States in 1947 following political strife in Eastern Europe. He became a professor at Syracuse University in New York. Mestrovic's deep religious beliefs and personal experiences led to his understanding of freedom, which are reflected in his art. "Sculpture and art in general should contribute to human civilization, to human progress and mankind's spiritual commitment," said Mestrovic. ###

When: August 23, 2000 Where: 5:30 a.m. – Mayo warehouse 6 a.m. — Gonda Building, south end (Mayo Building, north end)

Note: Media are asked not to enter the construction area inside the Gonda Building. Photographs and video can be taken of the sculpture's move from the Fullerton Lot through the streets of Rochester, the lifting of the statue over the Gonda Building and the lowering of the sculpture through the third level roof of the Gonda Building.

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