Symposium on plastic conservation

Theory and Practice: Perspectives on polyester, polyurethane and
polyethylene
5th symposium on conservation of synthetic materials
Vitra Design Museum
Weil am Rhein
June 29-30, 2005

Implementability of research in daily museum work? This question
will be the focus of the 5th symposium on conservation of synthetic
materials held on 29 and 30 June 2005 as part of the "AXA Art
Conservation Project in cooperation with the Vitra Design Museum".

The goal of the "AXA Art Conservation Project in cooperation with
the Vitra Design Museum" is to address the possibilities for
conserving and treating selected objects made of synthetic materials
that are exhibiting signs of degradation and damage. The symposium
constitutes a platform for discussing potential conservation
measures and exchanging different experiences, interests and demands
placed on the various materials from the perspective of industry,
manufacturers, designers and conservators.

The focus of this symposium will be on three synthetic materials:
First, the two materials fibreglass-reinforced polyester and
polyurethane--polyurethane as foam and as elastomer--both of them
materials that have been investigated and treated earlier as part of
the project. There will be a presentation of the findings that have
been compiled since the last symposium held in November 2004. In
addition, symposium leaders will discuss the extent to which the
findings have been carried over into actual conservation practice.

Then a third synthetic material, polyethylene, is to be presented.
Today it comes recommended by the plastics manufacturing industry
for its high degree of ageing stability though it is already
starting to exhibit its own characteristic patterns of damage in
various objects. For instance, the industry reports the difficulty
of getting polyethylene to stick together while conservators for
their part have had some success in seeking a way to adhere objects
made of polyethylene.

The symposium will address four thematic blocks: one dealing with
objects made of polyurethane, the second looking at objects made of
fibreglass-reinforced polyester and the third concerning the
properties of the material polyethylene. The fourth thematic block
consists of a visit to the Vitra Design Museum conservation lab to
get an idea of the corresponding types of damage in situ. In
addition, there will be a guided tour of the current exhibition at
Vitra Design Museum "Gaetano Pesce - Il rumore del tempo".

The definitive programme should be available end May. The symposium
language is English. The participation fee of 115 euros - 70 euros
for students--includes symposium materials and concluding
documentation, as well as 2x lunch and refreshments. Information
requests and registration should be submitted no later than 17 June
2005 to:

    Vitra Design Museum
    Alexa Tepen
    +49 7621 702 3153
    alexa.tepen<-a t->design-museum< . >de

Following the 5th Symposium, on October 10-11, 2005 the 6th
Symposium is in preparation presenting single designer and artists
working with synthetic materials. The definitive programme should be
available in the end of June.

Kathrin Kessler
Conservator
AXA Art Conservation Project in Cooperation
with the Vitra Design Museum
Vitra Design Stiftung gGmbH
Charles-Eames-Strasse 1
79576 Weil am Rhein
Germany
+49 7621 702 3182
Fax: +49 7621 702 4182


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:56
                  Distributed: Saturday, June 4, 2005
                       Message Id: cdl-18-56-022
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