Month: December 2017

It may take a century to see whether her reconstruction is free of the aesthetic biases of the early 21st century

Jason Farago’ s December 22, 2017 New York Times review of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World’s exhibit, “Restoring the Minoans: Elizabeth Price and Sir Arthur Evans” gives one the opportunity to think about the role that aesthetic or cultural biases have played in restoration. Evans excavated on Crete in the early years of the 20th century. His reconstructions of Minoan frescoes and architectural details, recorded in watercolors by artists he employed, display an Art Nouveau aesthetic. Price has used video and digital media to reconstruct Evans’ reconstruction of Minoan civilization. It may take a century to see whether her reconstruction is free of the aesthetic biases of the early 21st century.

It will be a victory for public participation in decision making about the preservation of public art

As someone who is involved in an ongoing study of people’s reactions to, and feelings of ownership of, the public art in their neighborhood, I was pleased to read in Colin Moynihan’s article in the December 18, 2017 issue of The New York Times (“Newcomer’s Bricks Conceal Colorful Harlem Mural, to Leaders’ Dismay” ), that when a Footaction store covered over with a brick wall “Spirit of Harlem”, a mosaic on a building on the corner of 125th Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard in Harlem, there was an outcry by the residents of the neighborhood, a petition to reverse this action, and a statement by the company that it would remove the wall. If the covering wall does come down, it will be a victory for public participation in decision making about the preservation of public art.

Frederick Bearman Research Grant for book and paper conservation

The Institute of Conservation (Icon) Book & Paper Group are proud to announce that applications are now open for the Frederick Bearman Research Grant. We are delighted to be able to offer a 1000 GBP research bursary to support new research projects into to conservation of books, paper and related materials.

Frederick Bearman led a diverse international career as a distinguished conservator, educator and administrator in the field of rare books and archives. He worked for institutions in the UK and USA, including the Public Record Office, Camberwell College of Arts, Columbia University Libraries and University College London. He was loved and respected by friends and colleagues across our profession.

The Book and Paper Group will award one annual grant of up to 1000 GBP. Any Icon member can apply, and we welcome applications from members at all stages of their careers, either as individuals or collaborations. We are looking for interesting and informative projects such as preliminary investigations into old and new materials, tools and techniques, or a study of a particular collection or binding style. Perhaps there is something you have been meaning to explore but haven’t found the time or the funds? Or even research you have already started but haven’t had the support to finish? You may be a recent graduate who wants to expand on your MA research, or a seasoned conservator who needs funding to follow an idea.

Even small discoveries that you have made could have a big impact on the conservation community!

The recipient(s) of the grant will present their investigations as the keynote speaker(s) at the Frederick Bearman Memorial Lecture in December 2018 which will provide an exciting, informative and welcoming platform through which to share your investigations with the conservation community.

Applications are open from now until February 9, 2018. The winner will be selected by an expert panel and notified by the following month. For more information and further details on how to apply please visit the ICON website.

Last Chance to Support FAIC this Year

Dear Friends,

As 2017 comes to a close, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank those of you who have already supported our many endeavors, ranging from the Conservation DistList and Conservation OnLine (CoOL) resources to FAIC’s professional development programs, scholarships, Connecting to Collections Care webinars, and emergency programs.

Thanks to your support, we’ve managed to achieve a lot this past year. FAIC has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships and grants; produced 25 professional development workshops and courses; provided 18 free collections care webinars viewed by more than 4,100 people from around the world; and supported 74 conservation assessments to help small and mid-size museums preserve their collections. The ConsDistList has a new look and reaches 10,000 international participants twice a week on a regular schedule. Our National Heritage Responders volunteers have been busy helping museums, libraries, and archives affected by this year’s hurricanes and wild fires. Two additional NHR teams will depart shortly to continue our assistance in Puerto Rico.

In order to provide these opportunities, events, and services, we need your support. We rely on donations from people like you so that we can keep these programs running. If you haven’t done so already, we hope that you’ll consider making a year-end donation to support the programs you use and love. You can write a check to FAIC and mail it to 727 15th Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005, USA, or make a contribution by credit card at www.conservation-us.org/donate.

Warm regards and many thanks for your ongoing support of FAIC!

