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Show It ..a. ,y . ... . ' ' . ":" -v,,,,v.,.. . - . --:. .... .v. " ''" "- , ' ' "tit ...... oMMbNM ". f.-.r. .- : ;.;;iP' Workmen shovel snow from roof of Kimball Art Center Monday. photo by Christopher Smart ... while staff bails at ECimball The Park City schools aren't the only local buildings suffering from snow overload. The staff of the Kimball Art Center found that out the hard way last Saturday morning. According to Art Center Director Diane Balaban, the weight of the accumulated ac-cumulated snow cracked several wooden beams supporting the roof at the south end of the Main Gallery. She said the roof sagged enough to break one of the sprinkler pipes, sending water pouring into the gallery. Staff member Phyllis Noel quickly rescued several paintings and then called for help. Kimball Art Center Board member Spence Smith and the Park City Fire Department rushed in to halt the downpour, remove carpets and install fans to help dry out the gallery. "Fortunately we didn't lose one painting," said Balaban. "It could have been a real disaster but the crews that came in to help were wonderful . ' ' The Art Center was immediately closed to the public until the cause of the water leak could be determined. At first it was thought that the pipe had frozen, causing it to break, Balaban said. But a structural architect discovered the broken beams. As a result the damaged part of the gallery was closed off with a temporary wall. On Monday a snow removal crew arrived on the scene. The first workman and a snow blower were lowered onto the roof with a crane because the stability of the roof was in question. But the snow removal proceeded without mishap and the rest of the crew was able to climb onto the roof with shovels. The temporary wall was completed and the doors reopened on Wednesday. According to Balaban, a thorough structural study is being done on the whole building so that similar problems won't occur in the future. "Our opening reception for the Alvin Gittins exhibit on Sunday and all of our other activities will go ahead as planned," plan-ned," she said. |