Month: May 2016

First JAIC issue of 2016 now posted online

The first issue of JAIC in 2016 is now posted online at Taylor & Francis’s journal page. You can download articles at http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/yjac20/55/1.  As always, AIC members get full access to all JAIC content. Members should first log in, then access the articles through the link on this page.
In this issue, we feature these articles:

 
The Editor-in-Chief’s editorial is excerpted below.

Recently, I have received letters from readers inquiring about our journal’s scope. As noted online, JAIC “welcomes short communications and longer submissions on subjects of interest to professional conservators. Subjects may include conservation treatment case studies; issues of conservation history, philosophy, or method; conservation research; or technical studies aimed at addressing questions in allied fields.” Our scope has not changed. Readers have also expressed interest in seeing more articles dealing with treatment methods and materials being adopted into conservation practice. It may appear that research has become the journal’s focus, but this stems from a dearth of submissions pertaining to treatment. As AIC’s primary vehicle for the publication of peer-reviewed papers on subjects of interest to professional conservators, we fully encourage authors to submit treatment papers to the Journal.

In an article in the AIC member newsletter (AIC News, November 2015), I wrote that encouraging short communications may offer a possible solution to the low frequency of papers dealing with novel materials and methods. Moreover, as former JAIC Editor Michele Derrick expressed, while short communications are not extensive enough to warrant a full article, their publication is often critical because the information might otherwise become lost to the conservation field. Short communications may introduce the use of new equipment and method variations or focus on one specific detail of a larger problem. (AIC News, September 2004). Consequently, we would like to see a gradual increase in the number of case studies and treatment papers submitted in the form of short communications. […]

At JAIC, we welcome feedback from all members of the conservation community. We are enthusiastic about working together to fulfill the needs of our readers, and want to continue serving the field to the best of our ability. Last but not least, I want to thank the authors, associate editors, anonymous reviewers, book reviewers, editorial team, and translators for their efforts in making our first issue of 2016 successful.

At last, public recognition of the importance of the conservator

In the “Arena” page of the Sunday Styles section of the May 8, 2016 issue of The New York Times, there is a small but prominently placed piece (“Art Matters: The Secret Weapon of Frieze Week”, by Kat Herriman) about Gloria Velandia who is the conservator on call for many international art fairs including Frieze New York which ended that day. Herriman notes that there are many people who make an art fair, but that “ an undersung ( and increasing critical)“ person is the conservator who makes sure that the art works are in the best condition. Here, at last, is public recognition of the importance of the conservator.

Job Posting: Project Conservator – St. Louis Art Museum (St. Louis, MO)

SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM CONSERVATION
JOB DESCRIPTION: PROJECT CONSERVATOR
SUPERVISES: No  one
SPECIFICATIONS: Degree from an accredited conservation program or its equivalent and 3 years conservation experience are required as well as a broad and solid foundation in both objects conservation and collection survey methods.
JOB PURPOSE: This position will participate  in a comprehensive collections survey to be undertaken  by the Museum over a two year period as part of its strategic plan and will collaborate with the museum’s collections staff in conducting a high volume collections survey of the museum’s  holdings. The conservator  will be required to accurately and succinctly identify object  condition concerns across specialties including – objects,  textiles, paintings,  and  paper  conservation.
DUTIES,  WORK  PERFORMED:
Assess and document physical condition, recommend future treatment, propose improvements to storage, and evaluate risk factors for the Museum’s permanent collections:

  • Assess and document, both written and photographically, the condition of objects in the museum’s
  • Recommend future treatment to enhance the stability and preservation of the objects
  • Propose improved storage methods and housing for surveyed objects in both written and drawn formats including appropriate materials choice and construction
  • Identify and document preservation risk factors for each object surveyed based on the Museum’s risk assessment
  • Ensure all documentation is properly attached to and retrievable from the museum’s collection database (TMS) in collaboration with the Registration department,
  • Serves as part of the Collections Survey Team and participates in regular team meetings to provide status updates and recommendations for keeping the project running efficiently and on

Applicants
Visit our website at http://www.hiretrue.com/hiretrue/showJobBoardPositions.do?jobBoardPK=54 and create a profile using the hiretrue portal.
Visit our website at www.slam.org to learn more about us.

