SHOW IT AND SAVE IT Exploring the compromises between exhibition and preservation - IADA
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SHOW IT AND SAVE IT Exploring the compromises between exhibition and preservation Online Symposium 14th – 17th February 2022
IMPRINT. PUBLISHER International Association of Book and Paper Conservators Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Archiv, Bibliotheks und Graphikrestauratoren (IADA) e.V. EDITING Adrienne Bell, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington D.C., USA Caroline De Stefani, London Metropolitan Archives, London, UK Aurelie Martin, National Library of Australia, Canberra, Australia TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Caroline De Stefani (coordination) Aurelie Martin (coordination) Adele Barbara, National Library of Australia, Canberra Alberto Campagnolo, adjunct professor of Digital Humanities, University of Udine, Italy Femke Coevert, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Netherlands Malgorzata Grzelec, IADA - International Association of Book and Paper Conservators Eliza Jacobi, Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, The Netherlands Jasna Malešič, National and University Library, Ljubljana, Slovenia Birgit Vinther Hansen, National Library of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark Michal Sofer, London, United Kingdom LAYOUT DESIGN Adrienne Bell, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington D.C., USA Aurelie Martin, National Library of Australia, Canberra Malgorzata Grzelec Design of the Symposium Logo and Preprints cover: Kevin Cilurzo, Switzerland © by IADA e.V. 2022
IADA Board Welcome Dear Participants! Please browse around all parts of our platform, familiarise yourself with all the tools, click around the screen, meet your fellow participants, and look out for the forums. Check the agenda and find out when the talks are happening. If you have time, pop by the information desk or the IADA Information Point where you can text or video chat with us to share your thoughts on how we can improve the association. We would like to take the opportunity to thank all the authors and speakers who shared their experience, knowledge, and passion with us. A warm thank you also goes to our vendors and sponsors who never hesitate to go on an adventure with us, as well as the individual participants who made generous donations to support View of the SHOW IT AND SAVE IT Virtual Lobby © IADA/Meetyoo IADA. This virtual symposium would not have seen the light Thank you for attending IADA’s first virtual symposium. without the valuable work of our behind-the-scenes contributors, namely, Adrienne Bell, Henry Hebert, As we all know, these past years have been very Franziska Butze-Rios, Kevin Cilurzo, and Zacarias Garcia challenging and travel around the world was greatly who worked around the clock for IADA. affected. The IADA board was committed to holding this symposium and therefore looked at options for possible Finally, these preprints were usually the result of a locations to host the event; aside from the most remote collaboration between IADA and Dr Wolfgang Seidel who places that were good but too difficult to reach, there created their original design with Birgit Reissland, and wasn’t anywhere we thought we could meet up safely was the JPC publisher for many years. Very sadly, he and without hassle. So, we decided to host the passed away suddenly in January this year and we symposium close to you: in your living room, in your would like to take this opportunity to express how much office, or anywhere else you felt safe. IADA appreciated working with him, his dedication and We wanted an event that was as close to the real how great a collaborator he was. He will be missed. experience as possible, and we hope that we will meet your expectations as well as shorten the distances in our We hope you’ll enjoy the symposium and see you soon community that have been separated for too long. online! The topic of our Symposium reflects the changes that our profession and our jobs have faced in the last years. We received fascinating submissions, and we hope that they will give you great food for thought to use in your Your IADA Board own work and to share with your colleagues. 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 1
PARTNERS. VENDORS ALTIMET J. Hewit & Sons Ltd www.altimet.fr www.hewit.com BELO KLUG-CONSERVATION https://belo-restauro.de www.klug-conservation.com DEFFNER & JOHANN KREMER PIGMENTE https://deffner-johann.de www.kremer-pigmente.com DOCUSAVE AG MORIKI PAPER, LTD. www.docusave.ch/de/startseite https://morikipaper.co.jp FOTONOWY SCHEMPP BESTANDSERHALTUNG GMBH www.fotonowy.pl www.schempp.de FRATI & LIVI TRU VUE / OPTIUM: INTERAS www.fratielivi.it https://tru-vue.com GMW - WILHELM LEOS NACHFOLGER GMBH WILLARD CONSERVATION LTD https://gmw-shop.de www.willard.co.uk SUPPORTERS DEFFNER & JOHANN GMW - Wilhelm Leos Nachfolger GmbH https://deffner-johann.de https://gmw-shop.de FRATI & LIVI MORIKI PAPER, LTD. www.fratielivi.it https://morikipaper.co.jp J. HEWIT & SONS LTD WILLARD CONSERVATION LTD WWW.HEWIT.COM www.willard.co.uk 2 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
CONTENT. IMPRINT IADA BOARD: WELCOME DEAR PARTICIPANTS! 1 PARTNERS 2 CONTENT 4 PROGRAM: MONDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2022 5 Abstracts PROGRAM: TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022 13 Abstracts PROGRAM: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022 21 Abstracts PROGRAM: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022 29 Abstracts 4 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
PROGRAM. MONDAY / 14 FEBRUARY 14:30-18:30 LOBBY. Information Desk, Agenda, Networking Lounge, Vendors’ Wall 14:40-14:55 FORUMS. Student Networking IADA Info Point Journal of Paper Conservation Info Connect with fellow Stop by to say HELLO to IADA board Point students from around members in a casual setting. Ask all Do you have an interesting project you the world. the questions you have never dared to would like to share? Please come in and ask. talk to our editors! SESSION 1 15:00 – 17:00 (CET) 15:00-15:15 Welcome Renate Mesmer IADA President 15:15-15:30 Beyond Compromise is Optimize Jane Henderson Robert Waller Cardiff University (UK) Protect Heritage Corp. (CA) 15:30-15:45 Safely into the light: Challenges and results derived from a multi- Maria Chiara Palandri, Marte-Kine professional collaboration for the permanent exhibition at the Sandengen & Laila Meyrick National Library of Norway The National Library of Norway (NW) 15:45-16:00 Keeping it Cool: Designing the library's New Gutenberg Bible Nancy Lev-Alexander & Elmer Eusman display case Library of Congress (USA) 16:00-16:15 The ‘Exhibition Scale’: A decision-making tool for loan requests Laure Jeannottat, Agnes Blueher, Luzius Dinkel & Andre Eugene Page Swiss National Library (CH) 16:15-16:30 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 16:30-16:45 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 16:30-17:00 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) SESSION 2 17:00 – 18:30 (CET) 17:00-17:15 Setting risk control priorities for light exposure and strategize Christel Pesme micro-fading at collection level Heritage Conservation Center (SG) 17:15-17:30 Exhibitions are the real thing, or not? Gabriëlle Beentjes, Femke Prinsen & Charlene Mac Donald National Archives (NL) 17:30-17:45 Museum Routine: Adapting tools and equipment at the Lina Wyss Kunstmuseum Basel Kunstmuseum Basel (CH) 17:45-18:00 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 18:00-18:15 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 18:00-18:30 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 5
