Melvin Schuler Sculpture Restoration and Reinstallation Project
Published on Aug 27 2026(Story by Ruth Jensen, Gallery Specialist, College of the Redwoods)
Melvin Schuler was a prominent and well-known Humboldt county teacher and multimedia artist who lived and worked in our community for many years. After his passing in 2012, his legacy and community connections remain rooted and well-remembered by his friends and community members in our area. His work continues to be highly sought after and recognized by collectors and museums across the nation. CR is privileged to have in our permanent collection one of the largest-scale and most unique and valuable examples of his sculptural work. It is an impressive wall sculpture that stretches nearly 20 feet across and towers upwards nearly 10 feet high. Schuler created his large sculpture with some of his signature materials, wood and patinated copper alongside multiple large abstract forms made of plaster covered by sand.
In 1972, Schuler's sculpture was the first art piece commissioned by PG&E. It originally resided in their former Eureka office from 1972 to 1995. When PG&E sold their building to The Carrington Company, the sculpture was donated to the college and installed in the main entrance foyer of the old theater in the Forum building. For decades, it stood firmly affixed to the walls, enjoyed by many but also exposed to elements of time, humidity and pest intrusion. The sculpture continued to remain there after the building was discontinued from use over a decade ago.
Last fall semester, the President's Innovation Grant was awarded, and it allowed CR staff to start the removal, restoration and re-installation of this priceless and irreplaceable sculpture, saving it from demolition and further damage in the unused Forum building. This massive project began completely in the dark. There were no records, no instructions, and despite inquiries and research; no one was still around who could provide detailed knowledge about Schuler's wall sculpture, just general remembrances and vague facts recalled.
From January to March 2026, Ruth Jensen, Gallery & Collections Care ISS, reached out to two local art specialists, Adam Taylor and Erica Botkin, who agreed to be hired as part-time temporary CR staff. They contributed not only invaluable art handling expertise and precision, but they are also both professional photographers and brought in their equipment, free of charge, and skills to meticulously document the sculpture's original location and condition. They carefully examined and assessed the wall sculpture on site in the Forum building. They began the process of removing it from the wall. It was discovered that the sculpture had sustained much damage from its previous installation. It had been cut and drilled into, bolted directly onto the wall through the external and highly visible front layer of sand-coated plaster. Poorly plaster-patched holes littered the surface of the sculpture. Layers of damp dust were carefully cleaned from the artwork. It was also discovered that each of the eighteen main sand-coated plaster components of the wall sculpture were very heavy, weighing between 52-92 pounds each. The large size and weight of each component of this sculpture required increased safety precautions, time, and care. Finally, a team consisting of CR staff from the art department and facilities along with support from student staff and volunteers were able to complete the full deinstallation of the wall sculpture and transport it to the Sculpture Lab in the Creative Arts Complex immediately after instruction ended in May 2026, so that restoration could began right away.
Once again, this new project phase of restoration began with no reference, and no
documentation of how the sculpture was previously constructed or created, but there
was critical timeline that had to be met for completion due to the size and space
requirements of restoration. Christine Reiher, CR's Sculpture and Ceramics Specialist,
began meticulous material research, to match the sand and adhesive currently on the
sculpture, and soon discovered that the type of materials used in 1972 were no longer
available from vendors today. Due to this, material purchasing required more time,
effort, and creative problem solving. Many inquiries were made at all types of local
and online vendors, well outside of the typical scope of product purchasing. Sample
acquisition and testing continued in order to find a way around this unexpected materials
set back, as well as the process to rebuild and recast the parts of the sculpture
that had been previously cut away. With consultation from Shannon Sullivan, primary
faculty advisor of the Permanent Collection, it was determined that the entire surface
of all sand-coated plaster forms would have to be carefully resurfaced and restored
to match the look and the original integrity of Melvin Schuler's piece. Christine
and Erica both worked intensively and carefully to complete the wall sculpture restoration
by July 2026 and have the artwork
ready it for its move and re-installation.
In late July 2026, Ruth Jensen, Erica Botkin and CR student gallery assistant, Logan
Schuman, began installing an improved and less invasive sturdy wooden French cleat
hanging system on the back of Schuler's sculpture. This new hanging system, unlike
the
old one, would be able to invisibly hold the immense weight of the artwork all while
leaving the visible newly restored surface undamaged. Almquist Lumber was consulted
for the lumber and milling work, and they were able to quickly deliver the finished
hanging system directly to the college at a fraction of initial cleat system cost
estimate. For this final phase, Erica Botkin and Logan Schuman agreed to offer their
unique skillset which combined art handling experience and attention to detail with
their weightlifting capabilities, all absolutely required to safely move and lift
each heavy component up and down, on and off the wall. Erica and Logan initially used
the largest wall at the Floyd Bettiga Gallery to fully stage the installation in order
to develop a streamline installation methodology with necessary safety equipment and
tools close at hand. Once this initial test installation was complete, they were able
to carefully pack up and move equipment and each part of the wall sculpture to its
new location at the Eureka Downtown Campus with coordination and support from CR Facilities
and Laura Meglemre in the Division Office. The new wall was previously prepped by
landlord Ron Pileggi, who coordinated with the EDTN staff to move a light fixture
and address other small obstructions. Once the sculpture arrived at its new home,
installation went smoothly and efficiently. The old growth redwood frame which bordered
the sculpture in its previous space was re-fitted, cut, finished, and adjusted for
its new location. All of the final major installation labor was completed by Logan
and Erica and concluded on August 13, 2026.
Looking forward, a reception will be planned this semester to open and showcase this
beautifully restored and treasured artwork to the public. We hope to make a placard
and further document the sculpture in its new space, so that those who visit and care
for this
sculpture in future will have easy access to its history and story. This complex and
massive project involved many conversations and contributions from so people in our
CR community as well as extensive efforts reaching out to the local community members
for assistance. We are so grateful for the immense effort, labor, and sheer strength
involved with giving this artwork a new life and new home in a beautiful new space.
We hope that it can be enjoyed by all who visit CR for years to come as well as honor
Melvin Schuler's
spirit, labor and place in our community and his creation of this incredible work
of art.