Course on structure of paintings and mechanical properties of cultural materials

The Structure of Paintings and the Mechanical Properties of Cultural
Materials Course
Museum Conservation Institute Theater
Monday-Thursday, August 4-7, 2008
8 am - 4 pm

A new four-day course offered by the Smithsonian's Museum
Conservation Institute on the structure of paintings and the
mechanical properties of cultural materials will be an intense,
information packed seminar for cultural institution professionals
and representatives of paint manufacturers.

Topics covered will include:

    The basic concepts of relative humidity; material properties
    versus structural properties; and the force and mechanical
    properties of materials

    The drying and film formation of artists paints

    The properties of painting materials and the effects of relative
    humidity including the dimensional response of materials to
    relative humidity and temperature

    The mechanical properties of materials (wood, linen, hide glues,
    gessoes and paints)

    Paintings as structures and failure mechanism

        *   The canvas supported painting--relative humidity;
            temperature; bio-deterioration

        *   The wood panel supported painting--relative humidity

    Conservation treatments
    Using modern materials
    The museum environment and determining appropriate RH and
    temperature settings.

Course organized by
Dr. Marion F. Mecklenburg, Senior Research Scientist

Enrollment limited to 20 participants, no tuition

Enrollment requirements: It is recommended that the applicant have
some conservation or conservation science experience.

Applications due by July 1, 2008; Finalists for the course will
contacted by July 7, 2008.

Please send contact information to Ann N'Gadi, Technical Information
Specialist, ngadia<-a t->si< . >edu

For more information, please see the poster at

    <URL:http://www.si.edu/mci/
        downloads/topics/PaintingStructureCourse.pdf>

    **** Moderator's comments: The above URL has been wrapped for
    email. There should be no newline.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:61
                  Distributed: Saturday, May 17, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-61-018
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