43rd Annual Meeting, May 15, 2015, “The How and Why of Reusing Earth Magnets”, with Gwen Spicer

As we approach another conference in which Gwen Spicer will share her vast knowledge in the workshop sessions Ferrous Attractions, the Science Behind the Magic (spots available as of this writing), we call attention to her 2015 session in which she explained attention that can be paid as to the sustainability of their use. This content has also been submitted to The Book and Paper Group Annual 34, but for those who are not BPG subscribers, is available on her website: The How and Why of Reusing Earth Magnets.
First she addressed what exactly are the “rare earths” from which these strong magnets are made. Chiefly, they appear among the lanthanide series of elements from the lower part of the periodic table – elements 57 through 71 and a few more. They are called rare because although they are naturally found intermingled, early on in industrial mining history, they were hard to separate due to their chemical similarities. (More information including a timeline of refining and increased production may be found on Spicer’s website and blog.)
Addressing the primary theme of the conference, Spicer asked “is it sustainable or not to use these elements, and if so, why?” Today, advanced industrial processes have made these rare earth elements easier and cheaper to separate, leading to their relative ubiquity, to a point that they are now are considered disposable. You may be surprised to learn that they make up components in so-called green technologies, such as hybrid cars and wind turbines. Because they make rapid electrical transmission in miniaturized components possible, they are one of the things that make inexpensive portable electronics possible, such as small appliances, earphone/buds, and mobile phones. While recycling/e-cycling the more expensive products such as phones is becoming more common and a cash value is placed on turn-in programs, those smaller items represent a non-recoverable portion of an ultimately finite resource.
To refine these rare earth elements, because they appear “rarely”, mining companies actually have to go through a very large amount of product to recover a small amount of valuable stock, resulting in industrial waste. As with any mining process, there are sad truths of waste management, such as polluted tailing ponds, release of atmospheric dusts, and junk metals discarded, all of which are potential contributors toward environmental pollution.
While there was production in the US, a highly visible mine incident in Mountain Pass, CA, led to closure based on EPA citations. Not surprisingly, much of the world’s production (95%) comes from China, where environmental standards are considerably more lax. To make the most profit, some countries will also offshore the labor intensive refining and processing of ore to poorer countries, leading to other uglier truths, such as the protection of the worker and environment coming down to an economic compromise, or conflict. Population studies in some countries show higher incidence of higher cancer rates and shorter life span for workers in these industries.
Spicer reported that economic and political tensions has caused Japan to invest in production of more efficient technologies and reexamining of older technologies, so as to use less material overall. As the trend shifts from the cheapening of the source material to what may eventually become more costly due to the consumer waste and reduced availability. (For further reading, Spicer goes into more detail on geo-economic and political tensions in the BPG article linked above.)
On a more positive note, Spicer turned back to what the conservator interested in using earth magnets can do; first she advises becoming a wiser and more informed consumer and user. (Just reading this article is a start!) Proper care and handling of earth magnets, chiefly the Niobium-Ferric-Bromide type, can reduce one’s overall impact by conserving the intensive material resources needed to make them. There is an excellent table of information in the article; as example, tips drawn from this session discussion include:
⁃ Earth magnets have sensitivities: protect them from extremes of heat, mechanical shock, moisture.
⁃ Use appropriate techniques to adhere or countersink them into substrates. For instance, use of hot melt glue can deactivate a magnet.
⁃ To ensure longevity during storage and use, separators are key, such as foam padding, or sinking them into other materials such as corrugated boards or foam.
⁃ Use smaller containers such as the ones they are shipped in, or pill separators, to keep them from banging into each other or ferromagnetic surfaces. Recycle other small containers, such as contact lens cases, to increase separation in small cubic space.
⁃ Keep like materials together and unlike apart – niobium apart from ferromagnetic surfaces to avoid demagnetization.
⁃ See further references in Spicer’s bibliography.
Lastly, as a watchword, Spicer leaves us with the mantra “let us be aware of best environmental practices just as we do in other areas of treatment…”
In the Q&A period, the following discussions arose:
Q: About suppliers: do any companies have more sustainable practices than others?
A: There are kind of two categories – some companies are affiliated with the mining sources, converting earths to magnets; and then there are those that just sell them. For instance, the Mountain Pass mine has started up again in US, under new restrictions, using previously gathered raw material to produce new product
Q: Are there any insights into how to dispose of or recycle earth magnets?
A: There are at least 12,000 e-cycling programs across the U.S., definitely contact them! Recycling can also a present a conflict for resources as trash picking and separation is an economic way of life for some. But for broken ones, sharp or deactivated, recycling companies are a good option to divert the unusable portion versus the municipal waste stream. Harvard University Libraries suggests contacting Terracycle of NJ, to take away waste stream that is disallowed from municipal collections.
Q: At a recent symposium, the personal safety issue came up. What are current safety recommendations for bulk storage of magnets or use for persons with pacemakers or other electronic medical devices?
A: From discussions Spicer has had, generally a magnet force field limited to three inches from the pacemaker (or other medical appliance), can be a distance of concern – this could take even place where dangling earbuds with embedded magnets are present (see the tiny print warning label on packaging of these). It is important to note that the force of the magnet is a factor of its size and any shielding around it or the object it may be attracted towards. Generally an artifact in exhibition which is mounted with magnets is very far from that distance, but it could be true for workers in a lab, or someone carrying an object enclosure with an embedded magnet.
Use of signage on enclosures or mounts indicate presence of covered magnets is a good common sense warning. As magnets are brittle, and can fly across a table at each other at great speed and shatter, safety goggles are highly recommended at all times. Hand protection may also be necessary for the worker, as pinching, splinters or nail breakage, can all be issues when separating magnets, or prying them out for reuse. If you maintain a private practice with a studio in your home, or have occasional younger visitors to your lab, be aware that swallowing by children or animals is an issue! See the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning that was issued for more information on magnet dangers for small children. (This author is currently working on a Job Hazard Analysis for work with magnets with the assistance of an industrial hygiene group; potentially this may become available through AIC Health & Safety group as well.)

