Art and Materials Conservation Commons^™

Stamps Of The World: Treatment And Research Of A Three-Volume Stamp Collection, Devon M. Blankenbaker

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This master’s project focused on three key areas: cataloging materials, treating book structures, and investigating green stamp pigments. Each section was chosen to build my skills as a conservator. By applying archival processing techniques, I gained a deeper understanding of the collection and identified the albums in the project. Diagrams and a finding aid improved my confidence in archival work. Treating album structures offered valuable experience in dry cleaning, tear repair, and board reattachment, helping me apply knowledge across multiple volumes and prepare for future treatments. The scientific analysis, using XRF and FTIR, provided insight into green stamp pigments and …

Strategies In Time-Based Media Conservation: An Evaluation Of Three Institutional Approaches, Mya Vander Pol

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Time-based media (TBM) is a category of art in which the works rely on the passage of time and often the integration of technology to convey their artistic concepts and narratives. It encompasses various artistic expressions, including video installations, sound art, performance, and interactive digital works. This diverse array of mediums present distinct challenges to institutions responsible for their storage, preservation, and accessibility. The rapid evolution of technology and the inherent fragility of the media formats make the proper management of time-based media art equipment a critical concern. This paper examines three case studies of time-based media artworks from the …

Proceso De Retejido, Por Medio De Cordeles De Papel Japonés, En Una Bolsa Procedente De La Cueva De La Candelaria, Torreón, Coahuila, México, Miriam Elizabeth Castro Rodríguez, Gloria Martha Sánchez Valenzuela, Orlando Martínez Zapata

IX Jornadas Internacionales de Textiles Precolombinos y Amerindianos / 9th International Conference on PreColumbian and Amerindian Textiles, Museo delle Culture, Milan, 2022

La Cueva de la Candelaria, es una cueva mortuoria fechada entre el 1100 y 1300 d.C. (Aveleyra 2010) dónde se depositaron los cuerpos de grupos de cazadores recolectores junto con los bienes que les habían pertenecido en vida. Gracias a sus condiciones de cueva seca se lograron conservar y rescatar una gran variedad de artefactos elaborados con fibras semiduras de agavaceas como son los objetos de cordelería (redes, bolsas, cuerdas). Debido al deterioro natural de las fibras y los generados durante el contexto de enterramiento como son los lixiviados de los cuerpos, desarrollo de microorganismos, acciones de insectos y animales …

Textiles Y Plumas. Documentación Y Conservación De La Colección Etnográfica Del Museo De Farmacobotánica Juan A. Domínguez, Facultad De Farmacia Y Bioquímica De La Universidad De Buenos Aires (Argentina), Silvana Di Lorenzo, Lucila Pesoa, Cecilia Pérez De Micou, María Del Carmen Toribio

IX Jornadas Internacionales de Textiles Precolombinos y Amerindianos / 9th International Conference on PreColumbian and Amerindian Textiles, Museo delle Culture, Milan, 2022

El museo de Fármacobotánica “Juan A. Domínguez” preserva una interesante colección etnográfica de textiles y plumaria procedente de varias regiones de Argentina, Bolivia y Paraguay. En este trabajo presentamos el estado de avance de la investigación, documentación y conservación preventiva en referencia al patrimonio recolectado en la región del Gran Chaco. Mediante este proyecto independiente de investigación y conservación nuestro objetivo es dar a conocer esta colección inédita para preservarla, ponerla en valor y propender a su visualización.

