Flat Iron sculpture removed for repair, restoration

Passersby in downtown Asheville got another surprise today as the iconic Flat Iron sculpture — knocked off its base in a Feb. 28 car accident — was gone. The sculpture was removed for “complete restoration,” according to a release from the city’s Parks and Recreation department.

The sculpture, which sits at the intersection of Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue, was removed this morning, according to the city. While damage from the accident itself was minor, “it was determined the piece should be restored and painted before being reinstalled,” according to the release.

“In the last year the City of Asheville conducted a conservation assessment of its entire public art collection including the Flat Iron,” the release state. “The assessment concluded the Flat Iron is in need of restoration to repair of paint loss, abrasions, corrosion and general cleaning.”

Helping in the restoration will be Asheville-based sculptor Reed Todd, the man who made the sculpture. The city hopes to have the famous iron back in its usual place within a month.

The full release is below.

Click here to see a photo gallery of the iron after the crash.

—David Forbes, staff writer

FLAT IRON SCULPTURE TO BE FULLY RESTORED AFTER CAR ACCIDENT

Asheville, NC – The Urban Trail Flat Iron sculpture was removed this morning from its location at the corner of Wall Street and Battery Park Avenue for a complete restoration. The sculpture was recently hit by an automobile which dislodged it from its metal base and moved the sculpture approximately six feet from its original location. 

Although minor damage was done to the Flat Iron, it was determined the piece should be restored and painted before being reinstalled.  In the last year the City of Asheville conducted a conservation assessment of its entire public art collection including the Flat Iron. The assessment concluded the Flat Iron is in need of restoration to repair of paint loss, abrasions, corrosion and general cleaning.

Local artist Reed Todd created the Flat Iron as part of the Urban Trail. Todd will also do the restoration and the sculpture is scheduled to be reinstalled at its original location within one month.

The Asheville Urban Trail is a walking tour through downtown Asheville that highlights the unique architecture, people, and historic events of the city.

###

 

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.