Riddle Field is an iconic public park in the affluent neighborhood of Laguna Beach, California, and is home to the steel plate sculpture known as Cathexis, which is defined in Freudian psychoanalysis as the process of investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object or idea. Designed by the late metal artist Steven Harmon, the abstract sculpture has an unibody design with intertwining metallic scrolls giving it a clean, modern aesthetic appeal. But after many years, the elements took their toll on the sculpture and it had deteriorated to the point where extensive repairs were needed since it had not been originally hot-dip galvanized before being painted. So, as a memorial to her beloved son, the late artists mother personally funded the expensive renovation, ensuring the sculpture would stay prominently displayed at the park.

Renowned metal artist John Alabaster was brought in and given the commission. With patience and precision, he bent, cut, hammered, and at times literally forged with his bare hands, the metal around the areas that needed patching, like an old-world blacksmith. After the sculpture was completely repaired, it was immediately sent off to be hot-dip galvanized, making it fully prepared to withstand the harsh elements of the parks coastal environment with a long-lasting, nearly indestructible metallurgical zinc bond. A paint top coat was applied over the galvanizing (duplexed) to give the sculpture a very specific color hue so as to stay true to the original artists vision of the work.

We are honored that hot-dip galvanizing played such a crucial role in returning this magnificent masterpiece to the main entrance of the Riddle Field Park, and once again hot-dip galvanizing has proudly worn its metaphorical crown as the all-mighty king of carbon steel corrosion protection.