Workshop on digital prints

Contemporary Photography: Digital Prints

A Collaborative Workshop in Photograph Conservation
Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Hosted by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco, CA
November 6-10, 2006

This five-day, intensive workshop will focus on the materials,
identification, treatment, and stability of digital prints. Digital
preservation and time-based media will be touched upon. The aim of
the workshop is to provide conservators with the knowledge and tools
to handle the issues surrounding the acquisition and conservation of
prints made from digital files, as well as an understanding for the
trends in imaging technology and artists' use of modern photographic
printing techniques. Questions of process terminology and current
definitions of the terms "digital print" and "photograph" will be
discussed.

Hosted by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the workshop is
being coordinated by Theresa Andrews, Conservator of Photographs,
and is designed by Franziska Frey of Rochester Institute of
Technology and Martin Juergens, Conservator in Private Practice in
Hamburg, Germany.

Frey and Juergens are noted experts on the issues of testing,
stability, standards, preservation, identification, and conservation
of digital prints and electronic files. Frey will cover the
intricacies of the many printing processes currently in vogue.
Hands-on sessions with Juergens will improve participants'
identification abilities and investigate issues in the treatment of
digital prints.

Scott Williams of the Rochester Institute of Technology will provide
an introduction to the chemistry of digital printing. Issues related
to the stability of materials and current testing practices will be
covered by Rita Hofmann of Ilford Switzerland.

SFMoMA Curators Sandra Phillips and Corey Keller will discuss their
views on digital media within the Museum and approaches toward
collecting. A number of artists will present their introduction to
digital media, its impact on their work and their viewpoints about
preservation.

Hans Nohlberg will relate his experiences in establishing a carbon
inkjet printing service for artists and in the creation of digital
negatives for use with historic processes.

Doug Munson of the Chicago Albumen Works will discuss the role of
digital-to-film output in photograph preservation.

And, Jill Sterrett, Director of Collections and Conservation at
SFMoMA, will touch upon the latest concerns and approaches to the
preservation of time based media.

Eligibility: The Workshop is open to photograph conservators
responsible for the care of digital prints. Enrollment is extremely
limited. Priority will be given to those with a proven history for
dissemination whether in a formal conservation program, in the
organization of workshops or meetings, through publication, or the
mentoring of interns.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae
and one letter of support. The applicant's letter should describe
why participation in this workshop is important to their educational
and professional goals and how it has direct application to their
day-to-day work. Prior experience with the topic or lack thereof
should be noted as well as opportunities for dissemination of
information gained. The applicant should note other Mellon
Collaborative Workshops they have attended. Limited financial aid
will be awarded on the basis of need and may include some
contribution to defray basic travel expenses. A separate statement
indicating the reasons for financial assistance and a basic budget
should be submitted as part of the application. There is no fee for
this workshop.

Applications should be submitted to:

    Mellon Collaborative Course
    c/o Art Conservation Department
    303 Old College
    University of Delaware
    Newark DE 19716, USA

by July 17, 2006. Any questions should be directed to

    Elaine Johnson
    ejonsonc [at] udel__edu
    302-831-0837


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 19:60
                  Distributed: Thursday, June 15, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-19-60-013
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