Exhibit slides

Case Studies:  Conservation/Innovations for Museum Exhibits
Request for Slides

The International Institute for Conservation--Canadian Group (IIC-CG) is
holding its 21st Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, from May 24th to
May 28th, 1995. A two day training workshop precedes the conference
session. The focus of the workshop is to feature traditional and
avant-garde examples of balancing museum exhibits with collection
preservation. The workshop is planned as a series of lectures and
"hands-on" demonstrations which provide the participants with
opportunity to explore new methods, materials and systems in the areas
of mounting, lighting, case design and security.

During one of the workshop sessions there will be a slide presentation
showing examples of exhibit design techniques that have a positive
impact on artifact, art and specimen conservation. To maximize the
collaborative venture of the workshops, we are seeking slides from
exhibit and conservation personnel who have developed and employed high
and low tech ideas for mounts, supports, back drops, lighting and
security systems, etc. that demonstrate ingenuity of design and skill in
the use of materials.

We would be pleased to receive your contribution(s) to this endeavour
and invite you to share your exhibit ideas with a knowledgeable and
appreciative international audience. The slide show offers an
opportunity to highlight the best of your past and present work and
promote your institution.

A short narrative explaining the slide should be included following the
guidelines attached. Full credit will be given to all work. Deadline for
"case studies" submissions is January 31, 1995.

Guidelines for "Case Studies" Contributors

1.  Slides and text should describe any aspect of exhibit work that is
    innovative and has a positive impact on artifact, art or specimen
    conservation.

2.  Slides should be clearly labelled as to what they are depicting. If
    there is more than one slide they should be numbered in the order
    they are intended to be shown. All slides submitted will be returned
    upon request, however, IIC-CG cannot be responsible for loss or
    damage.

3.  Include the following information in your submission:

    Slide#
    Title
    Credits
    Description

Feel free to discuss reasons for choice; alternative materials
considered; highlighting new materials or techniques; supplies needed;
sources for out-of-house contracting.

Mail to

    "Case Studies"
    IIC-CG Workshop '95
    3912 - 116th Street
    Edmonton, Alberta   T6G 1R4
    Canada

                   Example Text For Slide Submission

    Slide #:  1 to 4

    Title:  Unobtrusive, padded support for large carved lid of a
    jade wedding bowl
    Credits:  Bryan McMullen, Designer, Provincial Museum of
    Alberta, Edmonton
    Description:  To construct an acrylic support that safely
    suspends heavy lid over bowl

    Slide #1:  Using circle jig, router groove into acrylic sheet to fit
    rim. Cut acrylic with carbide-tipped blade on table saw, band saw or
    cross cut hand saw. Remove all saw marks because sawing may have
    created stress points leading to cracking of acrylic edges in the
    future.

    Slide #2:  To prepare edges for polishing, file saw marks, sand with
    progressively finer sand paper to remove file marks (120, 240, 320,
    400, 600 wet or dry type sandpaper, used without water, and scrape.
    The finer the edges are sanded, the easier it will be to polish
    them. After scraping, acrylic edges thinner than 3/8" can be
    successfully polished by melting with a propane torch.

    Edges that are to be glued should be planed or routed only, to avoid
    rounding edges and weakening bond. Gluing must be done before flame
    polishing. Methylene chloride applied to a previously heated surface
    (even one that has been allowed to cool) will craze the plastic.

    Slide #3:  When fusing acrylic joints of 1/2" or greater, soaking
    the edge of the material in methylene chloride for about 2 minutes
    produces a bubble-free, strong bond. A soaking tray can be made out
    of a piece of angled metal, using wood scraps and plumbers' putty to
    seal and level both ends. The thickness of the plastic being used
    determines how far down in the "V" of the metal it will sit. The
    tray should be filled precisely to this point with the methylene
    chloride. Too little solution and the plastic will not rest in it;
    too much solution and the sides of the plastic will be submerged,
    and thus marked. It is important for this reason to ensure that the
    makeshift tray is level in all directions. When the piece has soaked
    for about 2 minutes, remove from tray and blot off excess solution
    by touching the plastic very briefly and quickly to a flat surface.
    The soaked piece must be placed immediately while the edge is still
    wet. Care must be taken to set the piece in place correctly the
    first time, as moving it will ruin both pieces of plastic. Once it
    is joined together, moderate pressure should be applied for at least
    20-30 minutes. This pressure is necessary to ensure that no bubble
    causing air is trapped in the joint. Care must be taken when
    applying the pressure as too much will cause the melted material in
    the joint to squeeze out the sides, ruining the aesthetics of the
    project,

    Slide #4:  The wedding bowl on display in the Geology Gallery. The
    groove in the acrylic support stand is padded with a narrow black
    velvet ribbon to provide a soft, non-abrasive surface for the jade
    lid. The stand is secured to the display case with screws.

Carolynne Poon
Bruce Peel Special Collections Library
B7 Rutherford South
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada  T6G 2J4
403-492-2923
Fax: 403-492-5083

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:29
                 Distributed: Tuesday, October 25, 1994
                        Message Id: cdl-8-29-005
                                  ***