Picture This: Albert Paley's Portal Gates November 6, 2009

Left: the museum's David DeAnna, contract art handler Jorge Herrera, and Justin Chambers move the right gate into place. Right: Herrera, DeAnna, and Jerry Hovanec finish the installation.

Our exhibitions' team was up and at ‘em early on October 27 to unpack and reinstall sculptor Albert Paley’s Portal Gates at the museum's Renwick Gallery. For the past two years, the beloved pieces were off-site as part of Albert Paley: Portals & Gates, an exhibition organized by the University Museums, Iowa State University. Commissioned by the Renwick Gallery in 1974 to adorn the entrance to the gallery's shop, where they stood for many years, the Portal Gates marked a turning point in the young goldsmith's career. I don’t think I'm exaggerating to say that this masterpiece of ironsmithing was greatly missed!

On the left, the museum’s art handlers use a winch, or mechanical lift, to hoist the 1,200-pound gates, made of forged steel, brass, copper, and bronze. On the right, they carefully place the gates in an alcove built by our own Jim Baxter. The process took several hours, since the handlers had to be meticulous, so as not to damage the pieces or the floor, the walls, and themselves! We at the Smithsonian American Art Museum are happy to present the gates once more to the public and hope that you’ll stop to see them soon!

• Albert Paley, Renwick Gallery, Installing Art, American Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum