Conservation and Display of Art the Clown from Terrifier 2
Conservation & Display for Original Art the Clown Makeup Appliances from Terrifier 2!
This original, screen-used David Howard Thornton Art the Clown makeup prosthetics pieces was used in Damien Leone’s modern cult classic slasher movie, Terrifier 2. Famous for it’s crowdfunding, one of the tiers of the funding campaign was for some lucky supporters to receive an original Art the Clown set of prosthetics. While we don’t know if that was the source for this particular “mask” – it’s always interesting the paths that film props take to get into the hands of private collectors.
One unusual aspect of this project was the material – these Art the Clown appliances were made from gelatin. This made them particularly challenging from a conservation standpoint. When the makeup pieces arrived, they were bonded to a flat sheet of clear acrylic. With some time and care, we were able to safely remove the Art mask parts from that board and prep them for display.
As always, support is a key element in preserving original film props. Samantha Martino tested a number of lifecasts in our collection and found one that was a close fit. She vac-formed a copy of it and then modified it further to better fill out the original appliances. With the right form set, she applied the pieces to it, piecing them together and gently blending some of the tears. We were focused more on conservation than restoration, so changes to the original parts were minimized.
With all parts in place, Sam painted the open areas where the lifecast showed through in the proper black and white, to give the whole display visual completion while keeping the Art the Clown mask parts original.
Have an original movie or television prop in need of a unique or themed display? Email or call today and let’s discuss your project!
