Workshop on analytical techniques

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
Works in partnership with Williamstown Art Conservation Center and
Williams College presents a "Current Issues" Workshop

Analytical Techniques in Conservation
Williams College and
the Williamstown Art Conservation Center
Williamstown, Massachusetts
August 13-18, 2006

Instructors:  Kate Duffy, Janice Carlson, Andrew Lins, Debora Mayer,
Richard Newman, Beth Price, Jennifer Mass, Richard Wolbers,
Catherine Matsen

Course Fee: $550 AIC members; $750 non-members
Enrollment Limit: 15
Registration Deadline: May 16, 2006

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.  Late
registrations may be accepted if space is available.

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.  Several changes to the
2006 class will include: a day long presentation on polarizing light
microscopy, a session on fluorescence microscopy, a session on Raman
spectroscopy, and two evening sessions devoted to real world
analysis (samples provided by the participants).  A separate evening
session will be devoted to the critical reading of a conservation
journal article.  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.

Objectives: 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
        Raman spectroscopy
        Fluorescence microscopy
        Polarizing light microscopy (PLM)
        X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
        Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
        Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
        X-ray diffraction (XRD)
        Gas chromatography (GC)

Transportation: 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: A limited number of rooms will be reserved for participants
at a range of prices and comfort levels.  August is a peak tourist
season in the Williamstown area, so early reservations are strongly
recommended.  Housing information will be sent to all registrants.

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

Special thanks to Williams College, Williamstown Art Conservation
Center, and Kate Duffy.

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, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and
Debora Mayer (conservator in private practice).

Registration forms and information are available at
<URL:http://www.aic-faic.org>

For more information, contact:

    Eric Pourchot, Professional Development Director
    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.aic-faic.org


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:31
                  Distributed: Friday, January 6, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-19-31-006
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