Workshop on structural conservation of paintings

Italian Approaches to the Structural Conservation of Paintings:
Past, Present and Future.
September 25-28, 2003
West Lake Conservators
Skaneateles, NY 13152
Partially funded by FAIC.

This four day cultural exchange of techniques, materials and tools,
by Italian conservator Matteo Rossi Doria, will demonstrate
developments of Italian solutions and the evolution of new
approaches between traditional and alternative modern methods.
Designed for mid-career paintings conservators. Shared lakeside
accommodation in an Adirondack-style camp setting ensures ample time
for networking.

Description: The goal of the workshop is to bridge a cultural gap
and strengthen ties with Italian conservators. The course, tailored
for mid-level painting conservators, will be a four day cultural
exchange for 18-20 participants, taught by Matteo Rossi Doria, a
senior level Italian American conservator working in Rome. The core
curriculum will demonstrate historic developments in Italian
conservation treatment techniques and the evolution of new
approaches between traditional and modern methods in use today,
including, preventive conservation and minimal intervention.
Different aspects of structural treatments on deteriorated paintings
will be examined and various methods compared through honest
evaluation of their positive and negative performance.

Treatments including but not limited to: facings & methods to
protect paint films, lining reversals, consolidation, tear repair,
lining, stretching and stretchers, will be evaluated. Practical
demonstrations on model paintings will allow performance to be
analyzed in collective discussions including: reflections on
concepts such as porosity, change of appearance, solvent retention,
consolidant concentration and drying as they effect the behavior of
the most common adhesive solutions utilized by paintings
conservators. Observations will lead to the design of a grid of
solutions, useful in comparing optional treatment methodologies in
the design of an intervention path.

Course guide: Matteo Rossi Doria is an Italian American Conservator
with a busy private practice in Rome. Well-known as a specialist in
structural treatments (especially oversized canvases) and for his
passion with current techniques, he has lectured and taught at
several conservation education programs and coordinated two
workshops taught by V. Mehra on "Minimum intervention, cold lining
and low pressure treatments". His own course studies with ICCROM
began a long-time interest in preventive conservation, minimal
intervention and alternative, international conservation practices.
This led him to study abroad and integrate the use of late 20th c.
techniques and materials (including Beva and Acrylic emulsions) with
his Italian treatments. He has been privileged to treat a great
number of Italian masters' works from museums, churches, public and
private collections in Rome, Perugia, Naples, Turin, Milan, Salerno,
Parma, the Constitutional Court, the Ministers of Justice, Foreign
Affairs and Treasurer, the Town Council of Rome, the National
Library and the National Institute for Graphics. These include works
from the 15th c. to 20th c. including paintings of Caravaggio, Dossi
Dosso, Iacopo Zucchi, Pontormo, Simon Vouet, Guido Renei, Anthony
Van Dyck, etc.

Location: The workshop will be held at West Lake Conservators, a
private group preservation practice in Skaneateles, New York,
located in Central New York's Finger Lakes region. The charming
historic village and pristine lake have been a tourist destination
since the 1800's. You may wish to arrive early or stay to enjoy the
area.

Accommodations: See
<URL:http://westlakeconservators.com/woodlot.html> to view camp)
Shared accommodation for the 18 participants is available in an
Adirondack-style camp setting. Two camps with a total of nine
bedrooms located on the west side of Skaneateles Lake on a wooded
shore will be utilized. Each have fully equipped kitchens. This
communal accommodation will provide additional time for informal
exchange and leisure activity. A flat fee of $150. (not in the
registration) is charged for up to five nights camp lodging (Sept
24, Wed. night arrival - Sept 29, Mon. am departure). Alternately,
for more privacy, nearby motels, an historic inn and bed &
breakfasts offer a variety of options. Early reservations are
necessary to ensure lodging because Skaneateles is a popular tourist
destination.

Food: The registration fee includes lunch and coffee breaks during
the workshop and a Saturday night barbecue, (this will allow
participants to return home Sunday night if necessary). Fully
equipped kitchens in the camps are available for participants to use
and, alternately, there are a variety of fine restaurants, including
dinner boat cruises in the area.

Registration Fees: Four Day Workshop - AIC members $660. (15%
discount). Non-Members $777 (includes daily lunch, coffee breaks and
Saturday evening barbecue dinner).

Travel: Syracuse's Hancock Airport and Amtrak station are
approximately 45 minutes by car from Skaneateles. Public
transportation is very limited. Rental cars are available from the
airport. Carpooling with participants is recommended. West Lake
Conservators will aid in coordination. The cottages are 15 minutes
drive from the village of Skaneateles.

Enrollment: As an FAIC sponsored workshop, AIC member applicants
will be given a 15% discount. A registration fee of 50% of the total
is necessary to secure your position. In the event you must cancel,
the fee will be refunded minus a $25 processing charge if we refill
the position with an alternate. A prerequisite for this course is
that all applicants be practicing paintings conservators capable of
working independently. A short questionnaire will be included in the
registration mailing, necessary for the course guide to tailor the
workshop.

Contact
    Susan Blakney
    West Lake Conservators
    Box 45
    Skaneateles, NY 13152
    315-685-8534
    westlakers [at] compuserve__com


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:57
                 Distributed: Wednesday, April 2, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-16-57-007
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