Bloomington, Indiana – One of Indiana University Bloomington’s most recognizable landmarks, the vivid red Peau Rouge Indiana sculpture by world-renowned artist Alexander Calder, is getting a complete and carefully planned restoration more than half a century after its original installation. Standing boldly in front of the Musical Arts Center, the 40-foot-tall abstract form has long symbolized IU’s devotion to creativity, innovation, and the arts. Now, after 55 years of weathering and exposure, the university has launched a comprehensive conservation project to ensure that Calder’s striking creation continues to shine for future generations.
The restoration effort is both technical and symbolic — a commitment not only to preserving art but also to safeguarding an essential part of the university’s cultural identity. As part of the project, the sculpture is being stripped to bare metal, treated for corrosion, and refinished using high-performance industrial coatings. The finishing touch will be the reapplication of Calder’s distinctive orange-red hue, famously known as Calder Red.
“The university views the restoration as an investment in cultural heritage, public art and campus identity,” said Katie Chattin, IU’s director of public art and cultural heritage and associate director of University Collections. “Peau Rouge Indiana is not only a significant work by a major American artist, but also a symbol of IU’s commitment to the arts and its historical connection to donor Oscar R. Ewing. The project is supported by internal planning and external partnerships and aligns with IU’s broader goals of preserving its public art collection for future generations.”
A LEGACY ROOTED IN ART AND HISTORY
The story of Peau Rouge Indiana is as much about IU’s history as it is about Calder’s artistic genius. The sculpture was commissioned through the generosity of Oscar R. Ewing, a distinguished IU alumnus who graduated in 1910 with a degree in philosophy. Ewing led a remarkable career in law, business, and politics, serving as administrator of the Federal Security Agency under President Harry Truman — a position that made him a key advocate for civil rights and the expansion of social programs.
His gift of the sculpture coincided with the construction of the Musical Arts Center in the early 1970s, linking the visual and performing arts in one enduring tribute. The sculpture, completed in 1970 and dedicated in 1971, predates the center’s own dedication in 1972. Constructed from massive sheets of bolted metal, Peau Rouge Indiana quickly became a visual landmark on campus — a meeting place, a photo backdrop, and a powerful statement of modern art’s role within a public university setting.
Ewing had already shown his deep loyalty to IU decades earlier, establishing a fund for an annual philosophy essay prize in the late 1930s. His decision to donate a Calder piece to celebrate IU’s 150th birthday reflected not only his passion for the arts but also his belief in education’s enduring power to inspire.
CALDER’S GLOBAL IMPACT
By the time Calder created Peau Rouge Indiana, he had already become a global icon. Best known for his innovative mobiles and monumental outdoor sculptures — or “stabiles” — Calder had redefined public art through abstract forms that seemed to balance both motion and stillness. Beginning his career in the 1930s, he gained international fame by the 1940s and spent the following decades producing large-scale works across the world.
IU officials first took note of Calder’s work after seeing one of his sculptures in Michigan, a piece that captured the bold movement and structural harmony that Calder was known for. When the university sought an artwork to complement the new Musical Arts Center, his name rose to the top of the list.
Calder designed Peau Rouge Indiana at his studio in France, using photographs and scale drawings of the Bloomington campus to ensure the sculpture would harmonize with the building’s architecture. After fabrication, the massive structure was disassembled, shipped across the Atlantic, and reassembled at IU under Calder’s precise direction.
“It’s an important piece of art history, but it’s also an important piece of IU history,” said Chattin. “Considering these two aspects of the piece, we are really proud to own this work.”
THE RESTORATION PROCESS
The restoration, the most extensive since the sculpture’s last repainting in 2007, has required an extraordinary level of coordination. The process began with the careful removal of old paint and corrosion, achieved through sandblasting to expose the bare metal beneath. Once cleaned, the metal surface was treated with a protective zinc coating to prevent flash rusting before receiving a multilayer primer system and, finally, the rich Calder Red finish.
To ensure every step meets museum-grade conservation standards, IU partnered with the Calder Foundation and Abigail Mack, a renowned sculpture conservator and owner of Mack Art Conservation. Mack, who has worked on more than 400 Calder artworks — including 150 large outdoor pieces — designed the treatment plan and oversees the restoration in collaboration with the contractor and the university’s facilities experts.
“This is the major treatment for Peau Rouge, and we aim to apply a high-performance coating system that, besides intermittent top-coating, will not need this degree of work for another generation,” said Mack.
The paint system used for this restoration is a specially adapted military-grade coating originally designed for camouflage vehicles. Developed through a partnership between the Calder Foundation and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, the formula provides a matte finish with superior durability against weather and UV damage — a perfect fit for preserving outdoor sculptures exposed to Indiana’s fluctuating climate.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Because of the sculpture’s immense size and welded structure, the restoration work is being carried out on-site rather than in a studio. The team built a full containment enclosure around the sculpture to control environmental exposure and protect nearby pedestrians and landscaping. Inside, every bolt, seam, and panel is examined and restored with precision.
Mack worked closely with IU structural engineer Dan Backler from Capital Planning and Facilities to assess the sculpture’s footings and structural integrity. After decades of outdoor exposure, certain anchor points required reinforcement to ensure long-term stability. “The footings, after 50 years of display, require special attention in some places,” Mack explained.
The timing of the project was another crucial factor. Paint of this quality requires specific temperature and humidity conditions for proper curing, which is why work was scheduled during the fall. The paint removal phase concluded in late October, primer application followed in early November, and the finishing coats began on November 11. The protective enclosure and surrounding sod are expected to be removed and restored by early December.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE
Funding for the restoration comes from the Bryan Public Art Restoration Fund, established in 2016 and supported by the estate of IU’s 10th president, William Lowe Bryan. The project is privately funded, reflecting the university’s long-standing philosophy that public art is not merely decoration but an integral part of the educational experience.
“It’s just really exciting,” Chattin said. “We’ve been working toward this for so long. It’s just a matter of bringing together the right group of experts that can complete a job like this.”
Beyond the technical process, the restoration represents IU’s larger commitment to preserving its vast collection of public art — a collection that shapes the campus landscape and reflects its mission to blend tradition with innovation. For students, faculty, and visitors alike, the renewed Peau Rouge Indiana will continue to serve as a vivid reminder of IU’s devotion to culture and creativity.
As the scaffolding comes down and the sculpture reemerges in its freshly painted glory, the bright red silhouette of Calder’s masterpiece will once again capture the imagination of all who pass by the Musical Arts Center. What began as a bold artistic statement in the early 1970s will soon stand revitalized — a powerful bridge between the university’s artistic past and its ever-evolving future.
