If you walked through Old Town Eureka this week, you likely noticed a change at the Romano Gabriel Wooden Sculpture Garden on Second Street. Volunteers and staff from the Humboldt Arts Council are currently moving the famous folk art collection to temporary storage. This effort is not permanent, but it is necessary for a major building restoration project.
Winter storms caused roof damage that led to water issues inside the facility. While the structure needs repairs to protect its future, the artwork itself remained safe on its platforms. The arts council secured grant funding from the Kohler Foundation to oversee this preservation work. Experts from the Balboa Art Conservation Center are now on-site to assess, clean, and stabilize every individual piece, from small hand-carved apples to massive 20-foot trees.
Romano Gabriel created this collection using reclaimed wood, often sourced from fruit crates, after serving in World War I. His work moved from his private yard on Pine Street to a permanent home in Old Town several years after his death in 1977. The current project aims to preserve these sculptures without altering their character or original paint.
The restoration process should take two months, with the goal of returning the collection to its public display by winter. Documentarian Jeffrey Reinus is currently capturing the process for a film about Gabriel, and he is still seeking early photographs of the original Pine Street garden to aid his research.
Those interested in supporting the project can assist with volunteer workdays scheduled for August 19 and August 20. The team meets in front of the display location at 315 Second Street at 1 p.m. to continue the work.