The Oconomowoc mural, which was taken off of the wall in the 1970's and stored in the basement of the post office, was in devastating condition when it arrived at the laboratory in 2003. The original adhesive used to adhere the mural to the wall was lead based, a common adhesive for artists of the time. While this adhesive is extremely strong, it is considered non-reversible. Much paint loss must have occurred during the removal process, due to the shear force that was needed to tug it from the wall. Conservation efforts brought the mural back to its original form, and it was installed and rededicated at the Oconomowoc post office that same year. | |
