After months of work, the Iron Horse sculpture has been returned to the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm. The sculpture was lifted from its base earlier this year and transported to a workshop, where it was repaired and repainted over the summer and fall.
The 12-foot, 2-ton sculpture was created in 1954 by Abbott Pattison while he was an artist-in-residence at the University of Georgia. The horse, made from welded pieces of boilerplate steel, was met with derision from students when it was placed on campus.
It was later moved to a farm in Greene County by L.C. Curtis of UGA’s Horticulture Department. The Curtis family deeded the horse to the university, and it now stands on the Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm, approximately 25 miles south of Athens on Highway 15.
“We are grateful to everyone who made the renovation of the Iron Horse possible,” said Dean of Students Eric Atkinson. “All of this work will help ensure that the Iron Horse will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
The recent work was overseen by sculptor and artwork conservator Amy Abbe. Abbe evaluated the sculpture and determined that after years of being outdoors, repairs were needed to its structural integrity.
The restoration cleaned the sculpture, removed corrosion, reinforced joints, and repainted it black. A concrete plaque has also been installed near the sculpture with details about its history.
