Tag: architecture

Job Posting: Digest 10/25/2016

JOB – ASSOCIATE CURATOR (LATINO DESIGN), Smithsonian Institution (New York, NY, USA)

  • Applications are due by November 14, 2016
  • Job Announcement No. 17A-LG-302166-DEU-CHSDM
  • Work Schedule is Full Time, Permanent – Federal
  • Salary range: $66,940.00 to $87,021.00 / Per Year

About the Agency
SUMMARY
An opportunity to serve as an Associate Curator (Latino Design) for Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, which is the only museum in the country devoted to historic and contemporary design. Candidates must be able to converse in and read Spanish to perform research, writing and other duties associated with the collection and exhibitions.
DUTIES

  • Identifies, locates, and solicits objects for the collection, in addition to researching, interpreting, preparing catalog records, securing image rights, overseeing new photography, and creating web-based content for both new and existing Latino collection objects.
  • Collaborates with the Education Department to initiate and develop ways to interpret, expand audiences and optimize opportunities to disseminate knowledge about American Latino design.
  • Conducts in-depth research and develops a Collections/Acquisitions Plan to guide acquisitions of modern and contemporary American Latino design.
  • Proposes and develops a Latino-focused exhibition and accompanying publication.
  • Engages with the Digital and Emerging Media Team to create Latino-based content.
  • Reaches out to curators, researchers, and educators on Latino initiatives and develops collaborative activities.

KEY JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
  • May need to complete a Probationary Period
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

QUALIFICATIONS
All applicants must meet these Basic Requirements: (You must submit unofficial school transcripts):
1. Degree in museum work; or in art history or museum studies with a specialization in American Latino design.OR
2. Combination of education and experience – courses equivalent to a major, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.OR
3. Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown above.
In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you may qualify for this position if you possess the Selective Factor and Specialized Experience below:
All applicants must meet the Selective Factor Requirements: (You application must show written evidence of this requirement)
Selective Factor:Experience conversing in and reading Spanish in order to perform research, writing and other duties associated with the collection and exhibitions.
In addition to meeting the Selective Factor above, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system. For this position Specialized experience is defined as exhibition and curatorial experience with a collection of American Latino design, 1900 to the present, to perform collections management, scholarly research, exhibition planning/production, publishing, public engagement, and administration.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Or Education: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in museum work; or in art history or museum studies with a specialization in American Latino design.
Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.
Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.
Security Clearance: Public Trust – Background Investigation
For additional information and job-specific application information requirements, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/453986500/
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JOB – CONSERVATOR TECHNICIAN, National Archives and Records Administration (College Park, MD, USA)

  • Applications are due by November 15, 2016
  • Job Announcement No. JD1794184TBD
  • Work Schedule is Full Time – Permanent
  • Salary range: $43,057.00 to $55,970.00 / Per Year

Summary: this position is within the Conservation Branch, Preservation Programs Division of Research Services in College Park, MD. The duty location could change to the National Archives Building, located in Washington, DC, as required by workload.
Duties: as a Conservator Technician, your duties will include:

  • Perform conservation treatment on archival records such as: dry cleaning, mending, guarding, humidification and flattening.
  • Stabilize records prior to digitization.
  • Perform preventative conservation activities, such as encapsulation and creating custom housing for archival records in loose and bound formats.
  • Assume responsibility for the safety of all records assigned for treatment.
  • Follow established standards and procedures for handling and treatment.
  • Develop efficient and safe work processes for carrying out projects.
  • Examine and test archival records to determine stability of media and solubility of adhesives.
  • Perform laboratory activities such as maintaining stock solutions and supplies, preparing paste and adhesive coated repair papers, and provide general support in lab functions.