Studentship in Preservation of Geological Collections, UCL/Oxford/Cardiff (UK)

A four-year SEAHA studentship investigating the preservation of geological collections in museums is currently open for applications.

Mineral specimens, despite their apparent stability, are prone to deterioration in museum environments. Currently available methodologies are not suitable for routine collection monitoring, as results are not necessarily replicable, and, in the absence of guidance on suitable storage conditions, triggers for, and the suitability of, conservation actions are difficult to determine. We need a more robust approach to the delivery of preventative conservation of geological collections.

This studentship, based at the University of Oxford and in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and BSRIA Ltd, addresses these issues. The student will define what kind of material change in minerals constitutes damage; develop a protocol for routine monitoring of museum geological collections for potential damage; establish optimum environmental and minimum air quality standards for different types of minerals; and test rigorously the suitability of conservation treatments that are presently available.

Supervisors:

  • Academic supervisor: Professor Heather Viles, University of Oxford
  • Heritage supervisors: Dr Christian Baars and Dr Jana Horak, Amgueddfa Cymru, National Museum Wales
  • Industrial supervisor: Ian Wallis, BSRIA Ltd

The first year of this four-year studentship constitutes an MRes degree at University College London. Following successful completion of the MRes, students will be registered for doctoral research at the University of Oxford for years 2-4 of the SEAHA scholarship. The SEAHA studentship will cover home fees plus an enhanced stipend of up to GBP18,172 per year (to be confirmed at point of offer) for eligible applicants (http://www.seaha-cdt.ac.uk/opportunities/eligibility-criteria/), and a substantial budget for research, travel, and cohort activities.

Full information about the project can be found at: http://www.seaha-cdt.ac.uk/study-with-us/studentships/

Application deadline: midday (GMT) on Friday, January 12, 2018.

 

Preventive Conservation Volunteer Placement (London, UK)

The Conservation Department of the British Library is pleased to announce that they will be offering a Preventive Conservation Voluntary Placement for three months starting in spring 2018.

The placement is aimed at people working within the cultural heritage sector outside the UK with responsibility for collection care with limited opportunity to do work-based training in their own country and/or region.

The placement has been funded to promote key skills and techniques in preventive conservation. This includes developing best practice to ensure responsible stewardship through handling and use, environmental monitoring, disaster preparedness and integrated pest management. Through this, volunteers will gain the knowledge to identify and manage risks to collections.

The successful individual will be given a unique learning opportunity in a working national library with a view to applying the skills and knowledge obtained in their own field of work. Based with the Preventive Conservation Team they will also work alongside colleagues in Conservation, Conservation Science, curatorial departments, reading rooms and imaging services during their placement.

The volunteer will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses with a stipend of GBP8,000. Reasonable expenses will include reimbursement for flights, obtaining a visa, accommodation, and subsistence whilst in London.

Closing date for applications: Friday, January 12, 2018.

For further details of how you can apply please visit our website at: Preventive Conservation Voluntary Placement, or contact Sarah Hamlyn, Lead Preventive Conservator, Sarah.hamlyn@bl.uk.

Paper Conservator (Newport News, VA, USA)

The Mariners’ Museum is looking for a conservator who will undertake the direct treatment and preventive conservation care of works on paper within the collection of The Mariners’ Museum and Park with a primary focus on prints, drawings, watercolors, and documents. This individual will work closely with conservation staff and other museum personnel to conserve these objects and prepare them for exhibition, long-term storage, loan, and photography, etc.

  • Job tracking ID: 512466-600087
  • Job level: Mid-career (2+ years)
  • Level of education: Master’s Degree
  • Job type: Full-time/regular
  • Date updated: December 15, 2017
  • Years of experience: 5 – 7 Years
  • Starting date: March 1, 2018

