AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

Electronic media works often pose challenges with preservation and display, but when the electrical components are 60 years old, even more complicated decisions must be considered. With the 1963 mixed media artwork Wall Structure in Nine Parts, Each Containing a Work of Art by Other Artists by American artist Sol LeWitt (1928-2007), there was concern about exhibiting the work with the aged thermal flasher relays and electrical wiring, as well as accurately representing the original Artist intent.

The artwork consists of nine boxes joined together in a 3x3 orientation, each containing an artwork by a different artist that is revealed by lights flashing on and off. The corner boxes are each illuminated by a 10-watt lightbulb, and the remaining boxes are illuminated by a single 75-watt lightbulb in the center box. The lights are wired on two different thermal flasher relays: one for the four corner bulbs and one for the central bulb. The relays turn their corresponding lights on and off. Switching at slightly different rates, the corner bulbs and central bulb oscillate over time between switching in unison and switching oppositely.

In 2022, a full condition assessment was carried out, and while the sculpture could still be turned on, the original electrical components were in various states of degradation. The relays were causing the lights to turn on and off sporadically and inconsistently. Glenstone’s conservation team and electrician were concerned about the possibility of electrical arcing or an electrical fire when the relays ultimately fail, as the mechanics of thermal flasher relays leave them prone to gradual degradation over time. There was also some concern about yellowed wires and splices held together with degrading electrical tape.

Conversations with the Artist’s Estate, the LeWitt Collection, and a conservation colleague who had treated a similar LeWitt sculpture were influential in developing the most sympathetic and authentic treatment approach for Wall Structure in Nine Parts, Each Containing a Work of Art by Other Artists. These discussions lead to a consensus about how to best preserve the electrical functionality in the long term.

The Estate-approved treatment was carried out in collaboration with Glenstone’s licensed electrician to properly address the aged electrical components. The project involved rewiring the entire work without altering the original appearance of the piece. New relays were programmed to best approximate the existing timing. Lightbulbs were replaced with modern equivalents to ensure they do not burn out during the duration of an exhibition. Additionally, a stockpile of lightbulbs was acquired to ensure the artwork can be displayed in the future. The original electrical components removed from the Artwork were accessioned in the museum’s Artist Material Archive for safe storage and future reference. The poster showcases a successful collaborative treatment of an aging electronic media artwork that allows the piece to be safely displayed as the Artist intended, while ensuring the possibility of any necessary future modifications.