Jane Henderson1 and Robert Waller*2 Beyond Compromise is Optimize Employing strategies for effective decision-making while Another tool is setting system level goals - that is managing preservation during exhibition can transform identifying not only the immediate and tangible risks - a need to compromise into an opportunity to optimize. such as the danger of tearing a page in a book, but also Decisions around selecting items for exhibition and the a steadily accruing risk such as failing to demonstrate conditions of their display are explored to illustrate, in a the relevance of the collection. practical way, how simple changes in decision strategies The goal is to help conservators engage in decision- can improve decisions. The adoption of a psychological making in the most constructive way possible by approach known as broad framing will be used to focusing on gains and benefits while avoiding picking illustrate how the context, including time horizons battles with less significant benefit for preservation. around a decision, is expanded to reduce the emotional Optimal preservation management must see specific biasing of a decision in favour of short-term benefits, risks in context while using higher level perspectives to costs, and risks. ensure long-term benefit to the collection, to the field of Tactics for broad framing a problem will be applied to the conservation and to our institutions. experience of risk managing an exhibition. One such tactic is to reconsider or re-frame risk from focusing on 1 Cardiff University, UK a single potential occurrence to contemplating risk from *2 Corresponding author: Protect Heritage Corp a continual stream of choices. rw@protectheritage.com Figure 1. Perceived importance depends on perspective. Values are Figure 2. Broad framing enables us to see a more holistic view arbitrary but reasonably representative. Which perspective do you usually adopt? 6 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Maria Chiara Palandri*1, Marte-Kine Sandengen1 and Laila Meyrick1 Safely Into the Light Challenges and results derived from a multi-professional Collaboration for the permanent exhibition at the National Library of Norway The permanent exhibition “Enlightened. Glimpses of a Being a permanent exhibition, sustainability was a Norwegian Cultural History” displays a careful selection second key issue of “Enlightened”. All materials were of objects, dating as far back as the 1100s. The selection selected to be of high quality, sustainable, durable and offers entries to understand the public sphere in Norway. suitable for the materials on display. All the elements in Every single object communicates a type of material, a the room were chosen to both highlight the objects and medium, a specific event and a period in history making to secure their long-term conservation. The objects the exhibition a comprehensive introduction to demanded very different conservation needs which Norwegian cultural history. consequently required tailor made display solutions. The exhibition concept was to design the space and the Prior to the installation of the exhibition, objects were showcases in such a way that the displayed objects analysed to measure both their sensitivity to light and seemed to be “floating” in space. This gives the their structural stability, to be able to create a rotation impression of spotlights sweeping over the storage program. vaults, making an apparently random decision about which objects from the totality of the collection have been brought into the light and made visible. In line with this concept, the showcases had to appear almost invisible. This, as far as conservation and preservation was concerned, was certainly the most complex 1 National Library of Norway, NO challenge. * Corresponding author: chiara.palandri@nb.no Figure 1 Enlightened: The exhibition hall (© Gareth Gardner) Figure 2. Showcase n.4: detail of the mounting system (© Gareth Gardner) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 7
Nancy Lev-Alexander*1 and Elmer Eusman1 Keeping it Cool Designing the Library’s new Gutenberg bible display case The Library of Congress' Gutenberg Bible, one of only control temperature and maintain RH within 2% in a three perfect vellum copies known to exist, is on public hall where RH fluctuates seasonally between 20% permanent display in the Thomas Jefferson Building. and 55% with extended periods below 30%. The exhibit While its three volumes are rotated on a regular schedule case also provides conditions very close to the with the opening changed each time the volume is independently conditioned storage vault which holds the reinstalled, concerns over the potential adverse effects volumes when not on display. The dedicated mechanical of such extended display required Library Conservation unit does not require connection to water or building staff to define exhibit criteria and identify preservation drains and expels the modest amount of process heat strategies to mitigate the effects of incorrect or generated through a filtered vent at the top of the case. fluctuating environment, harmful light exposure, and The speaker will share information about networked pollutants. The speaker will discuss the design process monitoring that allows 24/7 remote access to exhibit including the integration of various stakeholder expertise case data and the VESDA smoke detection system and requirements, highlight preservation features of the which is monitored all hours through the building alarm new case, and share lessons learned. Environmental system. data from the within the case and surrounding historic 1 building space will demonstrate the ability of the case to Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA * Corresponding author: nlal@loc.gov Figure 1 Gutenberg Bible displayed in the Great Hall, Thomas Figure 2. Gutenberg Bible displayed in previous exhibit case Jefferson Building, Library of Congress 2019 (© Shawn Miller) (© Conservation Division) 8 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Laure Jeannottat*1, Agnes Blueher1, Luzius Dinkel1, and Andre Eugene Page1 The “Exhibition Scale”: A decision-making tool for loan requests The Conservation Section of the Swiss National Library light sensitivity of documents is difficult to assess (NL) is responsible for the conservation of all the objectively, the NL has been using a new tool, the Micro institution's collections