Wichita State University (Edwin A. Ulrich Museum)

The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art will treat and stabilize the condition of a portion of Personnages Oiseaux (Bird People), the 26 x 52 foot glass-and-marble mosaic created specifically for the museum and installed on its façade by modern artist Joan Miró. The mosaic has been deinstalled in sections in preparation for treatment. During this phase of the project, fallen tesserae (the small blocks that make up the mosaic) will be re-adhered on groups of panels or replaced with new pieces acquired from the original source. Epoxy resin will be removed, and the particleboard backing of each panel will be replaced with stainless steel. A new adhesive will be applied, and the anterior glass-and-marble tesserae will be cleaned with various solutions and dental tools. The story of the mosaic’s conservation will be featured in gallery exhibitions, a Miró kiosk, campus tours, websites, museum newsletter articles, and a documentary film to be produced by the university’s Media Resources Center.