Tech Meets Tradition: Preserving Campus Art with Materials Engineering
- Time
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Tuesday, Mar 10, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
- Location
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Christian Petersen Art Museum
In conjunction with the exhibition "Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection," materials engineer Sawyer Krotz will join curator Sydney Marshall for a dynamic exploration of how technology is shaping the future of the conservation of sculpture. Following a guided tour of the exhibition, watch a live demonstration of object scanning and learn how these tools can support the preservation and restoration of public art.
Iowa's freeze-thaw cycles cause water to expand within terra cotta, breaking off surface material over time. Christian Petersen's 1930s terra cotta sculptures have weathered this process for nine decades, and the exhibition puts examples of this damage on view. The scanning demonstration will reveal how Iowa State documented the "History of Dairying fountain" before replication. Digital files solve the centuries-old shrinkage problem inherent to terra cotta casting. These conservation techniques have applications beyond public art, including historic preservation and architectural replication. Especially great for anyone interested in materials engineering, museum conservation, or historic preservation—no technical background required.
Free and open to the public.