Workshop on preservation of three-dimensional objects

The Williamstown Art Conservation Center, Williamstown,
Massachusetts, will offer their workshop:  Preservation, Care and
Re-Housing of Three-Dimensional Objects at five locations in 1996:

Locations and Dates:

    Raleigh, NC:   March 26-27
    Birmingham, AL:   March 29-30
    Sobago Lake, Maine: April 17
    Hinkley, Maine:  April 18
    Rochester, NY:  May 6-7

Workshop Focus and Content

    *   Preventive Conservation Methods
    *   Applying Accession Numbers to Museum Objects
    *   Storage Concerns and Solutions

This one-, or one and 1/2-day workshop is designed to familiarize
museum professionals with collections care for three-dimensional
objects, and to introduce concepts, tools and materials needed for
the proper storage and housing of museum collections.  Participants
will be guided by WACC staff conservators in designing and creating
storage containers and mounts made of archival materials.

Part one.  The first session will provide a foundation for
understanding the basic principles of preventive conservation.  The
instructors will discuss the physical properties of the materials
which make up museum collections, including objects made of wood,
leather, ivory, plants, glass, metal, plaster and ceramics.  The
interactions of materials and the effects of the environment around
them will be discussed.

Techniques, methods and materials used for labeling and
accession-numbering three dimensional museum objects will be
demonstrated.

Part two.  Practices and materials for storage and housing of
three-dimensional objects will be introduced, including a discussion
of the use of proper archival materials.  A slide presentation
outlining examples of preferred and problematic storage conditions
will be presented.

The second session will provide participants with the technical
skills needed to design and construct relatively inexpensive storage
containers and supports for their collections.  In this hands-on
session, participants will work together to solve a design problem,
and will use the tools, materials and techniques introduced by the
conservators, and by their fellow participants. A short list of
tools required for workshop participation will be sent with
confirmation of registration.

Part 1: Basic Principles

Maintenance and Preventive Care of Three-Dimensional Museum Objects

    *   Inherent problems and warning signs
    *   Selecting materials for cleaning and stabilization
    *   Health hazards
    *   When to call a conservator

Applying Accession Numbers to Museum Objects

    *   Methods, tools and materials
    *   Object types of special concern
    *   Demonstration

Part 2: Storage and Housing:  Design and Construction

    *   What to consider
    *   Storage area microclimates
    *   Slide lecture depicting examples of museum object housing and storage

Introduction to Materials, Tools and Methods

    *   Archivally stable foams, boards, glues, etc.
    *   Useful knives, patterns, etc.

Practicum:

    *   Selection of objects and initial group planning
    *   Execution of schemes by groups
    *   Group Review and Critique

Maintenance, Preventive Care and Cleaning

    *  Tools, Materials, and Techniques

Who Should Attend: Curators, registrars, collection managers,
preparators and all personnel responsible for the care and storage
of three dimensional museum objects.

Speakers:
The workshop will be presented by WACC staff Conservators:
Lori van Handel, Director Of Field Services/Assistant Conservator of Objects
Ingrid Neuman, Associate Conservator of Objects
Linda Landry, Winterthur Museum/University of Delaware Art Conservation
Program Intern

Workshop Fees:
Registration fees vary according to length and location of the workshop.
Please contact WACC for further information.

Workshop supplies and a binder containing handouts and Technical Leaflets
pertaining to care and re-housing of three-dimensional objects is
included in registration fee.

For More Information, or to request a brochure/application, contact:

    Doe Zottoli
    Assistant Director for Administration
    Williamstown Art Conservation Center
    225 South Street
    Williamstown, MA  01267
    413-458-5741
    Fax: 413-458-2314
    doe [at] clark__williams__edu

For more information about Raleigh and Birmingham Workshops, contact:

    Pamela Meister,
    South Eastern Museums Conference: Central Office
    P. O. Box 3494
    Baton Rouge, LA  70821-3494
    504-383-5042
    Fax: 504-343-8669

Lori van Handel
Director of Field Services
Williamstown Art Conservation Center
225 South Street
Williamstown, MA  01267
413-458-5741

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:57
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 31, 1996
                        Message Id: cdl-9-57-027
                                  ***