“Argosy” sculpture undergoing renovations

The traffic circle at the 16th Street entrance of the University was blocked off this morning by a crane that lifted the red towering sculpture that is placed there, quite the same way Marty’s Cube was lifted from it’s spot in front of Deuxieme Maison in May.

But the sculpture, owned by the same collector that took back the 15-foot spinning cube, isn’t going anywhere.

The Margulies Collection curator, Katherine Hinds, said the University informed her that “Argosy,” a sculpture by Alexander Liberman, would undergo renovations this month. The crane was lifting the sculpture to renovate the base it is planted on.

The Argosy sculpture being lifted by a crane for renovations this month.

The sculpture is part of the Margulies Collection and on loan to the University. Marty’s Cube, however, had been donated to the school around 2009 and the University chose to return it after 16 years of hosting in on campus.

In May, President Mark B. Rosenberg made the decision to return the cube to Martin Margulies due to safety concerns.

Hinds said back in May that over a period of time outdoor sculptures tend to have maintenance needs.

“Universities make budgetary decisions,” said Hinds, who was glad that the University gave her the opportunity to take back the cube to renovate it and bring it back to top-notch conditions.

However, once it’s fixed, the cube will not be coming home to FIU.

“We will then decide where to re-donate the work,” said Hinds.

The cube will be donated to another educational institution in Florida, one that will have the funds to maintain the sculpture, she added.

-news@fiusm.com