Caring for George Segal’s Artwork at the FDR Memorial
Russell Bernabo cleans the Appalachain Couple statue at the FDR Memorial.
Thanks to a generous grant from the George and Helen Segal Foundation, the FDR Memorial Foundation is funding the first known cleaning of George Segal’s sculptures at the FDR Memorial.
George Segal created three iconic works—Appalachian Couple, Fireside Chat, and Breadline—featured in Room Two of the FDR Memorial. An internationally acclaimed American sculptor and major figure in 20th-century figurative art, Segal was renowned for his lifelike sculptures, which he created using plaster casts of real people. His work brought a powerful sense of humanity and social experience to public art.
At the FDR Memorial, Segal’s sculptures invite visitors to do more than observe the artwork—they become part of it. Visitors walk alongside the figures and place themselves within the breadline, creating a powerful and personal connection to the experiences of Americans during the Great Depression.
Art conservator Russell Bernabo, who cleaned and stabilized the FDR Presidential Seal, FDR wheelchair statue, and Eleanor Roosevelt text panel earlier this year, applied his expertise to Segal’s sculptures in September. The cleaning will help ensure that visitors can continue to see and experience these remarkable works as intended.
The President of the George and Helen Segal Foundation emphasized the importance of the project: “This is work that is long overdue. These three sculptures are essential to the FDR Memorial and are a vital part of his legacy. We are proud to have made this grant to help ensure that the art is kept in the best condition possible for visitors to learn from and experience.”
We are grateful to the George and Helen Segal Foundation for supporting this important work and helping make the visitor experience at the FDR Memorial even more meaningful.