Online course on care of metals

MS223: Care of Metals
Dates:  Apr 12 - May 7, 2010
Price: $475
Instructor: Helen Alten
Location: online at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>

Outdoor sculpture, silver tea service, gold jewelry, axe head, wheel
rim--metals are found in most museum collections stored or displayed
indoor or outdoors depending on the object. Learn how to identify
different types of metal and their alloys. Gain an understanding of
how and why metals deteriorate and methods for preventing
deterioration from occurring or continuing. The pros and cons of
different popular treatments will be covered along with
recommendations for the least damaging approach to treatment. Care
of Metals provides a simplified explanation of the chemistry and
structure of metals, explaining the importance of the galvanic
series and electrochemistry in care strategies. Starting with an
overview of the history and function of metals and how they are
made, the course will cover guidelines for handling, labeling,
exhibiting and storing metals. An overview of treatments, including
cleaning, used on metals and how appropriate they are for the
long-term preservation of the metal object will help students make
care decisions when consulting with conservators.

Course Outline:

    Introduction
    History, chemical and physical properties of metals
    Fabrication technology
    Documentation and Condition Report Writing
    Metals and the Environment
    Handling Metals
    Treating Metals
    Care of Metals in Storage
    Care of Metals on Exhibit
    Conclusion

Logistics: Participants in Care of Metals work through sections on
their own. Materials and resources include online literature, slide
lectures and dialog between students and the instructor through
online forums. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Care of Metals runs four weeks. To reserve a spot in the course,
please pay at <URL:http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html> If
you have trouble please contact Helen Alten at
helen<-at->collectioncare<.>org

The Instructor:

    Helen Alten is the Director of Northern States Conservation
    Center and its chief Objects Conservator. For nearly 30 years
    she has been involved in objects conservation, starting as a
    pre-program intern at the Oriental Institute in Chicago and the
    University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. She
    completed a degree in Archaeological Conservation and Materials
    Science from the Institute of Archaeology at the University of
    London in England. She has built and run conservation
    laboratories in Bulgaria, Montana, Greece, Alaska and Minnesota.
    She has a broad understanding of three-dimensional materials and
    their deterioration.  She was the Save Outdoor Sculpture!
    coordinator for Alaska, wrote and edited the quarterly
    Collections Caretaker, maintains the popular

        <URL:http://www.collectioncare.org>

    web site and lectures throughout the United States on collection
    care topics. Helen Alten has been a Field Education Director,
    Conservator, and staff trainer. She began working with people
    from small, rural, and tribal museums while the state
    conservator for Montana and Alaska. Helen currently conducts
    conservation treatments and operates a conservation center in
    Charleston, WV and St. Paul, MN.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 23:39
                   Distributed: Friday, April 9, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-23-39-020
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