Arts & Culture
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The Hirshhorn Museum's plaza, first opened in 1974, displays recent sculptures by international artists and, along with the sculpture garden, receives more than 400,000 visitors each year. Visitors are invited to look, relax, study, stroll, sketch, and take photographs, but not to touch the sculptures. Steel and other metal works are made from several welded pieces whose connections can weaken and break under weight, while bronze sculptures are hollow casts with thin surfaces that are easily dented or scratched. Outdoor sculptures also suffer from urban air pollution and are protected by a delicate coating of clear wax that erodes when touched, even lightly, exposing the surface to the elements. Fingernails and jewelry can also leave tiny scratches that cannot be fixed, so climbing on, sitting on, or leaning against any sculpture is not permitted in order to preserve these artworks for future generations.
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Washington, District of Columbia · United States