DUTIES

  • Conduct examination, documentation, and treatment of paper-based objects within The Mariners’ Museum and Park’s collection following established conservation procedures, methodologies, and ethics set out by The American Institute for the Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works.
  • Maintain detailed before-, during-, and after-treatment records including both written and photographic documentation.
  • When necessary, based on the conservation needs of an object, develop new conservation techniques and procedures in consultation with the Director of Conservation and other conservation personnel.
  • Assess the condition of new acquisitions and prepare written condition reports, including photographic documentation. If necessary, conduct basic cleaning and stabilization of new acquisitions and prepare the associated treatment records.
  • Construct storage support systems for objects with special needs directly; otherwise provide training and support to collection care personnel based on current storage techniques and methods.
  • Consult/work directly with the Director of Conservation, Exhibit Design, Collections management and Curatorial, and Library and Archives personnel in the preparation of mounts, frames, and the installation of works on paper within the museum’s galleries; this includes providing the requirements for lighting and environmental conditions.
  • Support/facilitate preventative conservation methodology, initiate requests, implement solutions under established conservation guidelines, and make recommendations for resolving difficult or unusual problems.
  • Conduct conservation assessment and treatment of objects loaned to the Museum when required and when authorized by the owner and produce the associated written and photographic documentation.
  • Conduct conservation assessments and prepare cost estimates for the treatment of potential outgoing loans
  • Provide recommendations in consultation with the Director of Conservation on the ability for objects to travel outside the museum based on their condition; including outlining the requirements for lighting and environmental conditions.
  • Assist in review of loan requests and make recommendations toward approval or decline of loans when needed.
  • Construct packing mounts and systems for fragile/special needs objects directly; otherwise provide recommendations/support to collection care personnel.
  • Assist in the maintenance/operation of laboratory equipment and facility, and participate in the ordering of supplies and additional equipment as required.
  • Participate in professional organizations, workshops, conferences, online courses and other activities in order to enhance personal knowledge and expertise and stay up-to-date with current practices and advances in technology and methodology.
  • Promote the importance of conservation within the museum and in an outreach capacity whenever possible.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

 Knowledge, skills, abilities:

  • Working knowledge of acceptable practices for conservation and maintenance for works on paper with previous experience treating prints, drawings, watercolors, and documents required.
  • Working knowledge and experience in current conservation matting and framing techniques for most types of paper artifacts.
  • Working knowledge of digital photography.
  • Familiarity with analytical equipment and methods
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop.
  • Organizational skills necessary for planning/organizing of professional seminars, lectures, workshops, and publications.
  • Development of educational materials/activities for public outreach.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Familiarity with accepted practices for achieving and insuring safety in the laboratory.
  • Consistent capacity for respectful and professional interpersonal relations.

Education, licensure, certifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with a major in an art, history, or a science-related field of study.
  • A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in paper conservation from a recognized training program.
  • Professional Associate member status of The American Institute for the Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works preferred.

Conditions of Employment: A minimum of four years of post-graduate conservation experience is required.

BENEFITS
The Mariners’ Museum offers a comprehensive benefits package for regular full-time staff, and their eligible dependents which includes medical and dental insurance (cost-sharing involved) as well as term life insurance, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and a 403(b) pension plan. In addition, paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay is provided to all regular full-time staff.

To apply, visit: https://marinersmuseum.atsondemand.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=512466.viewjobdetail&CID=512466&JID=600087

Assistant Objects Conservator, The Menil Collection (Houston, TX, USA)

*** THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED ***

Menil Collection

Department: Conservation
Reports to: Chief Conservator

General Responsibilities: The Assistant Objects Conservator undertakes research, condition assessments, environmental monitoring, and treatments related to the care and preservation of three-dimensional objects in the care of the Menil Collection. All work must be performed in accordance with the American Institute for Conservation’s Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.

Specific Duties:

  • Maintain artworks on view (both indoors and outdoors) or in storage by regularly monitoring the objects and their environments, and by performing regular surface cleaning as appropriate for each object.
  • Respond to incidents involving damage or potential damage to artwork and, analyzing the specifics of each instance, communicate with departments across the museum to mitigate future risk.
  • Prepare artworks for exhibition, loan, or permanent gallery rotation.
  • Serve as conservation department liaison for selected Menil Collection temporary exhibitions.
  • Determine exhibition, handling, storage, and packing requirements for objects in the collection that will be exhibited or loaned.
  • Coordinate with Art Services and Exhibition Design to develop safe solutions for exhibition casework and decking.
  • Assess and report on the condition of specific artworks requested for loan prior to departure and upon return from travel outside the Menil Collection.
  • Report on the condition of artworks borrowed by the Menil Collection for temporary exhibitions.
  • Coordinate mount making, schedule artwork movements, and request photography of artwork as needed for exhibition, treatment or loan.
  • Assist with installations and de-installations as needed/where appropriate.
  • Perform occasional domestic and international courier duties.
  • Select non-exhibition-driven treatment projects in consultation with the chief conservator and associate objects conservator, and gather information necessary for the creation of project budgets based on project needs.
  • Assess the condition of artworks presented for purchase by or gift to the Menil Collection.
  • Assess the condition of artworks acquired by the Menil Collection, ensuring all necessary information is gathered and submitted to the object’s permanent records.
  • Conduct technical studies on the materials and techniques of artists represented in the Menil Collection, coordinating analysis and research with Research Scientist and Curators.
  • Engage with artists, their studio assistants, or estates to document working practices, materials, and installation parameters, either in written form or on video for the Artists Documentation Program (ADP).
  • Assist Conservation Imaging Specialist in the imaging of large or complex artworks.
  • Attend professional meetings and give lectures or publish papers.
  • Assist in the general maintenance and upkeep of the conservation studio.
  • Investigate and advise on the purchase of equipment.