The “Juan A. Domínguez” Pharmacobotanical Museum preserves an interesting ethnographic collection of textiles and feathers form various regions of Argentina, Bolivia and …

A Performance Evaluation Of Architectural Coatings To Preserve Aerosol Paint On Concrete, Riley Morris

All Theses

The growing movement of assigning cultural and heritage value to graffiti and street art is one without a preservation solution to ensure the longevity of these works in-situ in an outdoor environment. The goal of this thesis was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of six architectural topcoats’ performance when applied as a conservation treatment to outdoor aerosol graffiti and street art on concrete substrate. An artist’s quality, durable, color-fast spray-paint was applied to twenty-eight concrete test panels to mimic the application of graffiti or street art. Six topcoats, Prosoco SC-1, Prosoco Gloss n’ Guard WB, Keim Faceal Oleo HD®, Keim …

Less Water, More Holy: Tools For Sustainable Ablution, Faheem Khan

Theses and Dissertations

Prayer is an important part of life for many people, whether it takes the form of meditation or talking to God. Muslims pray five times a day, and before each prayer, they first clean themselves by performing ritual ablution (wudu). The eight-step purification process of wudu cleanses the body from head to toe. The Hadiths of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim tell us the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ needed just one mudd of water (650ml) to complete wudu, but most people consume many times that amount—four-to-seven liters is more common today.

To visualize and better understand the nature …

The Durability Of Authenticity: An Examination Of The Art Conservator’S Role In Preserving Authenticity, Emily Crozier

MA Theses

This thesis will focus on the conservation of privately owned paintings by deceased artists to determine the durability of authenticity. The concept of authenticity is fragile and illusive. However, there are certain theories and attributes which help to determine whether a painting is authentic. It is generally agreed that the authenticity of a painting can be maintained or lost through conservation. It is therefore presumed that the conservator is ethically driven to preserve the authenticity of a painting as its cultural value is of paramount importance in the conservation process. However, conservation is not a purely ethical issue as it …

Hidden In Plain Sight. How ‘Disturbing’ Features Found Within Two Peruvian Textile Fragments Have Turned Into A ‘Significant Guide’ For Conservation, Griet Kockelkoren, Emma Damen

PreColumbian Textile Conference VIII / Jornadas de Textiles PreColombinos VIII (2019)

Préserver non seulement ‘l’objet matériel’, mais préserver également les valeurs intrinsèques d’un objet n’est pas un nouveau concept dans la pratique de la conservation-restauration actuelle. Le défi de cette approche consiste à regarder au-delà de ce qui est visible à l’oeil nu et à déterminer les traces de signification qui sont présentes dans l’objet. Au début d’une recherche ou une conservation, les aspects sont inconnues et parfois bien déguisés. Les traces essentielles peuvent être très difficiles à évaluer et à valoriser, en particulier avec des objets textiles ayant servi à une ou plusieurs fins pratiques au cours de leur vie …

Skin, Bones + Bags: Investigating The Death Of Marine Ecosystems, Rylie Walter

Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Papers

Plastic has become ubiquitous in the oceans. Although a convenient and cheap way to distribute goods around the world, plastic is also a leading cause for the death of many marine ecosystems. Walter explores her personal connection to the ocean, researches the relationship between plastic pollution and the ocean, and examines art as a means for inciting social change to protect and restore ocean environments. By using plastic as her main material for making art, Walter transforms the material from one that harms into one that can be calming and peaceful, while still representing the destruction it causes.

Artist Frames: A Lost History Tracking The Innovations Of Discarded Visions, Isabella Leokadia Kapczynski

MA Theses

By considering the multiple aspects of a picture frame, this thesis paper explores the relationship between the frame and the painting it surrounds. Functioning to both preserve and present a painting, the frame is often a concern of curators, dealers, restorers and institutions. Though neglected, the painters themselves had opinions about the framing of their work. This research centers on the classification of a picture frame as either fine or decorative art. First, the metaphysical and marketing ramifications of the frame will be considered, followed by a concise history of the frame that will focus on the nineteenth century Impressionist …

Perspectives Of Italian Fresco: Creation And Conservation, Sarah Linder

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The purpose of this study is to survey the history of Italian fresco technique and tradition and modern conservation practices employed to preserve works. Fresco, a medium used by masters, such as Michelangelo, is a method of painting directly onto wet plaster. This method incorporates pigment and surface as one. This project analyzes the most prevalent examples of traditional fresco found in Pompeii and nearby villas in Boscoreale, Italy. Since their discovery, these locations have undergone and continue to exist under varying conservation projects. In order to further the study of modern conservation techniques, I attended the Ortolan Studio in …

