The conservation of Wolf Vostell’s colossal Concrete Traffic (1970)—a 1957 Cadillac covered in concrete—offered intriguing new insights into the life of the sculpture. The process also raised complicated questions about the artist’s intent for the object and the ethical considerations involved in treating it.

Join the team of art historians and conservators for an informal conversation about the treatments, tools, processes, and many different perspectives that shaped the conservation effort.

Free, but space is very limited. Advance registration is required. 

Participants

Christine Mehring
Chair and Professor in the Department of Art History and the College, The University of Chicago

Anna Weiss-Pfau
Campus Art Collection Coordinator & Conservator, The University of Chicago

Stephen Murphy
Curator and Restoration Specialist at Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage

Amanda Trienens
Principal Conservator, Cultural Heritage Conservation LLC

Presented by the University of Chicago’s Campus and Public Art program, Department of Art History, and Smart Museum of Art.

This event is part of Concrete Happenings at the University of Chicago, a collaborative series of public exhibitions, screenings, symposia, and other programs that mark the return of Wolf Vostell’s colossal Concrete Traffic (1970) to public view following a major conservation effort.