and, until now, has been primarily Fading Tester (MFT), for this purpose since 2020. responsible for making decisions about loan requests for The introduction of the "Exhibition Scale" leads to exhibitions. Over the past ten years, the number of loan fundamental considerations about the value of the requests for external and internal exhibitions has risen collections, the accepted changes and the desired sharply and, at the same time, the length of time required conservation horizon. Use of the “Exhibition Scale” for loans has increased. Conflicts between exhibition and increases the effort involved in preparing demanding conservation interests have continued to grow and have exhibition decisions but the comprehensible and smooth required a solution. processes mitigate this. This article describes the The NL moved away from its usual strict guidelines functioning of the "Exhibition Scale", the possibilities for based on standards and developed a new system for development and the research areas that result from it. evaluating complex loan requests. Called the "Exhibition Scale", this system uses different parameters to compare the importance of preservation and cultural mediation on a point scale. To obtain as objective a basis for decision as possible, experts from different 1 Swiss National Library, CH departments provide the necessary estimates. Since the * Corresponding author: laure.jeannottat@nb.admin.ch Figure 1. Decision making before a loan for exhibition (© NL) Figure 2. A solution for sensitive object exposure: the production of Facsimile (© NL) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 9
Christel Pesme* Setting Risk Control Priorities for Light Exposure and Strategize Microfading at Collection Level This paper discusses a benchmarking method to help implement more sustainable collection use and care collection care managers define levels of light control for practices involving light exposure that also consider its highly sensitive collection items and subsequently social and societal commitments to provide the best identify priorities for microfading. Applying the lifetime access to its collection for current and future audiences. driven approach of Museum Lighting as presented by D. How to select the regrouping scenario of relative Value- Saunders, it is proposed to implement a value-based at- Risk-to light that best fits collection needs and approach in which an item’s lifespan is set according to institution capacities will also be discussed. its Collection Value. The subset of the collection likely to be highly sensitive to light is regrouped into a manageable number of categories of Value-at-Risk-to- light while factoring in the role of colour information. It * Corresponding author: Heritage Conservation Center, SG will be shown how this approach allows the institution to christel_pesme@nhb.gov.sg 10 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Gabriëlle Beentjes1, Femke Prinsen1, and Charlene Mac Donald*1 Exhibitions are the real thing, or not? Conservators and exhibition makers are often advocates important the story told by the object is. Based on this, for opposing causes: conservators prefer objects safely decisions can be made about using the original object or stored, while exhibition makers would rather see objects a facsimile. shown. In recent years, the National Archives of the In this talk we would also like to consider what happened Netherlands changed their exhibition policy resulting in that both conservator and exhibition maker seem to have long exhibitions with a duration of at least 6 months. become more flexible. Why do we accept longer Because of this, those involved had to reconsider their exhibitions of originals and facsimiles as acceptable professional attitude. alternatives when these used to nonnegotiable? What When an object is chosen for a semi-permanent developments have led to this change? In our case, the exhibition, the first consideration is “Is this problematic establishment of procedures and a lighting policy have for the specific object?”. To this end, one must establish helped, as well as an open mind and positive cooperation criteria, other than the conservator’s gut feeling, that can between conservators and exhibition makers. be used to assess the objects vulnerability. If exhibiting turns out to be problematic, an open discussion between the conservator and exhibition maker is vital. The exhibition maker must consider how important that 1 Nationaal Archief, NL specific object is to that part of the exhibition and how * Corresponding author: charlene.mac.donald@nationaalarchief.nl Figure 1. Adversaries (© Femke Prinsen ) Figure 2. The manuscript containing the Story of Tula (above) and a facsimile of just the Story of Tula (below) (© Femke Prinsen) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 11
Lina Wyss* Museum Routine Adapting tools and equipment at the Kunstmuseum Basel Kunstmuseum Basel and its three venues is one of the (using tablets), a mobile tripod for zoom couriers and largest art museums in Switzerland and houses the fabric covers for light sensitive artworks. In addition, we oldest public art collection in the world. In addition to devised a baker’s rack with removable trays out of taking care of its own collection, several – partly quite corrugated board to support mounted items as well as labour intensive – exhibitions are held each year. to be used as storage space. These adapted tools and As conservators, we participate in the preparations for devices are – especially in their simplicity and practicality the exhibitions from the very beginning and are –incredibly helpful in our daily work at the museum and intensively involved in preparing the works on display. lead decisively to an efficient and successful workflow. The sheer number of exhibition objects (including loans) We would like to present and share our ideas and tools and the frequency with which they must be handled – and maybe we can inspire or even motivate other requires not only careful planning, but also a smooth institutions to create and develop their own useful items workflow on our part. In addition, the last couple of years and tools. have brought certain changes in the workflow due to the pandemic (e.g. Zoom Courier). To meet these requirements, we have adapted and developed tools and equipment over time – such as digital condition reports * Corresponding author: Kunstmuseum Basel, CH lina.wyss@bs.ch Figure 1. Mobile tripod for Zoomcourier (© Kunstmuseum Basel, J. Figure 2. Installation of an exhibition at Kunstmuseum Basel (© Hänggi) Kunstmuseum Basel, A. Seger) 12 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