Classic Textiles From Cueva Del Lazo (Chiapas, Mexico): Archaeological Context And Conservation Issues, Davide Domenici, Gloria Martha Sánchez Valenzuela

PreColumbian Textile Conference VII / Jornadas de Textiles PreColombinos VII (2016)

The excavation of Cueva del Lazo, a cave on the cliffs of the Río La Venta River canyon in the Zoque region of Western Chiapas (Mexico), led to the discovery of a complex Late Classic post-sacrificial context where eleven children were buried wrapped in textile bundles. The environmental conditions of the dry cave allowed an extraordinary preservation of perishable materials including textiles, cordages, botanical remains, etc. In the first part of the paper we provide a brief introduction to the archaeology of the Selva El Ocote, as well as a description and interpretation of the Cueva del Lazo archaeological context. …

La Conservación De Dos Fardos Funerarios Provenientes De Contextos Arqueológicos: El Caso De La Cueva Del Lazo, Ocozocoautla, Chiapas Y La Cueva De La Candelaria, Torreón, Coahuila, México, Gloria Martha Sánchez Valenzuela

PreColumbian Textile Conference VII / Jornadas de Textiles PreColombinos VII (2016)

El presente artículo se enfoca en la conservación de dos fardos funerarios localizados en diferentes cuevas dentro de la República Mexicana que, a pesar de encontrarse en polos opuestos, se conservaron gracias a las condiciones de humedad y temperatura estables dentro de un contexto seco. Lamentablemente, en ambos casos, no existe un registro minucioso del contexto (mediciones de humedad, temperatura, análisis de sedimentos, entre otros), así como de las condiciones en las que estos se encontraban (elementos asociados –restos óseos, ornamentos, posición, etc) que permitan realizar una intervención lo más fehaciente posible. Estos ingresan a la CNCPC1 completamente colapsados, después …

Challenges Surrounding The Conservation And Replication Of Eva Hesse’S Sculpture, Kaela L. Nurmi

Scripps Senior Theses

The sculpture of German-born American artist, Eva Hesse (1936-1970), presents many conservation challenges. Hesse’s experimentations with latex and fiberglass created stunningly innovative works of art in the late 1960s bringing these unorthodox materials into the world of fine art; but now these materials are creating major conservation problems. Her artwork is an extreme example of the conservation challenges of contemporary art. This thesis examines the challenges surrounding the conservation and replication of Eva Hesse’s large-scale latex and fiberglass sculptures. The latex and fiberglass materials that captivated Hesse are compromising the structural integrity of her large-scale sculptures today. Hesse’s art forces …

Proactive Conversation, 3d Printing, And An Old Nintendo, Tesha C. Ellis

Undergraduate Research Posters

Abstract

One hundred years from now, it would be a true historical treat to be able to showcase 20th and 21st century digital entertainment by presenting video game consoles in mint condition for interactive, educational, play. Arguably, it would be more enlightening and informative for future audiences to be able to physically engage with the electronic artifacts instead of simply observing them behind glass. With the use of 3D technology, components of video game systems can be preserved, and then printed as needed for repairs. It will help keep them functional for future researchers, educators, and enthusiasts.

Pragmatism And Compromise In Conservation, Peter D. Verheyen

Librarian Publications

I write this from the perspective of an apprentice-trained bookbinder and conservator who has spent most of his career working in academic research libraries in the US, work that has included working primarily with special collections, but also heavily used circulating collections and digitization. During this time I have also worked with many other conservators, interns from conservation/preservation programs and students of museum studies and librarianship. While the mission ensuring the long-term health of and continued access to the Library’s collections has not changed, how we do that work and prioritize activities has. This has been a result of changes …

Conserving Our Cultural Heritage: The Role Of Fungi In Biodeterioration, Hanna Szczepanowska, A. R. Cavaliere

Biology Faculty Publications

The objects of cultural heritage are composed of varied materials which can be affected by diverse microbial communities. The study of these complex and heterogeneous assemblies of materials and microorganisms require an inter- and multi-disciplinary approach. Development of a strategy towards prevention, mitigation of biodeterioration and removal of microorganisms, especially fungi begins with the understanding of the materials' fabric, assessment of causes behind the biodeterioration, and the context in which it occurs.