Key Job Requirements

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Background Investigation or Security Clearance
  • More than 1 job may be filled if additional vacancies occur within 90 days
  • Must be physically able to perform the duties of this position
  • Will use moderately hazardous chemicals in a lab setting

Qualifications: GS-07: Candidates must have had one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position as described above, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Examples of specialized experience for this grade level include: carrying out basic conservation treatments on archival records in a laboratory setting and adhering to instructions to ensure documents are handled and treated in conformance with standard, accepted procedures. Treatments include the following: mending paper in various formats (loose, bound, oversized) using long fiber paper and paste, heat-set or remoistenable tissues; humidification and flattening of rolled and folded documents; mold remediation including separation of blocked or fused sheets; separation of adhesive Attachments containing multiple layers; fabrication of custom housings (boxes, folders, polyester L-sleeves); and making stock lab solutions (paste, methylcellulose, heat-set and remoinstenable tissues). Examining records to recognize the fragility and characteristics of paper and other archival media and binding materials; determining vulnerable parts of records that need protection or stabilization.
Qualifications by Closing Date: You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please note that qualification claims will be subject to verification.
For additional information and job-specific application information requirements, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/449618900/
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JOB – BOOK CONSERVATOR, Northeast Document Conservation Center (Andover, MA, USA)
This position will remain open until filled.
Position Summary: The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) is seeking an innovative and creative Conservator to join its Book Conservation Lab. Reporting to the Director of Book Conservation, the Conservator will perform conservation of diverse and unique bound materials held by NEDCC’s institutional and private clients, including printed books and pamphlets, bound manuscripts, scrapbooks, atlases, record books and photograph albums. Responsibilities include performing all conservation activities including examination of objects and development of conservation proposals; documentation; treatment of text blocks and bindings; consulting with clients; and assisting with assessments and educational programs. All work is performed according to the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
Qualifications
Required qualifications: A knowledge of physical, mechanical and chemical nature of books and paper as evidenced by graduate degree in conservation or related field of study; knowledge of book and paper conservation principles and practices; an understanding of preservation principles and their relation to treatment options; ability to work independently and collaboratively; ability to work in a productive environment; meticulous attention to detail; documentation skills; excellent written and oral communication skills; and creativity and enthusiasm.
Preferred qualifications: Demonstrated ability to contribute to the profession through teaching, research and/or publication.
The successful candidate will be joining a team of experienced and productive book conservators, and will benefit from working alongside imaging specialists and conservators in other specialties dedicated to the care of books and collections of significance and value.
About NEDCC: Founded in 1973, the Northeast Document Conservation Center is the first nonprofit conservation center to specialize in the conservation and reformatting of paper-based materials. NEDCC’s mission is to improve the preservation efforts of libraries, archives, historical organization, museums, and other repositories; to provide the highest quality services to institutions that lack in-house conservation and reformatting facilities, or those that seek specialized expertise; and to provide leadership in the preservation, conservation, and imaging fields. Its services include book, paper, and photograph conservation; digital reformatting; audio preservation; assessments and consultations; disaster assistance; and workshops and conferences. NEDCC is located in Andover, MA, twenty-five miles north of Boston. For more information, please visit www.nedcc.org.
Only persons with the legal right to work in the United States are eligible. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Application Process: To apply, please send resume, letter of intent, and names and contact information for three references in PDF format to: Mary Patrick Bogan, Director of Book Conservation, at mpbogan@nedcc.org.
For more information, visit: https://www.nedcc.org/assets/media/documents/2015BookConservator.pdf
NEDCC is an equal opportunity employer.
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JOB – MANAGER OF AUDIO PRESERVATION SERVICES, Northeast Document Conservation Center (Andover, MA, USA)
This position will remain open until filled.
Background: The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) is in the process of expanding its digital audio preservation service for libraries, archives, and museums. This service will build upon NEDCC’s successful implementation of “IRENE,” the IMLS-funded optical scanning technology developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Library of Congress for digitizing grooved audio carriers. NEDCC is now investing in the additional facilities, equipment, and staffing to offer reformatting of audio content on magnetic and other obsolete media using more traditional approaches. NEDCC acknowledges the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for underwriting both the business planning for, and the implementation of, its full audio preservation service.
Position Summary: NEDCC is seeking an experienced audio preservation professional to lead its expanded Audio Preservation Services program. The new Manager of Audio Preservation Services will manage the day-to-day operations of the Audio Preservation Services department, which will use both the IRENE technology and traditional methods for digitally reformatting obsolete audio carriers, such as discs, cylinders, analog tapes, digital audio tapes, and unusual formats (e.g., tin foils, Dictabelts, etc.). NEDCC’s service will help fill a much-needed niche of providing 1:1 transfers with 100% quality control, particularly for those highly-valued collections that deserve a specialized (rather than high-throughput) workflow. Because NEDCC is a conservation center, its service will also place emphasis on the preservation of the carrier as well as its audio contents. In addition to digitization, NEDCC will offer collection- and item-level surveys, cleaning, treatment, and re-housing using vetted and transparent (i.e., non-proprietary) approaches.
Responsibilities:
The Manager of Audio Preservation Services reports directly to the Executive Director, is a member of NEDCC’s senior management team, and is responsible for:

  • maintaining NEDCC’s reputation for care in handling of client materials and rigorously following best practices for digital audio preservation;
  • conferring with clients to evaluate their collections and develop appropriate specifications, workflows, and proposals for their projects;
  • cultivating prospective clients;
  • working closely with the heads of NEDCC’s conservation and digital imaging laboratories on joint projects;
  • hiring, training and supervising a staff of audio specialists and engineers;
  • setting and monitoring high standards for quality control and workflow;
  • developing new services to meet the evolving needs of clients;
  • continually upgrading equipment and software to provide the highest levels of quality and productivity; and
  • staying abreast of emerging technology by attending and actively participating in conferences held by professional and related associations such as IASA, AES, and ARSC.

Qualifications: Applicants should have: 1) detailed knowledge of, and hands-on experience in, all aspects of digitally preserving audio collections; 2) strong communication skills in listening to clients’ needs and clearly articulating proposed specifications; 3) excellent relationship-building skills; 4) strong production, management and supervisory skills to lead the staff in achieving the highest quality results in strict accordance with the best practices for digital audio preservation; and 5) a solid educational and/or experiential foundation related to digital reformatting in general and audio preservation in specific.
It is anticipated that the Audio Preservation Services department will receive an increasingly steady amount of work from large to small institutions as well as private clients whose primary concerns are quality of deliverables and care in handling. The department is projected to grow to full capacity over a three- to five-year timeline and be able to accommodate projects of most sizes and any complexity. In addition to the services referenced above, the new manager will be expected to explore and develop other specialty services to meet the needs of the library, archives, and museum communities.
About NEDCC: Founded in 1973, the Northeast Document Conservation Center is the first nonprofit conservation center to specialize in the conservation and reformatting of paper-based materials. NEDCC’s mission is to improve the preservation efforts of libraries, archives, historical organization, museums, and other repositories; to provide the highest quality services to institutions that lack in-house conservation and reformatting facilities, or those that seek specialized expertise; and to provide leadership in the preservation, conservation, and imaging fields. Its services include book, paper, and photograph conservation; digital reformatting; audio preservation; assessments and consultations; disaster assistance; and workshops and conferences. NEDCC is located in Andover, MA, twenty-five miles north of Boston. For more information, please visit www.nedcc.org.
Only persons with the legal right to work in the United States are eligible. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Application Process: To apply, please send resume, letter of intent, and names and contact information for three references in PDF format to: Bill Veillette, Executive Director, bveillette@nedcc.org
For more information, visit: https://www.nedcc.org/assets/media/documents/2016AudioManager.pdf
NEDCC is an equal opportunity employer.
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JOB – ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE CONSERVATOR, Kreilick Conservation (Philadelphia area, PA, USA)
Kreilick Conservation, LLC, is a private firm specializing in the conservation of architecture, sculpture, monuments, industrial artifacts,
and objects. We are seeking a qualified candidate with 3-5 years of experience to fill one full time position with our Philadelphia-area based
firm.
Responsibilities may include conducting condition assessments, research, field investigation and testing, treatment design and implementation, and report writing, as well as project management.
Qualifications for this position include a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from an accredited graduate program.
Strong analytical skills, flexibility and resourcefulness are necessary, as is proficiency in standard software including Microsoft Office Suite. Strong graphic skills also preferred, including proficiency in design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Sketchup and AutoCAD, or equivalent. Ability to work at heights (i.e. scaffolding and high-reach) is required.
The Conservator is expected to work independently and as a team member; and must display both excellent hand skills and strong communication skills. Travel is required.
Kreilick Conservation, LLC offers a salary/benefits package commensurate with experience and skill level.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three professional references to Scott Kreilick at skreilick@kreilickconservation.com.
Kreilick Conservation, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Fellowship: The Fitch Mid-Career Fellow