PROGRAM. TUESDAY / 15 FEBRUARY 14:30-18:30 LOBBY. Information Desk, Agenda, Networking Lounge, Vendors’ Wall 14:40-14:55 FORUMS. Student Networking IADA Info Point Journal of Paper Conservation Info Connect with fellow Stop by to say HELLO to IADA board Point students from around members in a casual setting. Ask all Do you have an interesting project you the world. the questions you have never dared to would like to share? Please come in and ask. talk to our editors! SESSION 3 15:00 – 17:00 (CET) 15:00-15:15 Fear of Fading: Investigating the potential light sensitivity of a Elizabeth Hepher mystery architectural photo-reproduction Historic Environment Scotland (UK) 15:15-15:30 ‘Recommendations and trust’: How Gothenburg Museum of Art Mariateresa Pullano & Tanja Axelryd handled two big international exhibitions amid a global pandemic Göteborgs konstmuseum (SW) 15:30-15:45 ‘The show must go on’: Preparing an archival display with limited Mathilde Renauld, Donna Rose & Grace access to collections O'Boyle National Gallery of Ireland (IR) 15:45-16:00 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 16:00-16:15 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 16:00-17:00 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) SESSION 4 17:00 – 18:30 (CET) 17:00-17:15 ‘The backside looks good’: Digital couriering between the Eliza Jacobi, Helbertijn Krudop & Netherlands and Japan. An archaeological collection on the road Hanneke Kik Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (NL) 17:15-17:30 Diving into the Courier Pool: Establishing a courier training Stephanie Wiener & Brenna Campbell program at Princeton University Library Princeton University Library (USA) 17:30-17:45 Collapse, Covid, Move: Making conservation work at the Kathrin Lehmer Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln accessible to the public Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln (DE) 17:45-18:00 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 18:00-18:15 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 18:00-18:30 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 13
Elizabeth Hepher* Fear of Fading Investigating the potential light sensitivity of a mystery architectural photoreproduction There are many types of photoreproductions and the risk of fading during a potential exhibition display photomechanical copies that are commonly found in period. Working in partnership with the National archive collections, especially those containing Galleries of Scotland, scientific analysis using architectural drawings and technical plans. These, microfading was used to assess the chemical stability of however, can be difficult to identify and vary in their the pigments or dyes present under exposure to light. stability and ageing characteristics. Most notably, some The results of this analysis indicated that the media types are well known to be highly sensitive to light and present were at the more stable end of the Blue Wool 1 are therefore routinely not selected for exhibition as the to 3 lightfastness scale. The conclusions drawn from risk (and fear) of fading is too great. this informed the decision whether to display the object The archive at Historic Environment Scotland, The or not and the subsequent appropriate allocated light National Record of the Historic Environment has budget: display duration and lux levels. The results of numerous examples of different types of this investigation will ultimately allow the display of a photoreproductions from a range of dates in its rarely exhibited architectural reproduction informed by expansive collections. its measured sensitivity to light. Examining a 20th Century architectural reproduction on a transparent support, this presentation describes the steps taken to identify the process used to produce the * Corresponding author: Historic Environment Scotland, UK image, the media present and how to practically assess elizabeth.hepher@hes.scot Figure 1. A detail of a gel lithograph showing both recto and verso Figure 2. The lithograph during Microfading testing © HES (Sir Basil Spence Archive) 14 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Mariateresa Pullano*1 and Tanja Axelryd1 Recommendations and Trust How Gothenburg Museum of Art handled two big international exhibitions amid a global pandemic The Gothenburg Museum of Art is the third biggest art war period. This paper will discuss how the museum was museum in Sweden; its collection covers international challenged in the installation of both exhibitions; how the artworks from the 1400s until today. In 2020, how the staff worked in a collaborative way, learned different Swedish government decided to handle the pandemic practices like digital couriering and managing became an international headline, both with praises and environmental monitoring and pest control. All of this criticism. Before the pandemic, the Gothenburg Museum was learned in a time of pandemic when the Gothenburg of Art planned two major exhibitions with international Museum of Art was still open and later when it was loans in 2020 and 2021. The first, a retrospective of closed for 6 months. The results will present the Ingrid Vang Nyman, Danish artist and illustrator of Pippi challenges and achievements of managing two big Longstocking, was comprised of 200 works, including installations during the pandemic in Sweden, where a children's book illustrations, paintings, sketches, total lockdown never took place. sculptures, original prints, and letters. The second, “Focus on Europe. New Objectivities 1919–1939,” was a 1 Göteborgs konstmuseum, SE large, international exhibition of paintings from the inter- * Corresponding author: mariateresa.pullano@kultur.goteborg.se Figure 1. Exhibition Focus on Europe. New Objectivities 1919–1939, Figure 2. During virtual installation of Focus on Europe. New Gothenburg Museum of Art (© Hossein Sehatlou) Objectivities 1919–1939, Gothenburg Museum of Art (© Victoria Skalleberg) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 15
Mathilde Renauld*1, Donna Rose1 and Grace O’Boyle1 The Show Must Go On Preparing an archival display with limited access to collections In March 2020, the National Gallery of Ireland closed its process. Different appreciations of objects between doors to staff and visitors. Working on-site has been Curatorial and Conservation are also highlighted, with restricted and intermittent, leading to most staff being the lack of physical access leading to a lowered unable to access workspaces and collections. During awareness of the material condition of objects in relation this time, exhibition planning has gone ahead to ensure to their availability for display. Finally, this paper focuses the delivery of the expected programme upon reopening on the decision-making, sometimes ruthless, in and beyond. Conservation to prepare material for display with the The exhibition ‘Anne Yeats: The Everyday Fantastic’ will constant uncertainty of studio access. be used as a case study to reflect on the process of The final reflection targets the impact on the project, exhibition planning for archival material during the Covid- staff, and objects, featuring missed conservation 19 pandemic. Sketchbooks and loose works in various opportunities, and increased digitisation and media and condition were selected for display. Covid documentation. Conservation assessment and restrictions led to challenges, from initial curatorial decisions are stressed as the crux of a