Job Posting – Architect (Conservator) – National Park Service (Washington, DC)

Architect (Conservator) – NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Work Schedule is Full Time – Permanent
Posting Closes Wednesday: 5/18/2016
Salary Range: $64,650.00 to $100,736.00 / Per Year
Series & Grade: GS-0808-11/12

Experience your America and build a fulfilling career by joining the National Park Service, as we prepare for a second century of stewardship and engagement. Become a part of our mission to connect with our past and create important connections to the future by building a rich and lasting legacy for the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates.

This position is also being advertised for candidates with Merit Promotion eligibility (Status Candidates). It can be found on www.usajobs,gov. Search for Vacancy Announcement number NPS-NCR-NAMA-1693664-LRE or by title/series and location.
This position is located in the Division of Resource Management at the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, DC.
Officially established in 1965, the National Mall and Memorial Parks contains some of the oldest park lands in the National Park Service. The sprawling lands of National Mall and Memorial Parks include the Mall, the public promenade extending from 3rd Street near the Capitol to 14th Street. The National Mall is the continuation of that space where congressionally authorized park icons, such as the Washington Monument, WWII and Lincoln Memorials stand. This historic expanse is the linear area between the Potomac River and the Capitol Reflecting Pool. In addition to the memorial core, the park includes some 156 reservations, circles, fountains and other open spaces, all of which serve as the nation’s front yard. Ford’s Theatre, the House where Lincoln Died, Potomac Park, Old Post Office Tower, Hains Point and Pennsylvania Avenue NHS are also among the park managed areas that constitute National Mall and Memorial Parks.
The Architect (Conservator) serves as supervisor of a statue preservation team, and directs a conservation program working with 19th and 20th century historical structures such as monuments, sculptures, statuary and fountains as well as newly constructed commemorative objects.
This position has promotion potential to the target grade of GS-12. You may be promoted to the next higher grade without further competition when all statutory and regulatory requirements have been met, performance is satisfactory and promotion is recommended by the supervisor. Promotion to the next higher grade is not guaranteed and is contingent upon the above criteria. Management may select at any of the grade levels announced.
APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT SUBMIT THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT RECEIVE FULL CONSIDERATION. Please read the entire announcement before you apply. To view the entire announcement, select “Print Preview” at the right hand of this screen.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