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience and start date is flexible. Please send a curriculum vitae, contact information for three professional references, and a letter of intent to: Human Resources, The Menil Collection, 1511 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006 or fax it to 713-525-9476. Application materials may also be emailed to smmaloch@menil.org.

Assistant Conservation Scientist (Orange, CT, USA)

*** POSITION HAD BEEN FILLED***

Yale University’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (IPCH) is seeking a scientist or a conservator with a strong scientific background to fill the position of Assistant Conservation Scientist, who will collaborate with colleagues at the Yale Center for British Art and the Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscripts Library to design and carry out projects that involve the scientific study of objects or object-related issues in those collections. This 2-year term position is based at Yale’s West Campus in Orange CT, but activities at collections, conservation laboratories and other research facilities require travel to Central Campus in downtown New Haven and nearby Science Park.

The Assistant Conservation Scientist will report to the Director of Scientific Research of the Technical Studies Laboratory at IPCH. The research laboratories of the IPCH perform a diverse range of laboratory procedures and techniques aimed at the study of objects in Yale’s cultural heritage and natural history collections as well as the study of changes that materials in these objects undergo as part of aging and degradation processes. The IPCH also houses the Conservation Laboratory and the Digitization Laboratory, which provide infrastructure and equipment to Yale’s collections and researchers pursuing the examination, documentation and conservation treatment of object.

 This position provides scientific support for Yale’s efforts to preserve, study and display its cultural heritage and natural history collections, through the technical examination of objects, research into material stability and deterioration, or development of new methods for conservation treatment and condition assessment.

Required Education and Experience:  Master’s Degree in Chemistry or related field, including conservation or conservation science, and two years of experience involving the scientific study of works of art or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

 Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated practice with some instrumental materials characterization techniques (for example, FTIR, Raman, XRF, SEM/EDX, GC/MS, etc) applied to the study of cultural heritage objects.
  • Demonstrated abilities involving scientific study of works of art. Demonstrated genuine interest in working with museum and library collections.
  • Well-developed oral and written communication, data analysis, organizational skills. Ability to communicate scientific concepts to a non-scientific audience.
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively and professionally with scientists, conservators, curators, and collection care/management staff.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills: Familiarity with multi-spectral imaging of cultural heritage objects. Record of publications in relation conservation science or conservation. PhD in physical or bio-physical sciences (including materials science, polymer science, physics, biophysics and biochemistry). Expertise in the analysis of organic materials using of GC-MS.

Application: Assistant Conservation Scientist – position number: 47223BR.

For more information and immediate consideration, please apply online athttp://bit.ly/2ACqyPT.  Please be sure to reference this website when applying for this position.

Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut. Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include three major museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music.

We invite you to discover the excitement, diversity, rewards and excellence of a career at Yale University. One of the country’s great workplaces, Yale University offers exciting opportunities for meaningful accomplishment and true growth. Our benefits package is among the best anywhere, with a wide variety of insurance choices, liberal paid time off, fantastic family and educational benefits, a variety of retirement benefits, extensive recreational facilities, and much more.

