Assessment of Lenore Thomas Outdoor Sculptures at Hard Bargain Farm

FAIN: PG-51852-13

Alice Ferguson Foundation, Inc. (Accokeek, MD 20607-9794)
Lori Arguelles (Project Director: May 2012 to November 2014)

A conservation assessment of three outdoor sculptures by New Deal artist Lenore Thomas at Hard Bargain Farm, the home of artist Alice Ferguson. The Blue Rhinoceros was designed for a playground in Greenbelt, Maryland, by Thomas while she worked for the Special Skills Division of the Resettlement Administration of the Department of Agriculture. However, the sculpture was never erected as part of the Federal project. The work of Lenore Thomas has received increasing recognition by researchers and will be the topic of an exhibition by the Greenbelt Museum in 2014. These sculptures are also accessible to the public during visits to Hard Bargain Farm.

The Alice Ferguson Foundation will hire a conservation consultant to survey the conservation needs for the Blue Rhinoceros and two outdoor sculptures: Portrait of Alice Ferguson and Portrait of Henry Ferguson by Lenore Thomas (1909-1988) in the Foundation collections. The sculpture of the Blue Rhinoceros stands out as a memorable piece of Hard Bargain Farm history recognized and remembered by both visitors and staff, and the two portrait sculptures grace the historic Farmhouse entrance gateposts. For this project, the Alice Ferguson Foundation will retain the services of Howard Wellman Conservation LLC, a contract conservation specialist. He will review the works, perform an examination and conduct scientific investigation and testing. Upon completion of the assessment, Mr. Wellman will provide a condition report, conservation treatment proposal and digital images of the pieces.