Damage and repair of scrim in Robert Irwin’s untitled (dawn to dusk)
Shortly before Chinati’s summer solstice event in 2019 in Robert Irwin’s installation untitled (dawn to dusk), the scrim on the dark side was damaged by an impact. The impact left a 37-inch long tear at the bottom of the scrim. It was repaired with the aid of Chinati’s former Director of Conservation Bettina Landgrebe, Vickie Arndt, a former art installer of the Dia Foundation, and Chinati Conservation Associate, Tobin Becker.
This work was done in collaboration with former Dia art installer Vickie Arndt, former Chinati Conservator Bettina Landgrebe and Chinati Conservation Associate Tobin Becker. 
Detail of damaged scrim before treatment 
Bettina Landgrebe removes staples from the scrim 
Vickie Arndt and Tobin Becker preparing to attach repair strip to the scrim with a heat set adhesive 
Bettina Landgrebe, Tobin Becker and Vickie Arndt repair the scrim using a heated spatula to affix the heat set adhesive 
Bettina Landgrebe using a heated spatula to affix the heat set adhesive 
Pressure placed on scrim while adhesive cools down 
Detail of scrim after repair strip was successfully adhered 
Bettina Landgrebe staples scrim with aide of a shim 
Razor trimming the edge of the repair strip after shooting in the staples 
Detail of scrim after treatment
The treatment steps included the following:
A strip of scrim was prepared for the repair:
- A repair strip of the same material was made by carefully pulling fibers along one edge
- A piece of BEVA heat-set adhesive film was then affixed to the prepared edge
The repair was executed as follows:
- The staples were carefully removed from the wood support in the damaged area.
- The frayed and torn edges of the damaged area were trimmed with a razor blade.
- The repair strip was adhered along the very bottom on the damaged scrim with the BEVA heat-set adhesive using a heated spatula.
- Pressure was placed on both sides of the scrim while the adhesive was allowed to cool and set.
- After the repair strip was adhered, the excess fabric was pulled taught and stapled in place using a shim to position the staples straight and even.
- The excess material at the bottom of the repair strip was trimmed with a razor blade.
Chinati staff who participated in the repair:
Shelley M. Smith, Director of Conservation
Tobin Becker, Conservation Assistant/Museum Preparator
Christopher Gonzales, Conservation Intern
Volunteers:
Bettina Landgrebe, Chinati’s former Director of Conservation
Vickie Arndt, former Museum Preparator for the Dia Foundation who has extensive experience working with the artist, Robert Irwin