42Nd Annual Meeting Conscientious Conservation: Sustainable Choices in Collection Care AIC Abstracts 2014
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Back cover and front cover AmericanAmerican Institute Institute for forConservation Conservation ofof Historic Historic and and Artistic Artistic Works Works 42nd Annual Meeting Conscientious Conservation: Sustainable Choices in Collection Care AIC ABSTRACTS 2014 Abstract Book 2014 Inside front cover and Inside back cover Inside front cover and Inside back cover ABSTRACTS 2014 THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC & ARTISTIC WORKS The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) is the national membership organization supporting conservation professionals in preserving cultural heritage by establishing and upholding professional standards, promoting research and publications, providing educational opportunities, and fostering the exchange of knowledge among conservators, allied professionals, and the public. The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC) supports the preservation of cultural materials through education and research initiatives for conservators and allied professionals. FAIC advocates public appreciation of conservation and the primary role it plays in increasing understanding of our global cultural heritage. 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005-1714 202-452-9545 | fax: 202-452-9328 [email protected] | www.conservation-us.org 42nd ANNUAL MEETING Conscientious Conservation – Sustainable Choices in Collection Care May 28 – May 31, 2014 Hyatt Regency Embarcadero San Francisco, California No longer focusing exclusively on treatment, conservation professionals today routinely incorporate preventive measures into the care of cultural heritage. Coupled with the awareness that our work takes place within the larger context of an increasingly interconnected and vulnerable global environment, we have become more dedicated to the issue of sustain- ability. The new Collections Care Network and the Sustainability Committee combined forces to develop the 2014 meeting program under the theme Conscientious Conservation: Sustainable Choices in Collection Care, which will explore how these two concepts are changing the way we practice conservation. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Paintings President: Pamela Hatchfield Chair: Katrina A. Bartlett Vice President: Margaret Holben Ellis Program Chair: Kate Smith Secretary: Sanchita Balachandran Photographic Materials Treasurer: Jennifer Hain Teper Chair: Sylvie Pénichon Director, Committees & Task Forces: Sarah Stauderman Program Chair: Sarah Freeman Director, Communications: Carolyn Riccardelli Director, Professional Education: Stephanie M. Lussier Private Practice Director, Specialty Groups: Deborah Lee Trupin Chair: Maria Valentina Sheets Research & Technical Studies 2014 ANNUAL MEETING Chair: Silvia Centeno PROGRAM COMMITTEES Vice Chair: Ainslie Harrison General Session Textiles Margaret Holben Ellis Chair: Virginia Jarvis Whelan Sarah Nunberg Vice Chair: Lauren Chang Joelle Wickens Michael Henry Wooden Artifacts Chair: Stephanie Auffret Specialty Sessions Assistant Chair: Jon Brandon Architecture Chair: Donna Williams Poster Editors Vice Chair: Jennifer Correia Chair: Lisa Conte Chair: Rebecca Capua Book and Paper Chair: Katie Sanderson Chair: Priscilla Anderson Program Chair: Emily Rainwater AIC & FAIC STAFF Collections Care Executive Director: Eryl P. Wentworth Chair: Joelle Wickens Meetings Associate: Adam Allen Vice Chair: Laura Hortz Stanton Development & Education Coordinator: Abigail Choudhury Communications Director: Bonnie Naugle Electronic Media Institutional Advancement Director: Eric Pourchot Chair: Helen Bailey Membership & Meetings Director: Ruth Seyler Program Chair: Kate Moomaw Membership Coordinator: Ryan Winfield Health & Safety Chair: Kathryn Makos Objects Chair: Lara Kaplan Program Chair: Suzanne Davis TABLE OF CONTENTS 42nd Annual Meeting ............................................... 2 General Sessions .................................................. 4 Pre-Meeting Discussion Sessions ..........................................4 Opening Sessions .....................................................5 Closing Session .......................................................8 Concurrent General Sessions ........................................... 9 Case Studies in Sustainable Collection Care—Track A ..........................9 Engaging Communities in Collection Care—Track B. .13 Exploring Sustainable Preservation Environments—Track C .....................16 Sustainability in Public Art Conservation—Track D ...........................20 Architecture .................................................... 21 Book & Paper ................................................... 27 Collection Care .................................................. 