Applications for 2017 funding are now being accepted. Applications must be submitted by October 26, 2016, 11:00 p.m. EST. 
Research grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to one or two mid-career professionals who have an academic background, professional experience and an established identity in one or more of the following fields: historic preservation, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, environmental planning, architectural history and the decorative arts. The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation will consider proposals for the research and/or the execution of the preservation-related projects in any of these fields.
Criteria for Evaluation
Applications are reviewed by the Fitch Trustees. Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • The project will make a meaningful contribution to the academic and/or professional field of historic preservation in the United States.
  • The applicant has a realistic plan for the dissemination of research and/or final work product.
  • The project has a clear and realistic goals, timeframe, work plan, and budget.
  • The project demonstrates innovative thinking, original research and creative problem solving and/or design.

Eligibility

  • Grants are awarded only to individuals, not organizations. The Foundation does not fund university-sponsored research projects or dissertation research.
  • Applicants must be mid-career professionals with at least 10 years experience in historic preservation or related fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, architectural conservation, urban design, environmental planning, archaeology, architectural history, and the decorative arts.
  • Applicants must be legal residents or citizens of the United States.

Please email cpena@fitchfoundation.org with any questions concerning criteria for evaluation or project eligibility.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to submit the following materials:

  • Cover page, including Project Title; Name of Applicant(s), including primary contact person; Applicant Address; Phone; Email. Also, please specify whether you are applying for the Fitch Mid-Career Grant or the Richard L. Blinder Award; and specify the amount of grant money requested.
  • Brief description of project, including how the final work product will be disseminated. Applicants are encouraged to be succinct and the description is not to exceed three (3) pages.
  • Detailed work schedule and project budget, showing the grant amount requested from the Fitch Foundation and how this money will be spent.
  • Curriculum Vita, including professional and academic background, and past and present grants received.
  • Two (2) letters of support for the project to be included with the application.

Applications must be submitted electronically, in PDF format.
Selection Process & Completion of Grant
Grants are awarded at the discretion of the Foundation. Recipients will be notified by email in the Spring of 2016. Projects must be completed within twelve (12) months of the grant award. All grantees will be assigned a Trustee advisor who will provide feedback and guidance throughout the project.
Typically, grant awards are divided into equal payments, the first being presented upon the award of the grant. Substantial written progress reports are required for all subsequent payments. The final payment is awarded only upon completion of the project.
The Foundation shall be acknowledged in all publications. The Trustees reserve the right to publish the results if the recipient does not. The grant recipient must sign a release to the Foundation permitting such publication. Proper credit will be given to the grant recipient.
For more information visit: http://fitchfoundation.org/grants/fitch-kress/

Upcoming Conference: A Century of Design in the Parks, Preserving the Built Environment in National and State Parks

National Park Service Centennial Symposium Series

June 21 to 23, 2016
Join the experience in Santa Fe, New Mexico from June 21 to 23, 2016. Learn from our nation’s leading experts about how to preserve the built environment within national and state parks. Understand the role that materials played in the development of these unique sites. Study sites from early rustic, CCC, WPA, post-WWII era, NPS Mission 66 campaign, and beyond.
Topics may include:
• historical perspectives,
• preservation issues,
• documentation,
• use of technology,
• adaptive reuse, and
• interpretation of NPS designed features, among others.
Plan to be part of this symposium today! Submit an abstract as part of the call for papers and posters by January 15, 2016.
Registration:
General Registration $299
Speaker Registration $199
Student Registration $99 (limited number, register early).
To register, submit a presentation, or for more information, see NCPTT’s website at www.ncptt.nps.gov.

43rd Annual Meeting – Architecture Specialty Group – May 16, Mid-Century Modern Wood Issues at the Weston Havens House by Kitty Vieth and Molly Lambert

