Workshop on analytical techniques

Analytical Techniques in Conservation
Williamstown, MA
July 6-11, 2003

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
Works, in partnership with the Williamstown Art Conservation Center
and Williams College, presents a "Current Issues" Workshop,
"Analytical Techniques in Conservation," July 6-11, 2003.

Instructors:  Kate Duffy, Janice Carlson, Andrew Lins, Debora Mayer,
Richard Newman, Beth Price

At Williams College and the Williamstown Art Conservation Center,
Williamstown, MA

    Sunday, July 6, 2-7 pm
    Monday-Thursday, July 7-10, 9 am - 5 pm
    Friday, July 11, 9am -12 noon

Course Fee: $600 AIC members; $750 non-members
Enrollment Limit: 15
Registration Deadline: May 16, 2003

Participants may be selected based on order of receipt of
registration, training, experience, balance of institutional and
private practice conservators, number of registrants from a single
organization, and geography.  Early registration is advised.

This course is designed to provide participants with a general
overview of a number of important instrumental analytical techniques
used in conservation, including their general principles and their
application to specific conservation needs.  Analytical techniques
that conservators can carry out on their own, such as polarizing
light microscopy and thin-layer chromatography, as well as sample
collection and preparation, will also be reviewed.  An important aim
of the course is to help establish effective communications between
conservators and analysts.  In light of this, the introductory
session will include discussion of systematic approaches to
analytical decisions, strategies for applying analyses to
conservation problems, and interpretation of analytical data.
Participants are encouraged to bring case studies and materials for
discussion and analysis.

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:
Follow a systematic approach to the process of decision-making
involved in choosing instrumental analysis as a tool for solving
conservation problems Understand the general principles of each
analytical technique Know the kind of information that can be
obtained from each type of analysis, and the limitations of each
technique Provide the analyst with appropriate samples as required
for a specific analysis (where applicable)

Topics and Techniques:

    Systematic approach to analytical decisions
    Sample collection and preparation
    UV-VIS spectroscopy
    X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
    Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
    Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
    X-ray diffraction (XRD)
    Gas chromatography (GC)
    Thin-layer chromatography (TLC)

Van transportation is available, with advance notice, to and from
the Albany (New York) airport, about 40 miles away.  Bus service
from Boston, Hartford, and New York City is available through Peter
Pan <URL:http://www.peterpanbus.com> and Bonanza
<URL:http://www.bonanzabus.com> bus lines.

Housing is available at Williams College (private bedroom, shared
bathroom) for $70 per night.  Participants may arrive on Saturday,
July 5 if desired. An opening reception and daily coffee breaks are
provided.  Meals are available at numerous local coffee shops and
restaurants.

Local Attractions: The Berkshire hills were home to many authors and
artists and are sprinkled with historic houses and museums honoring
Herman Melville, Robert Frost, Edith Wharton, Daniel Chester French,
and many others.  The area is also filled with arts events during
the summer, and participants are encouraged to take advantage of
evening performances at Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston
Symphony), Williamstown Theatre Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance
Festival, and many other locations

This program is part of AIC's new series of workshops for mid-career
conservators. The program is funded by the FAIC Endowment for
Professional Development, which is supported by The Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation, the Kiplinger Foundation, and contributions by members
of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
Works.

This course was developed by the Getty Conservation Institute,
Winterthur Museum, and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program
in Art Conservation.  Additional materials were developed by the
Philadelphia Museum of Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

For registration forms and more information, contact:

    Eric Pourchot, Program Officer, Professional Development
    American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
    Works
    1717 K Street, NW  Suite 200
    Washington, DC  20006
    202-452-9545, ext. 12
    Fax: 202-452-9328
    epourchot [at] aic-faic__org


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:46
                 Distributed: Friday, January 31, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-16-46-018
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