Three aspects of biodeterioration of cultural heritage are discussed: 1) the multitude of bio-agents' on cultural heritage materials, 2) fungal interaction with substrates, and 3) prevention and conservation …

Conservation Re-Casing (Binding), Donia Conn, Peter D. Verheyen, Department Of Preservation And Conservation

Librarian Publications

Conservation recasing is a way to preserve our 19th and 20th century materials in which the bindings have failed and, in many cases, been lost over time. It is not intended to be used on valuable bindings or volumes printed before 1800. The structure used is based on the German (Bradel) case binding.

Preservation At Syracuse University Library, Peter D. Verheyen, David Stokoe, Marianne Swanberry Hanley, Robert J. Hodge

Librarian Publications

Prepared for IST600 (Preservation), this presentation gives an overview of the activities of the Department of Preservation and Conservation including environment, disaster preparedness and salvage, circulating collections repair, rare book conservation, rehousing, audio preservation, and digitization. For more about department see http://library.syr.edu/about/departments/preservation and our resource guide at http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/preservation.

Bookbinding & Conservation: A Sixty-Year Odyssey Of Art And Craft By Don Etherington, Peter D. Verheyen

Librarian Publications

For those involved with bookbinding, book conservation, or with the Guild of Book Workers, Don Etherington needs no introduction – he has served as a teacher, mentor, and friend. Now, with Bookbinding & Conservation: A Sixty-year Odyssey of Art and Craft we can read about how he came to enter this field, was influenced by his teachers and mentors, and how he helped shape the world of bookbinding and conservation.

"Bookbinding & Conservation: A Sixty-year Odyssey of Art and Craft" contains a forward by Bernard Middleton, another leader in the field, and one who needs little introduction himself. It is …

Bookbinding & Conservation: A Sixty-Year Odyssey Of Art And Craft By Don Etherington, Peter D. Verheyen

Librarian Publications

For those involved with bookbinding, book conservation, or with the Guild of Book Workers, Don Etherington needs no introduction – he has served as a teacher, mentor, and friend. Now, with Bookbinding & Conservation: A Sixty-year Odyssey of Art and Craft we can read about how he came to enter this field, was influenced by his teachers and mentors, and how he helped shape the world of bookbinding and conservation. "Bookbinding & Conservation: A Sixty-year Odyssey of Art and Craft" contains a forward by Bernard Middleton, another leader in the field, and one who needs little introduction himself. It is …

The Changing Book: Transitions In Design, Production, And Preservation, Peter D. Verheyen

Librarian Publications

This book review was originally published in the Guild of Book Workers' Newsletter, Vol 181, December, 2008. "The Changing Book: Transitions in Design Production, and Preservation publishes the proceedings of the conference of the same name organized by and held at the University of Iowa July 22-25,2005. This conference tied together many threads, from an exhibition honoring the life's work of William (Bill) Anthony, the first conservator at the University of Iowa and teacher to some of today's best, to a "tent show" which gave the public the opportunity to learn about the book arts hands-on, to 19 formal presentations …

Finding Time: How It Is Made Visual Artists Newsletter, Brian Fay

Articles

FINDING TIME

Brian Fay outlines the processes and concepts underpinning his practice

2005 Preservation Calendar, Donia Conn, Central New York Library Resource Council

Librarian Publications

Text and images illustrating common preservation problems affecting library and archival materials including books, papers, photographs, scrapbooks, textiles, audio recordings with tips on preserving them. From the 2005 Central New York Library Resource Councils (CLRC) 2005 calendar.