pragmatic processes to display preparations, including delivery of exhibitions, especially when working under conservation. This paper highlights the key issues unknown conditions. brought on by the lack of access to collections and restrictive on-site working patterns for staff. The remote nature of curatorial work, and the incomplete 1 National Gallery of Ireland, IE * cataloguing of selected collections impacted the overall Corresponding author: mathilde.renauld@gmail.com Figure 1. Treatment of the artist's etching proofs notebook, reducing Figure 2. Installation of the Anne Yeats display at the National Gallery adhesive mass and staining of failed pressure-sensitive tape before of Ireland (© Grace O'Boyle) stabilisation for display (© Mathilde Renauld) 16 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Eliza Jacobi*1, Helbertijn Krudop1, and Hanneke Kik1 The Backside Looks Good Digital couriering between the Netherlands and Japan: an archaeological collection on the road In March 2020, the month the world shut down due to Microsoft Teams meeting to oversee (un)packing, Covid, the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) condition checking – with the help of an independent was in the middle of packing 38 crates with 250 objects Japanese conservator – and installation. All collection for a two-year traveling exhibition to Japan: “Egypt: Land managers and conservators at the museum participated of Discoveries”. The objects vary from modern scale in turn in the remote sessions, thereby getting to know models and 18th century prints to 2,500-year-old the Japanese colleagues, the work routine, and the ins mummies, coffins, papyri, jewellery and stone statuary. and outs of the process. Although we hope to return to Since then, the exhibition has travelled to 8 different real-life couriering in Japan and other traveling venues with a lot of installation and de-installation exhibitions and future loans, chances are, digital involved. Within the RMO, possibilities for how to tackle couriering is here to stay, at least in some form. With this an installation without couriers were thoroughly case-study we hope to highlight some of the positive discussed. It was soon decided with the partners in aspects of digital couriering, as well as some of the Japan that the exhibition would be installed remotely via difficulties. a digital connection. At 6 am every morning (2 pm Japan time) one conservator, one collection manager, the 1 Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, NL interpreter and the project manager opened the link to a * Corresponding author: e.jacobi@rmo.nl Figure 1. SKR_1269: online couriering in Leiden and installing an exhibition in Nagoya, Japan 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 17
Stephanie Wiener*1 and Brenna Campbell1 Diving into the Courier Pool Establishing a courier training program at Princeton University Library The Princeton University Library (PUL) Preservation & program and adaptations made to courier procedures Conservation Department (P&C) serves a library system will also be discussed. Since the first training in 2019, the of over 10 million volumes including extensive rare courier pool has expanded to include new members with collections. PUL’s outgoing loans are managed through a broad range of collections expertise and experience. P&C by the Exhibitions Registrar, who works closely with This diverse pool enables the Exhibitions Registrar to P&C staff to track and prepare items going on loan. identify the best courier for each loan based on factors Outgoing loans are generally accompanied by a courier. such as foreign language skills and conservation needs. With demand for exhibition loans increasing every year, In addition to learning about the courier training process an expansion to the courier pool was necessary. In at PUL, attendees will leave the talk with a list of practical response to this need, P&C staff created a suggestions for launching a courier training program at comprehensive courier training program. This their own institution. presentation will outline the criteria for selecting couriers, describe the day-long training and post-training skill development. New members of the courier pool leave the training with resources including a handbook, a travel checklist, and a “courier kit” with essential 1 Princeton University Library, USA supplies. The effect of COVID-19 on the courier training * Corresponding author: stephanie.wiener@princeton.edu Figure 1. PUL courier training crate packing tutorial Figure 2. PUL courier tools 18 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Kathrin Lehmer * Collapse, Covid, Move Making conservation work at the Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln accessible to the public The Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln typically interacts projects created to show interested people the diverse with its users by making archival objects available for topics in an archive. What happens in the largest paper research, giving guided tours and housing exhibitions. In conservation workshop in Europe and what do the new the past two years, this has been complicated by the premises look like? How do you move 32 km of archival Corona Pandemic as well as the archive's move to a new, material? What do you need an emergency container shared location. Due to the 2009 collapse of the archive for? What is ink corrosion? How do you remove self- building and the resulting disarray of the archival objects, adhesive tapes? We now successfully communicate all as well as the redistribution of the archives over several these topics and many more through channels such as locations, we were already used to breaking new ground our website, Facebook, YouTube videos, podcasts and and thinking out of the box. We accepted the challenge reports. Our subscribers now include not only local to present not only our objects but also the work of our users, but also conservators, historians and cultural staff, which all too often happens behind the scenes, in institutions from all over the German-speaking region. new formats. Close cooperation between public * Corresponding author: Historisches Archiv der Stadt Köln, DE relations, archivists and conservators resulted in various kathrin.lehmer@stadt-koeln.de Figure 1. Report by „Wissen macht Ah!“ about the emergency Figure 2. Facebook post about the special features of the stitching of container 2020 (© HAStK) prussian files (© HAStK) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 19
REMARKS. 20 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