Yale University considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Assistant University Archivist (Evanston, IL, USA)

*** APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PAST – PLEASE DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS POSITION ***

  • Work Group: University Archives
  • Reports to: University Archivist

Summary: The Assistant University Archivist actively engages students, faculty, and alumni in the collection, use, and preservation of university records and the papers of faculty, administrators, staff, students and alumni of Northwestern University. As a key partner in the teaching and learning mission of the university, he or she will provide leadership for reference, instruction, outreach, web presence, and other research and instructional service functions of the University Archives. This position supervises several student workers and assists in the overall management of the University Archives. Additionally, the Assistant University Archivist will share responsibilities for collection development and donor relations, under the direction of the University Archivist, and provide expertise on materials that document the university’s history. As a member of the Distinctive Collections workgroup, the Assistant University Archivist will work across all units of Distinctive Collections on collaborative workflows and projects that support the mission of the workgroup in particular and of the Northwestern University Libraries overall.

Key responsabilities:

  • Provides reference and information services for University Archives to university administrative offices, alumni, students, and faculty in all academic disciplines, including answering questions in the reading room and via telephone/email, and providing reference consultations on demand
  • Provides classroom instruction on the use of archival sources to students, faculty, and others, including working with faculty to design and oversee course projects, participating in the annual Research Resources Forum for grad students, and offering workshops
  • Assists the University Archivist in the acquisitions of archival collections, maintaining and cultivating relationships with alumni and other donors, and promoting the collections and services of University Archives through outreach and public programming
  • Supervises one full-time staff member with primary functions in accessioning and processing
  • Assists the University Archivist in managing the University Archives, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating student workers (4-6 per quarter); prepares reports as needed; acts in the place of the University Archivist as needed; orders archival supplies; manages the collection and stacks; coordinates special projects
  • Directs policies and workflows for making born-digital archival collection materials accessible to researchers, both in the reading room and remotely
  • Works with the Archival Processing team to manage workflows and ensure that new and legacy finding aids are accessible via various local and consortial discovery systems
  • Promotes Archives and the Libraries through campus outreach, exhibitions, the Archvies website, and social media
  • Participates in NUL committees and activities, and collaborates on projects with units in other work groups
  • Engages in appropriate professional development, continuing education, professional service, and research activities
  • Contributes experience and skills to the wider community through outreach, volunteer work, collaborative projects with peer organizations and Evanston cultural institutions, campus tours for visitors and NU groups, etc.

Minimum qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in librarianship or related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
  • 3 to 5 years experience in public services and/or in processing and managing archival collections in a college or university
  • Supervisory experience
  • Aptitude for teaching, training, and public speaking
  • Valid driver’s licence with verifiable clean driving record
  • Ability to lift archival boxes weighing up to 50 lbs. and push carts weighing up to 200 lbs.

Minimum Competencies:

  • Good Communicator – demonstrates excellent interpersonal communication skills
  • Customer focused – strives for high customer satisfaction with a proven record of successful faculty engagement
  • Collegial – desire to work in a collaborative team-based environment
  • Adaptable – ability to work effectively in a changing environment
  • Takes the Initiative – takes ownership of work, completes what is needed without being asked, follows through
  • Efficient – plans ahead, manages time well, is resource conscious, finds better ways to achieve personal and departmental goals

Preferred qualifications:

  • Record of professional service and research activity
  • Experience working with donors, friends groups, or alumni associations

Environment: The Northwestern University Archives, established in 1935, houses records, publications, photographs, and other materials pertaining to every aspect of Northwestern’s history, including the papers of faculty, biographical information on Northwestern alumni, a complete run of Daily Northwestern issues, a complete set of catalogs and bulletins from each of the schools and 250,000 photographs. The University Archives is an integral part of the Distinctive Collections workgroup, which also includes the Art Library, the Transportation Library, the Herskovits Library of African Studies, the Music Library, the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections, and the Archival Processing team.

Northwestern University is a highly selective private university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois and in Doha, Qatar. One of the leading private research libraries in the United States, Northwestern University Library serves the educational and information needs of the NU community as well as scholars around the world. Its collection contains more than 7 million volumes, a full array of digital resources, and collections of distinction in Africana, transportation, and 20th-century and contemporary music. Northwestern is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA). See more information about University Libraries at: http://www.library.northwestern.edu.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.

TO APPLY: Applications received by January 15, 2018 will receive first consideration. Please click here https://facultyrecruiting.northwestern.edu/apply/Nzk to fill out an application.

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