35 Collection Care & HVAC ........................................... 38 Electronic Media ................................................. 42 Health & Safety ................................................. 49 Objects ....................................................... 52 Paintings ...................................................... 55 Photographic Materials ............................................. 60 Research & Technical Studies ......................................... 66 Textiles ....................................................... 71 Wooden Artifacts ................................................. 77 Joint Sessions: Architecture + Objects ............................................... 80 Joint Sessions: Objects + Research & Technical Studies .................................... 83 Joint Sessions: Paintings + Wooden Artifacts ........................................... 87 Poster Sessions .................................................. 91 General Sessions 3 GENERAL SESSIONS Pre-Meeting Discussion Sessions A Socratic Dialogue: ‘Energy and Sustainability – At What Cost?’ Dr. W. (Bill) Wei, Senior Conservation Scientist, Rijksdienst voor het Discussion Session: STASH Flash Cultureel, Erfgoed Lisa Goldberg, Conservator, Private Practice, and Rachael Perkins The term “sustainability” is the theme of the AIC annual Arenstein, Partner, A.M. Art Conservation, LLC meeting 2014 in San Francisco. Sustainability can have a number Safe storage for collections is one of the primary goals of preven- of different meanings depending on the context in which it is tive care for collecting institutions, and individuals charged with used. It can refer to energy and cost savings, the “green” museum collections care and cultural institutions often face challenges in or “green” conservation, the use and disposal of environmentally designing storage and support systems for individual items or friendly conservation materials and chemicals, and even the collections. Collecting institutions report damage from handling ultimate meaning of conservation and preservation themselves, and improper storage or enclosures as significant preservation that is, extending the life of objects themselves. However, at the problems, supported by the Heritage Health Index finding annual business meeting in 2013 the word sustainability imme- that only 11% of all institutions had adequate storage facilities. diately unleashed a brief but intense discussion on standards There are few established venues for sharing information about for indoor climates in museums, this related to making climate the fabrication of supports, containers or systems that provide requirements less stringent and thus to reduce energy costs. This options for storage and support solutions. should not come as a surprise, as the idea of loosening indoor A successful storage solution is the result of numerous climate requirements for indoor collections has been a contro- choices regarding materials, techniques, time and skill. STASH versial issue for years. The controversy revolves around a number (Storage Techniques for Art, Science and History collections), a of issues including: new web-based resource housed on CoOL, sponsored by FAIC • the desire to cut costs in museums by loosening and funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, is based on the stringent indoor climate requirements/standards which understanding that the best ideas for safe and sustainable storage require expensive HVAC systems and support come from collaborative solutions. This project was • what the new requirements/standards should be precipitated by the need to find a new way to disseminate the • what effect these new standards would be on a (partial) older but highly valuable text, Storage of Natural History Collections: collection or specific type of object Ideas and Practical Solutions, originally published by the Society for • what is the value of efforts and methods to save energy the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC), and is costs for museums and indoor collections, and at what designed to gather, organize and solicit new storage ideas. AIC’s cost? 42nd Annual Meeting on sustainable choices in collections care • is loosening indoor climate requirements bad for a provides a forum for continued discussion about these topics. collection? The session will utilize a lightening round or “Tips” session • what do we mean with the word sustainability? format as well as guided, audience participatory discussion. • what is the value of sustainability and at what cost? Carefully selected short presentations will be given in a format It is proposed that this discussion be held in the form of a that closely aligns with website entries. These will be followed so-called Socratic dialogue. This is a structured form of dialogue