Re: [frameconnews]

["Icon Frames" <iconframes@one.net.au>]

Hello Kenneth,
Appreciate the insights, superbly expressed.
Thanks again.
Patrick
----- Original Message -----
From: <bahasa@aol.com>
To: <frameconnews@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 1:21 AM
Subject: Re: [frameconnews]


> In a message dated 9/25/00 06:23:18 CST, iconframes@one.net.au writes:
>
> > Imagine this......an artist wants a large painting or drawing on paper
> (unstable paper in that the paper is buckled and warped) framed. The
artist
> wants the paper to be flat in the frame, but he wants the work to float
> inside a box frame with spacers. And the artwork has to be mounted
archivally.
>
> Patrick,
>
> First, I'd tell the artist to stop taking any more of those 'happy pills'.
> Seriously though, what s/he is asking is nothing short of a miracle. The
only
> thing worse would be if the drawing were done in pastel.
>
> If the artwork has cockling, that is usually a result of the media used
(most
> watercolors have some cockling). It could also occur from how the artwork
was
> stored after creation.
>
> While misting the back of the artwork w/ water and then weighing it down
w/ a
> piece of plate glass may remove some of the cockling, it may not remove
all
> of them and if done improperly could actually exacerbate the problem.
>
> If the media were stable enough to be mounted by a vacuum press or even
dry
> mounting, that would make it flat, but it certainly wouldn't be of
> preservation calibre.
>
> You could also try using your heat press to remove the cockling, but give
the
> artist full disclosure of everything that could go wrong, and then get a
> waiver signed.
>
> Realize that framers have been sued successfully for doing things even
after
> a waiver was signed. If the judge comes to the conclusion that you as a
> professional "should have known better".
>
> Patrick, if the artist came to me w/ this project I'd handle it this way:
>
> "I'd love to help you <artist's name>. Unfortunately I have to operate wit
hin
> the laws of physics and what you want isn't possible. There are some
things
> we can do and I can make some suggestions."
>
> I'd ask questions to determine why the cockling occurred and base my
response
> upon his/her answer. If it's the media, I'd talk about the beauty of the
> cockling with a watercolor and how that shows it is an original. If it was
> due to improper hanging I'd educate him/her on why we don't hang pictures
on
> an outside wall, etc.. I'd educate them on why cockling occurs and how to
> prevent and 'fix' it.
>
> "We can attempt to remove the cockling by <misting back, glass or heat
press-
> depending on media used> though there could be some problems here (if
misting
> & glass explain the problems).
>
> "The closest we can come to what you want would be this: We can drymount
your
> artwork, which will make it flat and we can float mount it as well. The
> problem is that the piece wouldn't be done to preservation standards and
the
> value of the artwork would be decreased. The artwork would also be looked
> upon as damaged and or destroyed.
>
> "I'm a member of PPFA and FACTS (explaining what they mean), both of which
> have ethics that prevent me from doing any damage <knowingly> to the
artwork.
> Even if I didn't belong to either group, my personal ethics wouldn't allow
me
> to damage your artwork.
>
> "Therefore, if this is the route you'd like to take, I'll have to refuse
the
> job. I'll be happy to float mount your piece and (if I think it wouldn't
harm
> the artwork) try to remove as much of the cockling as possible. This
> beautiful piece will be done to preservation standards and will remain as
> beautiful in <fill in the years> as it is now. I can not however,
guarantee
> it will lay flat."
>
> Then I'd wait and see what they wanted. Sometimes we have to turn down
work
> (unless the reward is more than the risk to you). I certainly wouldn't
want
> to drymount the piece and then have the artist turn into another Van Gogh.
>
>
> Hope this helped,
>
> Kenneth Brooks   FACTS project member  PPFA  AFC
> Integrity Framing & Art Gallery
> Wichita Falls, TX
> USA
>
>
>
>
>