Workshop on photographic conservation

Nineteenth-Century Silver-Based Photographic Print Processes
A Collaborative Workshop in Photograph Conservation
Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Hosted by The Metropolitan Museum of Art
October 8-12, 2007

Description:  A five-day, intensive workshop funded by the Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation entitled Nineteenth Century Silver-Based
Photographic Processes will be held October 8-12, 2007, in
Photograph Conservation Studios at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This workshop will cover the technical aspects of creating positive
images in salt stabilized photogenic papers, salted papers, albumen
paper, and both gelatin and collodion printing-out papers. Emphasis
will be on the hands-on re-creation of these processes under the
guidance of Doug Munson and Toddy Munson. Practica will be
complemented by sessions with scientists, curators and art
historians to understand the image formation, deterioration and
possible analysis, to examine premier examples of these works from
the Metropolitan collection, and to explore the social implications
of photography in the mid-nineteenth century.

In addition to the primary instructors, invited speakers will round
out the week with offerings in science, aesthetics and social
history of photography. Mike Ware, chemist, researcher, and author
of Mechanisms of Deterioration in Early Photographs, will lecture on
silver image formation, deterioration and on some aspects of
preservation. Roger Taylor, independent curator formerly of the
Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford, England, and
Malcolm Daniel, Curator in Charge of the Department of Photographs
at the Metropolitan, will provide a tour of their exhibition,
Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives
1840-1860. In addition, Daniel will show premier examples of
nineteenth-century silver images from the Department of Photographs
and discuss the surrounding aesthetic impulses within the social
context of the time. Taylor will elucidate on the social
implications for photography in the period from 1840 to 1860 in
England.

Eligibility: The Workshop is open to photograph conservators who
have had limited access to equivalent training. 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 through the mentoring of interns.

Application Procedure: 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 June 25, 2007. Any questions
should be directed to

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


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:9
                   Distributed: Friday, June 8, 2007
                        Message Id: cdl-21-9-024
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