The Hart Senate Office Building is set to witness the revival of Alexander Calder’s majestic “Mountains and Clouds” sculpture, with its mobile “Clouds” scheduled to be reinstalled after more than a decade. The restoration, eagerly anticipated since the seismic safety concerns of 2011, is slated for completion next month, as announced by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Murphy, who has championed the restoration efforts for nearly ten years, shared that newly constructed, structurally sound clouds are ready to enhance the atrium's aesthetic once again. “We just built some new, more structurally sound clouds, and they are going back up,” Murphy stated during a press briefing.

Initially installed in 1985, the mobile’s four aluminum clouds, weighing a total of two tons, had been static since the 1990s due to mechanical issues. They were removed for safety following a 2014 study prompted by a 2011 earthquake that also damaged other Washington landmarks. This study aimed to ensure the sculpture's safety and stability.

The sculpture’s history is marked by drama; notably, Calder passed away just a day after presenting his model to the Architect of the Capitol in November 1976. Since the removal of the clouds, the remaining 51-foot steel “Mountains” have stood unaccompanied in the atrium — a sight Sen. Murphy likened to a desecrated masterpiece. “That statue is like if the ‘Mona Lisa’ was ripped in half, and you kept it up in the Louvre. That wouldn't be the ‘Mona Lisa’ anymore. ‘Mountains and Clouds’ is not a Calder sculpture without the clouds,” he explained.

Although the clouds are expected to be reinstalled when Senate members return from the August recess, the feature allowing them to spin might not be operational immediately. "I don't know if they'll be spinning in September, but they're going to be up," Murphy assured.

In a move away from traditional funding methods for such projects, the reinstallation will not burden taxpayers. “It's all privately funded,” Murphy emphasized, highlighting legislative changes that facilitated private funding for the project.

The restoration of “Mountains and Clouds” not only symbolizes a return to aesthetic completeness but also reinstates a piece of art integral to the identity of the Senate’s environment. As the clouds ascend once again, they bring with them a reminder of resilience and restoration, echoing the enduring nature of both art and democracy.

*Leo Shane III contributed to this report.*