Workshop on Modular Cleaning Program

The Lunder Conservation Center and the Western Association for Art
Conservation (WAAC), present:

"The Modular Cleaning Program with added material on cleaning
    water-sensitive surfaces" Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington, DC
September 20-23, 2016

Instructor: Chris Stavroudis, conservator in private practice, West
    Hollywood, CA

Assistant: Nina Roth-Wells, Nina A Roth-Wells LLC, Georgetown, ME

Registration fee $400.00
Financial assistance may be available

The Modular Cleaning Program is a systematic approach to cleaning
works of art utilizing water-borne systems, solvents, solvent gels
and emulsions.  This four-day workshop will focus on how the Modular
Cleaning Program can help formulate a series of concentrated aqueous
stock solutions and the materials to mix a range of emulsions and
microemulsions.  While solvent theory and solvent gels will be
discussed, solvent gels will not be prepared in the workshop.  The
provided database, "The Modular Cleaning Program," assists the
conservator in formulating and combining stock solutions which
allows the conservator to create optimized cleaning solutions for
more precise and tailored treatments.  The workshop consists of
approximately 2 days of lecture interspersed into the hands-on
workshop.

Participants will have the chance to apply what they have learned
during lectures at lab time.  Initially, the participants will mix
the stock solutions, both contributing to the set of solutions they
will take back to their studios, but also getting comfortable with
mixing solutions, using pH meters, and seeing how pH affects the
chemistry of the materials we use.

While the instructor is a paintings conservator, the theories and
solutions can be, and are being, applied to many different
conservation cleaning problems.  Treatments on and discussion about
other art materials are welcomed and benefit everyone as these allow
the theory to be better understood.

The Modular Cleaning System is offered as both a practical tool and
an opportunity to integrate theoretical and material properties into
daily conservation practice.  The database uses calculations based
on physical constants to formulate the stock solutions and allows
the conservator to specify new cleaning mixtures.

Objectives: This workshop will help participants to:

    Integrate the theoretical and material properties of cleaning
    into daily conservation practice

    Understand complicated chemistry of use to the experienced
    conservator

    Understand and make practical use of aqueous cleaning, solvent,
    and emulsion theories

    Prepare stock solutions and utilize the computer database to
    formulate cleaning strategies

    Alter cleaning solutions for individual works of art

    Customize their cleaning approach by learning how to control
    conductivity, shift the pH or add a chelator or surfactant

    Become familiar with the uses of silicone solvents in cleaning
    systems

Surface alterations can interfere with or even obscure the surfaces
of artworks, creating an image or surface nothing like that intended
by the artist.  Degraded coatings can cause aesthetic and even
physical damage to a surface if not safely removed.  Much damage has
been done to artwork by well-meant but poorly executed cleanings.
More sophisticated cleaning techniques, not just in paintings
conservation, but in all specializations, allows the conservator to
be more selective in their intervention.  Unlike much of the
practice of modern conservation, cleaning is not reversible.  It is
incumbent on all conservators to wield the tools used in cleaning
with the most precise and delicate touch.  When a cleaning of any
object is undertaken, the most nuanced and subtle cleaning system
affords the best outcome, allowing current and future scholars to
discern important new insights into the artist, the cultural milieu
of the time, and the ability to better critically evaluate the
specific artwork in its context.  The Modular Cleaning Program
offers a tested, easy-to-understand methodology for selecting
appropriate cleaning methods for a wide variety of surfaces.

Selection Criteria: Participants may be selected based on training,
experience, balance of institutional and private practice
conservators, balance of conservation specialty areas, number of
registrants from a single organization, and geography.  Review will
begin July 18, 2016 and continue until the course is full.
Participants will be notified of selection by July 26, 2016.  No
payment is required to apply.  Payment is due only after acceptance
to the program.

Application Process: Please send a statement of interest and
resume/CV with your name, current contact information, and
institutional affiliation (if any) to choudhurya<-at->si<.>edu with the
subject line "Modular Cleaning Program Application"

Abigail Choudhury
Program Coordinator
Lunder Conservation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 30:6
                  Distributed: Saturday, June 25, 2016
                        Message Id: cdl-30-6-011
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