  • Directly supervise the park’s preservation crew
  • Train and manage staff for “in situ” application of conservation treatments to historic architecture
  • Perform conservations treatments on architectural fabrics “in situ”
  • Contribute on team-based park preservation projects
  • Make regular inspections of monuments to monitor conditions, gather information and make recommendations for project scope and priority to develop projects for special funding
  • Develop innovative preservation solutions, specifications and conservation techniques
  • Prepare conservation designs and scopes of work
  • Create written technical reports on findings
  • Develop maintenance manuals for large scale monuments

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work is sedentary when in the office during review and research activities and supervisory responsibilities. For site investigations and treatment testing and execution, work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, considerable walking, and climbing such as required in periodic construction activities, field inspections, or to observe work operations in cold (below 30 degrees) or hot/humid (above 85 degrees) temperatures.WORK ENVIRONMENT: Most work is performed in an office environment or outdoors in park sites. Work performed outdoors will occur under varying and extreme climatic conditions. Various hazardous conditions (e.g. deteriorating structures, construction sites, chemical materials, plants and insects) present during site work will necessitate the use of extreme caution and proper protective equipment and controls. Incumbent may be exposed to chemicals typical of the conservation and treatment of historic and architectural features.

Travel Required

  • Occasional Travel
  • Occasional travel may be required for training or conference attendance.

For Full Postings:
All citizens – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/437568000/
Federal employees – https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/437567800/

Fellowship: Samuel H. Kress Fellowship in Objects/Paintings Conservation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, DC)

Samuel H. Kress Fellowship in Objects/Paintings Conservation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Samuel H. Kress Fellowship in Painted Surfaces by Folk and Self-Taught Artists at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2016-2017.
The Lunder Conservation Center at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) is accepting applications for a Samuel H. Kress Fellowship in the conservation of painted surfaces. Objects and Paintings Conservators may apply. The Kress Fellowship will focus on the treatment of works by twentieth-century, self-taught artists. SAAM has a large collection of work by self-taught artists that includes paintings with original painted frames, sculptures and works of art on paper.
The Kress Fellow will be encouraged to pursue avenues of research related to technical art history as well as aspects of conservation theory and ethics related to conservation treatments. A primary mission of the Lunder Conservation Center is to serve the professional and public communities through outreach. The Kress Fellow will actively participate with staff in planning a professional outreach activity related to the project(s). The Fellow will also participate in some of the routine activities of the Objects/Paintings conservation labs in order to prepare them for a museum job in the future.
The Fellowship includes a stipend of $32,000 and is to begin in September or October and run for a term of 12 months.  The Fellowship is open to Objects and Paintings Conservators. Candidates should have completed a master’s degree in conservation. Fellows must be either a resident or citizen of the U.S. or Canada, or a recent graduate from a conservation graduate program in the U.S. or Canada. This Fellowship is supported by a grant from the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation, funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
To apply, please submit a statement of interest, a C.V. and two letters of recommendation to Tiarna Doherty at the address below (by email).
The deadline for application materials is June 22, 2016. Interviews will be conducted by phone at the end of June with a final decision anticipated by the middle of July.
Tiarna Doherty, Chief of Conservation
Lunder Conservation Center
MRC 970 P.O. Box 37012,
Washington DC 20013-7012
email to: Dohertyt@si.edu; telephone: (202) 633-5802
 