PROGRAM. WEDNESDAY / 16 FEBRUARY 14:30-18:30 LOBBY. Information Desk, Agenda, Networking Lounge, Vendors’ Wall 14:40-14:55 FORUMS. Student Networking IADA Info Point Journal of Paper Conservation Info Connect with fellow Stop by to say HELLO to IADA board Point students from around members in a casual setting. Ask all Do you have an interesting project you the world. the questions you have never dared to would like to share? Please come in and ask. talk to our editors! SESSION 5 15:00 – 17:00 (CET) 15:00-15:15 Attractive in every respect: New approaches in presenting the Carly Taylor-Mittmann & Julia Bispinck- treasures of a universal library Roßbacher Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (DE) 15:15-15:30 Realizing Sensations: Balancing the Exhibition and Preservation Abed Haddad & Laura Neufeld of Cézanne's Watercolors The Museum of Modern Art (USA) 15:30-15:45 Impact of COVID-19 on the Preventive Conservation of Keeley Wilson Temporary Exhibitions at the British Museum British Museum (UK) 15:45-16:00 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 16:00-16:15 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 16:00-17:00 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) SESSION 6 17:00 – 18:30 (CET) 17:00-17:15 Installations go virtual: The good and the bad Nicole Schmidt & Barbara Korbel Deutsches Historisches Museum (DE) 17:15-17:30 Displaying bound books: Re-evaluating Chester Beatty’s book Julia Poirier cradle system Chester Beatty (IR) 17:30-17:45 Displaying hidden fore-edge paintings: Challenges and solutions Alessandro Scola Johns Hopkins University (USA) 17:45-18:00 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 18:00-18:15 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 18:00-18:30 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 21
Carly Taylor-Mittmann*1 and Julia Bispinck-Roßbacher1 Attractive in Every Respect New approaches in presenting the treasures of a universal library In 2009, the planning of the library museum in the State a modular system of book supports, constructed out of Library Berlin (due to open March 2022) started with an metal, in standard sizes that can be quickly assembled architectural competition. The winning design and easily reused. The inner walls of the museum cases incorporates over 100 showcases and drawers of are also constructed out of metal, and flat objects will be various sizes and shapes. The long history of the library mounted using magnets. The use of a modular system and its collections is shown through about 380 objects. is more sustainable than building individual book Alongside the complex curation process, our task was supports for each display and reduces the time needed to incorporate all conservation concerns into the for exhibition preparation. The process of deciding which planning - specifications for climate and lighting, sizes of book supports should be produced involved the selection of materials, and equipping and securing the analysis of the dimensions of the exhibits, then finding display cases. Major components of this task were compromises to reduce the number of costly variants, internal discussions about the conditions in the while ensuring that the books will be safely supported. museum versus existing conditions within the loan system, decisions regarding display periods and the resulting consequences for the operation of the museum. A new museum offers the opportunity to try new methods of display. With the architects, the authors 1 Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, DE * have developed mounting systems using magnets, and Corresponding author: Carly.Taylor-Mittmann@sbb.spk-berlin.de Figure 1. A book presented on a modular book support designed for Figure 2. Neodymium magnets being covered with Japanese the Berlin State Library’s new museum (©Sbb-PK Foto Anka tissue.(©Sbb-PK Foto Anka Bardeleben) Bardeleben) 22 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Abed Haddad*1 and Laura Neufeld*1 Realizing Sensations Balancing the Exhibition and Preservation of Cézanne's Watercolors The exhibition Cézanne Drawing at The Museum of Red Reflectography, Ultraviolet Fluorescence Photogra- Modern Art (MoMA) brought together an exceptional phy, Raman, Surface Enhanced Raman (SERS), and group of works on paper from public and private micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (µ-FTIR) collections across the globe. Cézanne’s watercolors of Spectroscopies in addition to large area micro X-Ray still-lifes, landscapes, portraits, and bathers were a focus Fluorescence Scanning (µ-XRF). To assess the condition of the exhibition, which explored the artist’s fervent and sensitivity of the watercolors in their current state, drawing practice. Recognizing the inherent light microfade testing (MFT) was performed on the paper sensitivity of both the paper and paint, controlling, and and each identified pigment. This information aided the tracking light exposure was central to exhibition design and lighting of the exhibition. Spectrophotometry planning, requiring cross-departmental collaboration at was also carried out on each color before and after the museum. Within conservation at MoMA, this concern display to collect real-time data for comparison with the led to a systematic study of three watercolors in the microfadometry results. Together these techniques Museum’s collection, Mont Sainte-Victoire, Foliage, and inform policies for future display and loan of these and Study of Trees, to characterize the pigments used by similarly light sensitive watercolors in Cézanne’s oeuvre. Cézanne for their execution. This was done to better qualify any changes to the compositions based on the 1 The Museum of Modern Art, USA palette’s chemistry. Analysis was undertaken invasively * Corresponding authors: abed_haddad@moma.org & and non-invasively with the following techniques: Infra- laura_neufeld@moma.org Figure 1. Performing spectrophotometry on Paul Cézanne’s, Mont Figure 2. Paul Cézanne. Mont Sainte-Victoire, 1902-06. Pencil and Sainte-Victoire, 1902-06. Watercolor and pencil on wove paper, 42.5 x watercolor on wove paper (detail). The Museum of Modern Art, New 54.2 cm. The Museum of Modern Art, New York (© The Museum of York (© The Museum of Modern Art) Modern Art) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 23
Keeley Wilson * Impact of COVID-19 on the Preventive Conservation of Temporary Exhibitions at the British Museum In March 2020, the team at the British Museum were and the discussion of the different options with the preparing to install a new temporary exhibition, Tantra: lenders. It will also examine the methods used to from enlightenment to revolution. Featuring loans from preserve the manuscripts on display, and the issues that New York, Dublin and Delhi, the exhibition explored the arise when access to the galleries is severely curtailed. link between the philosophy developed in medieval India Lockdown has highlighted a number of areas that and the transformation of the religious, cultural, and require further thought and research. Future proofing political landscape of India and beyond. The exhibition options that account for the lessons learned from 2020 was due to open in April 2020 and had been in planning will be discussed, including further suggestions with a for two years prior, Instead, the British Museum closed view to improving sustainability and reliability of the on 18 March due to the nationwide lockdown. Following conditioning used in the temporary exhibition the successive lockdowns, this paper