Collection: Retired or Deaccessioned Art
These pieces have been deaccessioned and are no longer part of the public art collection.
Public art may be deaccessioned for many reasons:
Public art may be deaccessioned for many reasons:
- Temporary designs and materials. Some public art is intended to only last for days, weeks, or month. It may be created for a specific event, or is meant to enhance a space that is being prepared for construction.
- Environmental damages. The elements can damage art and shorten its lifespan. In Colorado, plentiful sunshine and harsh UV rays will fade paints, degrade protective coatings, and break down plastic or rubber components. Hail and windstorms damage houses and public art. Rain and snow can corrode sculpture foundations and pieces of art. Freeze-thaw cycles can make stone, concrete, and ceramics crack and flake.
- Design, material, construction, or installation flaws. Artists are required to use durable materials and follow best practices, and the City of Thornton inspects and signs off on each piece of art when it is completed. Despite these efforts, sometimes a hidden weld point will fail, or manufacturer claims about durability will be unrealistic.
- Site, surface, or soil issues. Sometimes the location for a piece of art causes its premature failure. Considerable efforts are made to reduce the probability of experiencing location issues (i.e. geotechnical soil analysis to evaluate how much the earth might settle or expand prior to installing a load bearing foundation, surfaces cleaned or smoothed prior to mural application, etc.).
- Vandalism. Public art may be removed in an effort to reduce graffiti, vandalism, or other unwanted behaviors in a specific location. Vandalism may damage a piece to the point where it is not feasible to repair or restore the art.
