Restoration
Student Interns working on the outer most outer wall of Pasaquan. Here they prepare the walls to be primed by fixing sculptural irregularities in the wall and design.
In 2019 Dr. Kerri Taylor, Associate Professor, Chemistry, and Mike McFalls, Professor of Art and Director of Pasaquan, received a "seed grant" from Columbus State University to conduct numerous quantitative and qualitative tests to help determine the cause of the "fading" paints at Pasaquan. In 2020 Columbus State University and the Pasaquan Preservation Society approached the RDK Foundation to request an invitation to submit a grant to resolve this paint problem plaguing the site. The RDK Foundation furthers the vision and legacy of Ruth DeYoung Kohler II and, to that end, provides grants limited exclusively to supporting the visual and performing arts. In August of 2021, the trustees of the RDK Foundation invited CSU and PPS to submit a proposal requesting support for Pasaquan. Our $285,000 proposal was accepted in November 2021, and since January 2022, we have been working to restore the paint on the art environment. This project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024.
Interns color matching the existing paint on-site. The collected Pantone colors are matched to the selected paints.
Charles Fowler, the caretaker of Pasaquan, demonstrates the process of locating and fixing sculptural irregularities and issues during the Interns’ training.
Student Interns preparing the walls for painting by fixing sculptural issues and priming the walls for color paints.
Part of the restoration project is to create a “manual” for future restorations.