will consider the programme at the British Museum, and the expansion of impact of the pandemic on the temporary exhibitions the collections emergency plan to include pandemics. with a particular focus on the loan of nine early medieval palm leaf manuscripts from Cambridge University Library for the Tantra exhibition; the decisions that were made to ensure the safety of the objects by the * Corresponding author: British Museum, UK continuous provision of a stable and safe environment; kjwilson@britishmuseum.org Figure 1. Desktop showcase with palm leaf manuscripts (© The Figure 2. Hahn Lauder showcase wit palm leaf manuscript and Trustees of the British Museum) bronze statuettes (© The Trustees of the British Museum) 24 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Nicole Schmidt1 and Barbara Korbel*1 Installations Go Virtual The good and the bad The pandemic situation around Covid had us facing territory for everyone. As a Conservator and as a major new challenges in the context of exhibitions. Registrar at the German Historical Museum in Berlin, we Despite the exceptional situation, exhibitions had to be would like to share our experiences during the de-installed on time and objects returned to the lending installation and de-installation of international institutions. National and international travel restrictions, exhibitions over the last years. In our future museum high incidences of infection, long-term work from home, work, we will continue to follow the paths we have taken etc. made in person courier trips impossible. Can courier so far, and we would like to provide an outlook with the trips be completely canceled? If not, how will the safe advantages and disadvantages. and secure transfer of loans be guaranteed? New approaches had to be found when lockdowns brought 1 Deutsches Historisches Museum, DE everything to a standstill. Virtual courier trips were a new * Corresponding author: korbel@dhm.de Figure 1. Condition check during a virtual couriering (© Martina Figure 2. Detail of Condition check during a virtual couriering (© Homolka, DHM) Martina Homolka, DHM) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 25
Julia Poirier* Displaying Bound Books Re-evaluating Chester Beatty’s book cradle system The Chester Beatty collection showcases the Arts of the This paper will compare the existing Chester Beatty Book across four and a half millennia. Questions of system to the mounting systems for bound books used efficiency, sustainability and environmental impact are by other major institutions, with reference to a short of growing concern when displaying bound items, as the survey, and will highlight what a new book cradle system museum maintains a busy exhibition schedule including for the Chester Beatty must provide. It is hoped that temporary displays and rotations of objects in the through a detailed review of the field, and with more permanent galleries. collaboration, the museum industry will be able to The current system of bespoke Perspex cradles was develop better systems for display which will answer designed 20 years ago with preservation of the book both preservation issues and provide an environmentally structure and aesthetics of the galleries in mind. The responsible option for museum professionals. limitations of this system will be discussed, alongside a more recent initiative to increase efficiencies by re-using cradles, better storage, and the use of a system to track * Corresponding author: Chester Beatty, IE items. jpoirier@cbl.ie Figure 1. Group of Islamic manuscripts in bespoke acrylic cradles at Figure 2. Acrylic profile and base to fit a specific manuscript opening the Chester Beatty 26 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Alessandro Scola* Displaying Hidden Fore-Edge Paintings Challenges and solutions The fore-edges of books have been used as canvases for me to create a new book cradle specifically designed for titling and/or decorations since the Middle Ages. The that purpose. Tested later that year for an exhibit held at practice took a different direction in the mid-seventeenth the Loyola-Notre Dame Library, the new glue-free cradles century when artists started to paint with the volume were made of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) held in a wooden press with its boards open and text- tubes interlocked to a frame made with PETG sheets. block bent and fanned-out to reveal a tiny area of the Using common tools, the tubes were cut-to-size, and the fore-edge of each page. The decoration was now hidden sheets were cut, cold-bent, and drilled following custom when the book was shut. geometries. PETG has good physical and chemical To exhibit such artwork, the volume needs to be held in properties and is cheap and easy to machine. The new the same fanned-out arrangement. This is problematic: design is visually minimalistic and provides full control due to aging, the binding’s components and text-block of the opening of the boards, the movement of the spine, are likely less tolerant of uncontrolled handling and and the bending radius of the text-block. It also allows prolonged physical distortion. for a simple installation/de-installation. In 2017, the lack of a ready answer when asked for suggestions on how to display hidden fore-edge * Corresponding author: Johns Hopkins University, USA paintings tickled my professional curiosity and prompted ascola1@jhu.edu Figure 1. Ice skating fore-edge painting (© Alessandro Scola / Johns Figure 2. Split fore-edge painting (© Alessandro Scola / Johns Hopkins University) Hopkins University) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 27
REMARKS. 28 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
PROGRAM. THURSDAY / 17 FEBRUARY 14:30-18:30 LOBBY. Information Desk, Agenda, Networking Lounge, Vendors’ Wall 14:40-14:55 FORUMS. Student Networking IADA Info Point Journal of Paper Conservation Info Connect with fellow Stop by to say HELLO to IADA board Point students from around members in a casual setting. Ask all the Do you have an interesting project you the world. questions you have never dared to ask. would like to share? Please come in and talk to our editors! SESSION 7 15:00 – 17:00 (CET) 15:00-15:15 What do we want, what can we do? Conservation dilemmas Karolina Komsta-Sławińska, Jolanta pertaining to accessing and exhibiting objects of cultural heritage Czuczko & Dorota Jutrzenka-Supryn University of Nicolaus Copernicus, Department of Conservation and Restoration of Paper and Leather (PL) 15:15-15:30 Dimensioning mounts for the display of books: A new device Maria Sutor, Karin Eckstein & Thorsten Allscher Bavarian State Library, Institute of Conservation, Munich (DE) 15:30-15:45 Exhibitions and Loans: Challenges, collaborations, compromises, Penelope Banou & Angeliki Stassinou and concerns in the occasion of the 200 years anniversary of the General State Archives of Greece (GR) Greek revolution 15:45-16:00 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 16:00-16:15 Q&A Follow-up Questions (Forum) 16:00-17:00 Vendors’ exhibition, Networking, Info Lounge, Break (Lobby) SESSION 8 17:00 – 18:15 (CET) 17:00-17:15 The Cologne Book Cradle: A sustainable book presentation Pavlos Koemtzidis system made of transparent acrylic glass Historisches Archiv der Stadt Koeln (DE) 17:15-17:30 Interfacing conservation practice and virtual presentation Mareike Gaubitz Deutsches Forum für Figurentheater und Puppenspielkunst e.V. (DE) Bettina Gärtner ABK Stuttgart (DE) Andrea Pataki Hundt & Nicole Reifarth Technische Hochschule Köln (DE) Alexander Philippi Digifactura (DE) 17:30-17:45 Q&A with moderator (Live – 15 min) (Auditorium) 17:45-18:15 Concluding Remarks & End of the Symposium Renate Mesmer IADA President 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 29