Weston Haven's Section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kitty Vieth, a senior associate at Architectural Resources Group, presented the work required to rehabilitate the most fragile structural conditions of the Weston Havens House. Molly Lambert, a conservator in private practice, discussed techniques she used to remove tide lines from interior cedar paneled walls.
The Weston Havens House is a Mid-Century Modern construction designed by architect Harwell Harris and built in 1941. It sits in the hills of Berkeley and has an 180-degree view of the San Francisco Bay. Weston Havens was the only owner of the house until his death in 2001. He bequeathed the property to the University of California Berkeley who now uses the house for visitors.
The house features a modernist design with upper and lower levels cut into a hillside. A curvilinear stair leads to the lower floors. There are two guest rooms with private terraces. The house contains original finishes at are intact. Kitty Vieth was brought in to evaluate the conditions of the materials and all building systems.
Upon evaluation, two high priority projects were defined. The first project was the Pedestrian Bridge that was in a state of near collapse. The bridge displayed a keel type construction with paired studs. Slow growth Redwood found in the Berkeley area was used to construct the Bridge. All of the wood showed deterioration, especially the structural components. Fortunately, the main beams were still structurally sound, but Vieth was not able to save the rafters and studs. The bridge was reconstructed using long slow growth of redwood that is already beginning to fade to grey and better match the original materials. A finish was used to protect the reconstructed bridge.
The second priority was the East wall and roof area. The seismic activity of the area was considered. Redwood boards were greyed, worn and cupping in some locations. Vieth consolidated and rehabilitated the windows and walls on East wall.
Molly Lambert spoke next about earlier work she undertook in the house when Weston Havens was still alive. This and other modernist structures often have redwood paneled interiors. When roofs leak tide lines form on the interior panels. Molly did two different campaigns to repair tannin tide lines on the interior of this house. She was able to get 80-90% of the tide lines out. Tannins in the wood migrate with water causing the darkened lines.
Her technique was as follows:

  • Wipe down the entire panel with wet cotton PVOH sponges (cellulose sponges) with grain.
  • Harvest some of the tannins with a swab using distilled water or spit and transfer to needed areas.
  • Don’t take too much of the tannins away.
  • In-paint with a tannic acid mixture as needed.

 

43rd Annual Meeting – Architecture Specialty Group – May 15, Concrete Actions to Extreme Risks: Conservation of Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works World Heritage site in danger, IQUIQUE, Chile, Alicia Fernandez Boan

Humberstone Salitrera Iquique Chile taken by Carlos Valera on December 30, 2012
Humberstone Salitrera Iquique Chile taken by Carlos Valera on December 30, 2012

During the Architecture Specialty Group Session, Alicia Fernandez Boan focused on the conservation efforts and needs for two World Monument sites that represent the salt peter mining era in Chile.
The salt peter works are remains of human activity in the Atacama desert. Operation began as part of Peruvian territory in mid-19th century. They were declared world heritage sites in 2005. Humberstone and Santa Laura represent over 200 salt peter works that once existed. The Atacama desert has a temperature extremes from 0 deg c at night to 40 deg c midday, which takes it’s toll on the built environment. The cultural landscape is made up of the structures and surrounding site that is formed due to the accumulation of byproducts of the mining efforts.
At Humberstone, the structures and buildings of the community remain — church, school houses. Alternately, Santa Laura is representative of the industrial sectors found in saltpeter works. The materials are exposed to extreme weather. The structures are also exposed to salts and chemicals that were part of the production. There are dozens of rust colored structures. They include generalized corrosion and galvanized losses.
In order to maintain these sites, several factors must be considered. The conservation of urban sites requires establishment of commercial activity so that the site can be self-sufficient and sustainable. Therefore rehabilitation, recycling, controlled use, and the reoccupation of the territory is greatly needed. Use of these sites as museums documenting the industrial age of salt works is currently happening but more is needed. Rehabilitation, recycling, controlled use, the reoccupation of the territory works will be necessary for the long-term preservation of the sites.
From a conservation standpoint, the sites have conservations needs but they offer the possibility of a conservation field laboratory. This is a place where cleaning tests and environmental aging tests could offer substantial information to the preservation community. The sites offer the ability to study corrosion on a monumental scale under extreme weather conditions.

43rd Annual Meeting – Opening Session, May 14, Concrete Conclusions: Surface treatment Trails for Conserving the Miami Marine Stadium by John A. Fidler, Rosa Lowinger, et. al.

Miami Marine Stadium by El Gringo. Taken August 16 2011.
Miami Marine Stadium by El Gringo. Taken August 16 2011.

