Preparing for the Capitol's 100th Anniversary
Preparing for the State Capitol's 100th Anniversary: The Council's Role in Preserving the Structure and Collections
by Amber Sharples, Visual Arts Director
In three short years, the State of Oklahoma will mark the 100th anniversary of the groundbreaking of our state's Capitol building. Constructed from 1914 to 1917 in the classic Greco-Roman style (also known as Neo-classical), the Capitol was later designated as a National Register of Historic Places site in 1976. The building stands tall and proud, representing the tradition and accomplishments of this great state, both as the seat of government, ceremonial emblem of the People's Building, and the home of more than 100 murals, paintings, and sculptures that adorn its interior and grounds.
As the centennial celebration of the State Capitol quickly approaches, the Oklahoma Arts Council has focused its efforts as Collections Manager to review the care, management, and preservation of state-owned artwork in the public areas. The Council was recently awarded $6,840 from Heritage Preservation for a conservation assessment for the State Capitol and the collections on exhibit in this historic structure, including the Oklahoma State Capitol Art Collection and the Oklahoma State Art Collection.
The grant consists of three steps in the conservation assessment: a self-study questionnaire undertaken by the Council's collections staff; the gathering of information by a qualified conservator and a historic structures architect who conduct 2-day on-site reviews; and, the formal reports written by the assessors of their findings and recommendations. The completed conservation assessment reports will identify and describe the problems that affect the preservation of collections and the Capitol, analyze the causes of these problems, and suggest a plan of action.
On June 1-2, 2011, the conservator and historic structures architect spent two days on-site at the Capitol reviewing the collections, practices, and conditions that affect the care and preservation of artwork and the building. This collaborative effort and visit by the two assessors will result in two reports that include their findings and prioritized recommendations. The reports will be presented to the State Capitol Preservation Commission this fall and will serve as a tool for implementing improved collections care strategies as well as developing a long-range conservation plan that integrates collections and the historic building.
As Collections Manager, the Council's staff monitors and records levels of environmental agents such as light, relative humidity, temperature, and air pollution that may affect artwork in the Capitol. In addition, the staff inspects and records the condition of objects, manages the use of collection objects, organizes exhibitions, practices proper handling and storage standards, and develops an emergency management plan for all state-owned artwork.
Since 2009, the Oklahoma Arts Council has served as Collections Manager for the Oklahoma State Capitol Art Collection. The preservation and care of works of art is fundamental to the Council's mission to provide Oklahomans access to high quality exhibitions, programs, education, and outreach.
As the Council's Visual Arts Director/Collections Manager, Amber Sharples is responsible for the exhibition, care, and management of the Oklahoma State Capitol Art Collection and Oklahoma State Art Collection. Her responsibilities include oversight and maintenance of records, loans, inventories, insurance, proper display and lighting of collection objects, and rights and reproduction requests related to works in the State Capitol.