Karolina Komsta-Sławińska*1, Jolanta Czuczko1 and Dorota Jutrzenka-Supryn1 What Do We Want, What Can We Do? Conservation dilemmas pertaining to accessing and exhibiting objects of cultural heritage The conservator struggles with a paradox: reconciling display them and make them accessible. The result of the owner’s expectations of accessibility and the conservation work is a multidimensional identification constraints of preservation. “Arresting” the historical and “appreciation” of the object. This knowledge object in a storage space facilitates its full protection provides a good basis for ensuring conscious and more from external factors. Therefore, a partial solution is the effective prevention. It also makes it possible to propose recent trend of enabling access to copies only. However, a method of exhibiting the material form of the artefact in many cases, contact with the material substance of and making its value accessible from a wide perspective. the historical object is an irreplaceable emotional In this context, various examples of solutions pertaining experience and sometimes the only possibility of to a whole range of artefacts will be discussed, from contributing to the development of scientific studies. medieval manuscripts, incunabula with marginal notes Within broadly defined conservation efforts, we by Copernicus, a large hand-drawn map, through a constantly seek a compromise between restricting Chinese scroll, to small, artistic oil and watercolour access to the artefact for the sake of protecting the sketches. historical substance and enabling contact with the original. We make use of several possibilities, incorporating new technical solutions. The analyses carried out during our work often allow us to discover a given object in a more comprehensive way and ap- 1 University of Nicolaus Copernicus, PL preciate its various aspects, not only aesthetic, and then * Corresponding author: k.komsta-s@umk.pl Figure 1. A fragment of a 17th century print with endleaf guards Figure 2. Chinese hanging scroll, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), detail made of a 11th century manuscript, before conservation (© D. showing a canvas infill with a painting layer, before conservation (© Jutrzenka-Supryn) A. Skowroński) 30 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
Maria Sutor*1, Karin Eckstein1 and Thorsten Allscher1 Dimensioning Mounts for the Display of Books A new device The ideal presentation of bound books on display angles. This is necessary, because the dimensions of the requires well-fitting, customized book mounts. book differ, depending on whether it is lying flat or tilted. Measuring the dimensions of a book precisely is crucial This is especially true for oversized and heavy books. for preparing an individual book mount for exhibition. In addition, we introduced a form to systematically The Bavarian State Library has been displaying record all data necessary to manufacture a book mount. manuscripts and rare prints in in-house exhibitions and The data can be applied to any type of book mount, and as loans at external venues over many years. We have thus can be adapted to any exhibition design. The form therefore gathered a lot of experience in this field. serves as a reliable tool for communication with In order to improve and to simplify the preparation providers or borrowers. process for book mounts, we developed a special Both the new device and the form allow us to obtain easy dimensioning device many years ago. The device and accurate dimensions for book mounts. operates as a temporary support by which the book is held in exactly the position it will be displayed in the exhibition. Thus, it is possible to measure precisely the dimensions needed for a custom book mount. The dimensioning device has been modified recently. A 1 Bavarian State Library, DE new feature now offers a support for open books at tilted * Corresponding author: maria.sutor@bsb-muenchen.de Figure 1. Munich Measuring Device (© Bayerische Staatsbibliothek/ Figure 2. Munich Measuring Form (© Bayerische Staatsbibliothek/ IBR) IBR) 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium 31
Penelope Banou*1 and Angeliki Stassinou1 Exhibitions and Loans Challenges, collaborations, compromises and concerns in the occasion of the 200 years anniversary of the Greek revolution The impact of the digital era, and long-distance access photography; packaging; and transfer. Moreover, to the fonds, created a need for the Archives to include conservators had to collaborate with curators and exhibitions and events among their principal annual architects for the selection of materials and lighting for aims and goals, as a medium to attract visitors and the showcases and the methodology of display. At the scholars, as well as to promote the collections to the same time, they were also involved in the preparation of public. In 2021, Greece celebrated the 200th anniversary the exhibition areas, the control of the environmental of the Greek revolution; the General State Archives of conditions, and the handling, hanging and placement of Greece organized a thematic exhibition and participated the artifacts. This situation raises several issues in several temporary, long-term, and virtual exhibitions in associated with the preservation of materials in Greece and abroad. This new focus in combination with exhibition due to the required compromises in treatment the pandemic restrictions had a tremendous impact on and conditions of display, but also with the preservation the priorities of the Conservation Department, requiring of material in collections, as surveys and systematic a shift in workload management. Conservators were treatment and housing were significantly reduced. almost exclusively occupied with the preparation of the exhibitions: completion of condition reports; application of limited treatments; preparation of mounts and secondary supports, as well as plexiglass cradles and 1 General State Archives of Greece, GR supporting structures; hinging; framing; digitization and * Corresponding author: pbanou@yahoo.gr Figure 1. Custom made boxes for the transportation of exhibits (© Figure 2. Exhibition works in progress during the installation of the A.Stassinou) exhibition GAK-Art (© A.Pappa) 32 14-17 February 2022 – IADA2022 Online Symposium
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