Binghamton Government Square Sculpture Clean-up Day
Two valuable and sometimes controversial works of public art in Binghamton town center received special attention.
The Government Plaza sculptures on Hawley Street were thoroughly cleaned on Friday.
The pressure washing work was carried out by Monumenta Art Conservation and Finishing under contract with the State General Service Office.
Monumenta co-owner Abigail Mack and a company employee worked to remove dirt and debris from the “Cono Tronco” and “I-Beam” sculptures.
At one point, they discovered mud wasps and a chicken bone inside “Cono Tronco” – which in Italian means “broken cone”.
Sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro was paid $ 75,000 by the state for the project about half a century ago.
Artist and architect Masao Kinoshita received $ 205,000 for his work titled “I-Beam”.
A third sculpture – “Dawn’s Column” by Louise Nevelson – had been located near Binghamton Town Hall. It was withdrawn last November because it needs repairs. Nevelson was paid $ 60,000 for this sculpture. It is now in storage.
State officials won’t say what the three sculptures are worth, although people who know them say they could now be valued at a few million dollars.
Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: [email protected].
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