Job Posting: Director of Conservation – West Lake Conservators (Skaneateles, NY)

Director of Conservation at West Lake Conservators
Skaneateles, NY 13152
Career Opportunity / Interview at AIC/CAC Annual Meeting: Director of Conservation

Learn more about this opportunity by meeting with WLC Senior Conservators Susan Blakney and Margaret Sutton, while attending the AIC conference in Montreal.
West Lake Conservators, a mixed-specialty group practice, is currently seeking a competent, passionate, senior-level conservator with leadership qualities, who would assume the Director of Conservation position. The ideal candidate either specializes in paintings (our largest division) or paper; however, an object specialist may also be possible. We provide comprehensive preservation services for paintings, frames, murals, paper, painted objects, and textiles.
The ideal candidate must demonstrate a high level of skill in the conservation lab and a broad range of experience necessary in their specialty, combined with general preservation knowledge and ethics, necessary to guide the other specialties operating procedures. As a practiced Conservator, the selected candidate will also be called upon to apply their skills directly to the treatment of artifacts. We work on a broad range of art and artifacts, both independently and in a team approach. Assistance with education of the public, workshops, and internships is required. Independent research and contributions to our field are encouraged.
The selected candidate will become instrumental for managing the preservation activities of the WLC Laboratory and working with existing and future conservation staff to maintain the high standard of conservation care and treatment. Candidates must have a graduate level degree in conservation, or equivalent knowledge and abilities. A professional AIC standing or willingness to apply for PA or Fellow is required. Salary is commensurate with experience and productivity. Candidates with prior experience in private practice and in small business management will be given preferred consideration
General Requirements

  • A minimum of 15 years post graduate experience, with ongoing professional development through membership in professional organizations, attendance of conservation workshops, seminars, or professional conferences.
  • Knowledge of preventive conservation practices relating to the care of historic and modern collections.
  • Knowledge of modern museum practices, for the care of collections, including environmental control and monitoring, safe handling, display, storage, framing, crating, and shipping.
  • Experience preparing and presenting reports, lectures, publications and seminars relating to conservation.
  • Prior experience in private practice and management of the business’s laboratory practice including Safety, Environmental and Regulatory compliance.
  • Experience estimating and monitoring costs for treatments on site, oversized, surveys, etc.
  • US citizenship or Green Card; fluent in spoken and written English
  • Physical strength to lift large and heavy artworks; ability to travel
  • Strong interpersonal skills

West Lake Conservators
Established in 1975 in paintings we have evolved with a staff of 8-12 operating in roughly 4000 square feet. Clients from the private and non-profit sectors, include numerous surrounding colleges and universities as well as small to mid-sized museums and historic sites. We have a national reputation for our mural treatments, research in painting lining supports and disaster recovery contributions. Our outreach and community participation initiatives include educational workshops, seminars and collection management services.
West Lake Conservators is located in Skaneateles, New York, a picturesque historic town in the Finger Lakes of central NYS with an excellent school system, beautiful lake, annual music festival, terrific YMCA and relaxed life style. Many business models are possible with this opportunity.
Applicants
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and benefits are offered. The position is available immediately. Please email application materials to principals, susan@westlakeconservators.com and margie@westlakeconservators.com for further details. When applying, include your résumé with a letter of interest that outlines career goals and describes conservation specialties.
Visit our web site www.westlakeconservators.com to learn more about us. If/while attending the AIC/CAC Annual Meeting, please text Susan Blakney at (315) 730-5233 to set up a time to meet and discuss this position.
Susan Blakney, Chief Conservator
AIC Fellow, IIC Fellow
West Lake Conservators
PO Box 45
Skaneateles, NY 13152
(315) 685-8534

Blog at the 2016 AIC-CAC and win!

