[shimmery music]
- I've cemented myself into Wisconsin Concrete Park
while delving into the conservation work being done
to preserve this quirky part of Wisconsin's history.
? ?
I started my visit in the tavern Fred Smith built
to chat with Ann Grzywnowicz,
Operations Manager of the Friends of Fred Smith,
to uncover what's so special about this county park.
- Ann Grzywnowicz: I think what makes it the most special
is that all of the statues
were created by one artist, Fred Smith,
and he created them all over a 16-year period,
and so he was working very hard throughout those 16 years.
He was very inspired.
- And what types of, I guess, objects
are featured in the park?
- He kind of took inspiration from many different areas.
He really liked to focus on some of the local people around,
but also figures of national importance.
So, there's a Paul Bunyan, Abe Lincoln.
There's a plaque that has a Statue of Liberty on it.
He really honored and respected the Native American community,
so there's several Native American statues.
- Awesome, and art conservation is a big component here.
- Yes, it is very crucial that we preserve the statues
because of the harsh Wisconsin winters, the weather,
and just having concrete statues outside
is not the ideal location.
We have to hire two professionals that
come and do the main repairs, which is the stability issues
to make sure that the limbs aren't falling off the statues,
that none of them are falling down,
because that does happen.
- So, I went to see that conservation work in action,
meeting Ben Caguioa, a member of the team
working to keep the statues standing.
- Hi, Ben. - Ben Caguioa: Oh, hi.
- What are you working on?
- I'm working on a blown-out ankle on this sculpture.
I've already welded some stainless steel
to the original armature,
and now, I'm in the process
of replacing all these broken pieces off.
So I've just mixed up some marine-grade epoxy,
and I'll be gluing in the pieces kind of like a puzzle.
- Can you show us a little bit of what that looks like?
- Ben Caguioa: Yeah!
So, right now, I'm just kind of pre-fitting them
to make sure that I can get them all into position,
and this is more to figure out the order
in which I need to glue things.
And I think I'm in a good spot.
So now, this is ready for me to put some adhesive on
so I could permanently glue it in place.
- So, it's literally like putting a puzzle together.
- The most important part is not locking a piece out.
I was an art major in college,
and then, I decided I needed a little steadier income.
[laughs]
- Angela: That would be a driver.
It literally also feels like
you're helping to preserve history.
[carefree banjo and guitar]
Wow, it looks like it's back to its original form.
- Ben Caguioa: Thank you. [laughter]
- Angela: It's been an exciting look into art restoration
while touring Fred Smith's concrete creations.
[sunny banjo and guitar]