The cherished bronze statues that have stood as landmarks at Fig Garden Village in Fresno for years may have been permanently damaged after property management had them painted black. The statues, which have been beloved fixtures at the shopping center located at Shaw and Palm Avenues, were recently repainted along with benches and railings as part of what management described as maintenance work.
According to the on-site property manager, the statues had previously been painted green many years ago and were showing signs of deterioration. In an effort to refresh their appearance, the decision was made to repaint them black along with other fixtures throughout the property. However, the painting of bronze statues is typically considered problematic by art preservation experts, as it can obscure the natural patina and artistic details that make bronze sculptures valuable.
The repainting comes at a time of transition for Fig Garden Village, as the property recently changed hands. Two major commercial real estate companies, DRA Advisors and CenterCal Properties, acquired the shopping center with plans for significant improvements. DRA Advisors is a New York-based investment advisory firm, while CenterCal is a full-service commercial real estate company headquartered in Costa Mesa, California.
The acquisition was officially completed on May 9th, according to announcements from both DRA Advisors and CenterCal Properties. The new ownership has indicated that additional improvements and renovations are expected as they work to revitalize the shopping center. However, the fate of the painted bronze statues remains uncertain, as restoration experts may need to assess whether the paint can be safely removed without causing further damage to the underlying bronze surfaces.