Each year we receive feedback from colleagues who couldn’t make it to the annual meeting that write-ups of the talks posted here on www.conservators-converse.org were interesting and informative.  For the past few years we had so many fabulous concurrent session that even those present at the meeting couldn’t attend all the talks they were interested in and found that they could get a taste of what they missed using the blog.  Our blog sees a huge increase in traffic due to annual meeting posts with almost 600 unique visits per day.  We know that many colleagues are looking forward to hearing more about the conference and hope that some of you will volunteer and share your thoughts from the meeting.

AIC-CAC-AM2016How To Sign-up:

Signing up is easy.  Just click on the link below to access the signup spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QVD4qpSiALd9urUKnlYHPjv8m66YiZMEzSNeN8NFf3E/edit?usp=sharing
There is a separate tab down at the bottom for each SG or session.  Next, input your name and email next to the talk you are interested in covering.  Easy!  The limit for signup is two talks so that nobody feels overwhelmed.

What’s In It For Me?

Many people take notes at the talks and writing them up is a great way to organize your notes and thoughts while doing something great for your colleagues and the field.  Speakers are often grateful for the feedback.  And, yes there is something in it for you…all volunteers who complete two posts will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION!

What do I need to know about Blogging?

Not much!  All volunteers will be sent AIC’s Guidelines and Blogging Tip Sheets.  Writing a good blog post can take some time but covering a just two talks is very manageable.  Here are a few things to know:

  • You do not blog in real time so you don’t need a laptop or internet access at the conference– the best way is to take notes and then write up your thoughts later (ideally by the end of the conference or shortly thereafter).
  • You need not be an experienced blogger nor particularly tech savvy.  The WordPress blog format is extremely easy to use and any necessary hand-holding will happily be provided to make you feel comfortable online.  If you can send an email – you can create a blog post.
  • There is no pressure to be particularly witty.  Active tense, first-person and personal style are all encouraged in blog posts – this is a chance to free yourself from the writing constraints of condition reports!  While all posts should be professional overall, the tone is somewhat between reporting and “what I did over my summer vacation”.  The best posts tell why you were interested in the topic and what you learned, you aren’t expected to be writing the speaker’s postprint so you don’t need to capture every detail.  The goal is for readers to learn more about the talk than they would gain from the abstract.  Tips and Guidelines will be provided for all volunteers.
  • In addition to the talks we also value reviews of the workshop, tours, receptions and other associated events and sessions.

I Have Some Questions Before Signing Up – Who Do I Talk To?

Contact Rachael Arenstein, AIC’s e-Editor either via email or the Email AIC’s e-Editor box in the footer of this blog.

Sustainable preservation survey for library and archive collections

This survey focuses on sustainable preservation methods that can create efficiency, environmental consciousness, and effective management to maintain libraries’ and archives’ collections. The Sustainable Preservation Survey is an effort to continue the conversation about sustainability and where preservation needs are most apparent within libraries and archives. Lindsay Schettler, Special Collections and Content Management Librarian and the 2016 ALCTS’ Jan Merrill-Oldham Professional Development Grant recipient, will present this survey data and illustrate holistic sustainable preservation practices at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference Poster Session.
As preservation standards and practices are crucially embedded in library and archival workflows, understanding all sustainability options is vital. This survey will assess current sustainable preservation practice and evaluate the future role of sustainability in library and archives preservation programs. General preservation topics are explored, focusing on basic sustainable preservation practices offering the library and archive community an idea of current practices.
Preservation is a core function in collection care and management, providing longevity and access for materials found in special collections and archives. Preservation practices include several steps during the physical processing of the material, including description, condition reports, stabilization, reformatting, and rehousing. Sustainable preservation initiatives derive from a holistic approach to collection care and management, providing a chance to understand the breadth of a preservation program, and find the areas that can be adjusted to incorporate sustainability, such as recycling, slow conservation, supply waste, climate control, processing strategies, reusable methods and material, local partnerships and programs, and community engagement.
The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Only one person from each institution is needed. Your feedback is vital.  Participation is voluntary and the survey can be stopped at any time. Please send any questions to Lindsay Schettler.
This survey will close June 3, 2016.
Sustainable Preservation Survey HERE!