Workshop on preservation of three-dimensional objects

New England Region Workshop

Posted on behalf of
    Lori van Handel, Director of Field Services
    Williamstown Art Conservation Center
    email:  James.S.Martin [at] williams__edu
    LVH in subject field, please

The Williamstown Art Conservation Center, Williamstown, Massachusetts,
with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council will offer the
following hands-on workshop on May 15:

Preservation, Care and Re-Housing of Three-Dimensional Objects

*Preventive Conservation Methods

*Applying Accession Numbers to Museum Objects

*Storage Concerns and Solutions

Workshop Focus and Content

This one day workshop is designed to familiarize museum professionals
with collections care for three-dimensional objects, and to introduce
concepts, tools and materials needed for the proper storage and housing
of museum collections.  Participants will be guided by WACC staff
conservators in designing and creating storage containers and mounts
made of archival materials for sample objects which will be provided.

Part one.  The morning session will provide a foundation for
understanding the basic principles of preventive conservation.  The
instructors will discuss the physical properties of the materials which
make up museum collections, including objects made of wood, leather,
ivory, plants, glass, metal, plaster and ceramics.  The interactions of
materials and the effects of the environment around them will be
discussed.

Techniques, methods and materials used for labeling and
accession-numbering three dimensional museum objects will be
demonstrated.

Part two.  Practices and materials for storage and housing of
three-dimensional objects will be introduced, including a discussion of
the use of proper archival materials.  A slide presentation outlining
examples of preferred and problematic storage conditions will be
presented(participants are encouraged to bring up to 10 slides of their
storage areas, depicting objects of special concern, problems, and/or
successful storage solutions they have designed).

The afternoon session will provide participants with the technical
skills needed to design and construct relatively inexpensive storage
containers and supports for their collections.  In this hands-on
session, participants will work together to solve a design problem, and
will use the tools, materials and techniques introduced by the
conservators, and by their fellow participants.

A short list of tools required for workshop participation will be sent
with confirmation of registration.

Who Should Attend: Curators, registrars, collection managers, preparators and all personnel
responsible for the care and storage of three dimensional museum
objects.

Speakers: The workshop will be presented by WACC staff Conservators:
Lori van Handel, Director Of Field Services/Assistant Conservator of
Objects Ingrid Neuman, Associate Conservator of Objects Monica DiLisio,
Getty Advanced Intern, Objects Conservation

The workshop will take place in the Clark Art Institute, which is
adjacent to WACC.

Workshop Fees:

    WACC Members/Massachusetts Residents  $35
    Non-members/Non-Residents $45
    Optional Box Lunch?(Vegetarian?) $10

Deadline for registration:  May 1, 1995

Note:  An expanded version of this workshop (1 1/2 days) will be offered
again at two locations (to be announced):  one in Northeast and one in
the Southeast in Fall T95 and/or Spring T96.

For More Information, or to request a brochure/application, contact:
Doe Zottoli (413-458-5741)

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 8:74
                  Distributed: Thursday, March 9, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-8-74-011
                                  ***