Colloquium on modern resins

Theory Day: Modern Resins for Varnishing and Retouching
19 June 2012
10-30-17.00

Overview: Current practice has seen the introduction of synthetic
polymers (high molecular weight) and synthetic low molecular weight
resins, which are being used as picture varnishes and retouching
media. These synthetic resins are often chemically and physically
more stable than their natural resin counterparts. The optical
properties of the resins are largely controlled by their molecular
weight. By using synthetic low molecular weight resins for
varnishing and retouching, optical properties similar to those of
the natural resins can be obtained. The range of solvents suitable
for these new resins in different applications will be discussed.

Lectures will cover:

    Chemical properties of resins and their degradation

    Physical and aesthetic characteristics of resins

    Different functions of varnishes

    Criteria for choosing appropriate varnishes

    Effects of stabilizers

    Varnish application techniques

    Synthetic retouching media

    Solvent selection: polarity, solvent strength and evaporation
    rates

Language: The lectures will be given in English.

Location:

    Wiebengahal
    Avenue Ceramique 224
    6221 KX, Maastricht
    +31 43 321 8444

    <URL:http://www.sral.nl>

Cost: 95 euros (lunch included)

A special price of 80 euros is offered to RN members

Lunch will be included

Closing date for registration: 1 June 2012

Please mail info<-at->sral<.>nl

Payment on registration to:

SRAL: 63.78.40.771 with notation: o.v.v Varnishes 2012
IBAN: NL47ABNA0637840771
BIC: ABNANL2A - ABN AMRO, Promenade 297, 6411 JJ Heerlen

Paypal is available on request

Speakers:

    Rene de la Rie (Head of Scientific Research, National Gallery
    of Art, Washington)

    Jill Whitten (Paintings Conservator and Lecturer,
    Whitten and Proctor, Huston)

    Robert Proctor (Paintings Conservator and Lecturer,
    Whitten and Proctor, Houston)

Discussion and audience feedback will be encouraged. Participants
are encouraged to bring their favourite brush for applying varnish.

Biographies Speakers

    Jill Whitten and Robert Proctor have been in private practice in
    Houston, Texas since 1998. They work on private and
    institutional collections. wp<-at->whittenandproctor<.>com

    Jill Whitten studied studio art at the University of Texas in
    Austin and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She studied
    conservation at Buffalo State College where she received a
    Master of Fine Arts and Certificate in Conservation. She has
    worked at the Art Institute of Chicago, J. Paul Getty Museum,
    the National Gallery in Washington, DC and Museum of Fine Arts,
    Houston, Texas. She has been involved in resin research and has
    taught workshops for conservators in the U.S. and Europe on the
    use of new materials for varnishing and retouching since 1993.

    Robert Proctor has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Tulane
    University in New Orleans and a Master of Arts and Certificate
    of Conservation from Buffalo State College. He trained in Munich
    at the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, worked at the Saint Louis Art
    Museum, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Museum of Fine Arts,
    Houston. In addition to workshops on varnishes, Rob is a
    specialist in the reweaving of tears and has taught workshops on
    reweaving. He has worked as a contract conservator and treated a
    number of public murals.

    Rene de La Rie (National Gallery of Art, Washington) E. Rene de
    la Rie has been head of scientific research at the National
    Gallery of Art, Washington, DC since 1989, a position endowed by
    the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He holds a doctorate in
    chemistry from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and
    previously held positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
    York, and at the Training Program for Conservators and the
    Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science (now
    ICN), both in Amsterdam. He has also held adjunct positions at
    the University of New York and the University of Amsterdam and
    served as Ph.D. advisor at the latter institution. He has been
    an editor for Studies in Conservation from 1994 until 2011. The
    scientific research department's staff studies the methods and
    materials used by artists and conservators, using advanced
    analytical instrumentation. The department regularly hosts
    post-doctoral research fellows, several of whom have
    subsequently taken up positions in other institutions.
    r-delarie<-at->nga<.>gov

SRAL:

    SRAL was founded in 1986 to preserve the cultural heritage
    within the Province of Limburg (The Netherlands). Through the
    SRAL, the Provincial Government of Limburg supports the
    conservation of art objects held in state or public collections
    and churches within the province. Over the last 25 years SRAL
    has grown to become a National and International Institute with
    departments for the Conservation of Paintings (Panel and
    Canvas), Polychrome Sculpture, Paper, Contemporary Art and
    Historic Interiors.

    The Institute also provides internship placements for recent
    graduates and houses the Post-Graduate training of young
    conservators from the University of Amsterdam in each
    department. The Institute's well equipped studios are spacious
    and houses a team of over twenty conservators and educators, in
    addition to the Post-Graduate students and interns. Staff
    members work on site focusing on collection care, and conserving
    painted decorations of historic interiors. Furthermore, the SRAL
    laboratory has the facilities to analyse historic painting
    materials and carry out technical studies of art works.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 25:49
                   Distributed: Saturday, May 5, 2012
                       Message Id: cdl-25-49-012
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