“This presentation by John A. Fidler and Rosa Lowinger focused on testing cleaning methods for removal of graffiti from concrete surfaces at the Miami Marine Stadium. The work is being undertaken by the Friends of the Miami  Marine Stadium with funding by the Getty Foundation.
The stadium is an excellent modernist structure designed by the Cuban-American Architect, Hilario Candela. The building includes a 326 foot-long cantilevered thin shell concrete roofline that is among the longest in the world. The Stadium was created for speedboat racing but was also used as a concert venue, and featured artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Sammy Davis Jr, and more. The stadium is owned by the city. It was closed in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew and has fallen into a state of disrepair. It has become the central site for graffiti artists in the Miami area and the surfaces of the stadium are covered with multiple layers of graffiti.
Because of it’s unique and original mid-century design, the Miami Marine Stadium is the recipient of the Getty Foundation Keeping It Modern Initiative funding. This is one of nine structures to have received this type of grant. This funding has allowed for testing graffiti removal methods and evaluating concrete repair materials for the project. This 12 month testing phase is due to be completed this summer, but the project will be on-going.
The Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium are working diligently to save this structure from a city demolition order that was issued in 1993. There is concern about the welfare of the deteriorating concrete and the structure’s hurricane resistance. The project requires both civil engineering expertise and conservation skills. In addition to materials conservation issues, the cultural and social use of the site as a graffiti sanctuary must also be addressed. Repair of the concrete in many places will require the removal of many of the graffiti works. While much of the graffiti designs are undertaken using acrylic or polyurethane enamel car touch up paint, there are more than 200 types of paint materials used to create the graffiti art.
The project will require graffiti management for current and possible future tagging. Initial meetings were held with the graffiti artists to convey that there is intent to honor the role of their work, to record the work, and to provide creative ways to archive or show the work. In the future there may be walls placed for graffiti artists to continue their efforts.
Current conservation research efforts are focusing on three lines of study – graffiti removal, anti-graffiti protection, concrete repair. Graffiti removal is focusing on both mechanical and chemical methods of removal. Mechanical techniques include dry-ice abrasion and/or laser cleaning. This may also be followed by chemical methods such as Dumond’s Smart Strip Pro, or custom chemical blends using 5% formic acid and benzyl alcohol. To protect surfaces from new graffiti additions, anti-graffiti barriers are being tested. These treatments may include Dumond Chemical Watch Dog, as well as Keim, and Prosoco products.
Concrete patch repair is focusing on stable long-term materials. Worldwide over 90% of concrete repairs fail within 10 years. Thus, it is important to test potential patch materials in actual environments prior to treatment. Also, the surface textures and finishes will be a challenge to conservators. Materials selected for testing include:

  • SIKA Mono-top
  • BASF Emaco Repair
  • Edison Coatings System 45
  • Cathedral Stone Jahn M90
  • Custom Mixes

Results of this research will both guide the treatment of the Miami Marine Stadium and serve as a guide for the treatment of other mid-century modern concrete buildings and structures.

43rd Annual Meeting – Joint Session: Architecture and Wooden Artifacts, May 14, "Analyses of the Architecture of Wooden Churches from Buzau County, Romania by Necula Elena-Theodora"

The speaker began with some general information about Romania, where more than 12,000 historical wooden churches survive, eight of which are UNESCO sites. In the north, one distinguishing feature of the churches is a bell tower atop a sharply sloping roof, for drainage due to the abundant rainfall in that area. In the drier south, there are no bell towers and the roof is lower, more in the style of a traditional Romanian house. Focusing on Buzau County (located between Moldova, Transylvania and Wallachia), most of the churches are in the northwest region, with thirty-two historic churches of particular importance. The speaker carried out in-situ investigations of these churches in the summer of 2013, and these investigations appeared to consist of archival research, visual investigation and documentation. Most of the buildings are of wood beam construction with a rectangular floor plan that follows the plan of the Orthodox Church, and include a porch at the front entrance. Many contain interior paintings on sheet metal or on wood, executed in oil (on metal) or tempera (wood). Some exterior decoration survives in the form of shallowly carved motifs. The speaker spent a few minutes presenting each church, usually showing an overall exterior photograph, a floor plan, any specific construction details that made it unique, as well as an abbreviated history of its restoration. Some images of the interior paintings were also shown. The state of conservation of the churches was not discussed, although it was a question afterwards. The speaker answered that while some of the churches are still in use, most are completely abandoned and in need of care.