Orlando art lovers have a fascinating afternoon ahead in Winter Park. On Thursday, November 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens presents Beyond the Rust: The Restoration of Albin Polasek’s Sunrise, a behind-the-scenes talk with the experts who brought one of the Czech-American sculptor’s beloved works back to life.
The program brings together Pam Brandon, whose family generously funded the restoration, Kendra Parson, the museum’s grant writer who secured a Florida state cultural grant, Rachel Frisby, the museum’s curator, and Andrew Baxter, the metals conservator who carried out the hand-on work on the sculpture. Together they will walk guests through the full journey: how the need for restoration was identified, how a grant was written and won, how Brandon’s family stepped in to support the project, and the science and craft of conserving historic metalwork.
Sunrise is one of the signature works at the museum, the former home and studio of Albin Polasek (1879-1965), one of America’s most respected sculptors. His light-filled studio, chapel and gardens on Lake Osceola have welcomed art lovers for decades, and seeing one of his pieces restored in place is a rare treat.
The talk takes place at the museum, 633 Osceola Avenue in Winter Park, and is free for members and included with regular admission for non-members. Seating is limited and RSVP is required through the museum’s website. Happy City News recommends arriving early to stroll the sculpture gardens before the talk begins.
Photo: Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
