Highlights From AIC News Print Edition
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July 2008 (Vol. 33, No. 4)
Highlights

GREEN TASK FORCE

During the AIC Annual Meeting in Denver, Paul Himmelstein presented a proposal signed by an extensive list of AIC supporters to develop a Green Task Force that will assist members and the AIC in implementing environmental sustainability actions. The AIC Board of Directors and attendees at the annual business meeting approved the following revised motion:

“We therefore propose that the Board of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) create a task force to investigate implementing green practices for AIC itself and the conservation profession. Such a study should be complete within two years from this meeting date. The task force will report to the Board through official channels.”

AIC is seeking up to seven members to serve on the new task force, charged with investigating the implementation of green practices for AIC itself and the conservation profession. The task force will regularly report to the AIC Board through the Director of Committees and Task Forces and will submit its recommendations within two years. The Green Task Force will communicate through email and conference calls and should consider including corresponding members who can provide additional expertise.

To be considered for service, please send a letter of interest to Cathy Hawks at cahawks@aol.com by August 1, 2008.

AIC SEEKING AN E-EDITOR

The AIC e-editor will provide oversight of the AIC website content, with a particular emphasis on content for professional conservators. The e-editor is approved by the AIC Board, works in cooperation with the AIC publication manager, and reports to the executive director. The AIC member holding this contract position receives a stipend of $3,000 annually. Goals, as specified in the position description, are reviewed each year, as is an agreement to renew.

The ideal candidate will:
•  Be knowledgeable about AIC and its membership
•  Have excellent communication skills and experience with electronic communications
•  Have strengths in marketing and promotion
•  Be able to work effectively with members and staff

The e-editor will work from home or own office. Telephone, email, and internet connections required. Current AIC membership required. Applications will be accepted through August 1. To apply, please send a letter of interest to Eryl Wentworth at ewentworth@aic-faic.org.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

We need you. No matter whom you support, you have to admit this U.S. presidential election season shows how exciting it is to have diverse individuals with different experience, running for election. This is important for AIC too. Please consider becoming part of the process so that we can have contested elections.

The Nominating Committee is looking for individuals to run for the following AIC Board positions: President, Vice-President, and Director, Committees & Task Forces. If you are interested in running please get in touch with one of the committee members, Jessica Johnson (johnsonjs@si.edu), Teresa Moreno (tkmoreno@email.arizona.edu) or Mary Striegel (striegelm@nsula.edu).

—Jessica S. Johnson, Chair, Nominating Committe

OTHER NEWS

Specialty Group License Agreements and Opt-Out for Past Publications

A recent letter to the Specialty Group chairs outlined the need for one Author License Agreement to be used for authors of all Specialty Group publications. One of the primary benefits of this system is that it will allow those publications to be abstracted in databases such as AATA Online. The letter and the license agreement are available below for download and viewing.

After a comment period of one month, this agreement will be considered in effect for all past Specialty Group publications. If you are an author for a past Specialty Group publication and would like to opt out of being covered under the new agreement, please send brodgers@aic-faic.org a message with your name, the title of the publication in which your article appeared, the volume/number of the publication (if available), and the following text:

"I wish to deny AIC license for future publication of my article. I understand by opting out, my article will not appear in future AIC print or electronic publications and that I will be solely responsible for fulfilling all requests for re-publication, abstracting or duplication. While I understand that I may transfer license to AIC at any time in the future, this will not guarantee that my work will appear in existing AIC electronic or print publications."
 
Please send any responses or comments to Brett Rodgers at brodgers@aic-faic.org. You may also send an opt out letter or comment by mail to AIC, ATTN: Brett Rodgers, Publications Manager. The review period will end on August 31, 2008.

Letter to Specialty Group Chairs>>
Author License Agreement-Please Use for ALL Specialty Group Publications>>

CARING FOR WATER-DAMAGED MATERIALS

AIC offers information that can help with you materials damaged by water. Follow these links for more information:

EMERGENCY: IF YOU'RE FIRST>>
TIPS FOR THE CARE OF WATER-DAMAGED FAMILY HEIRLOOMS>>
SALVAGING WATER-DAMAGED TEXTILES>>
SALVAGING PHOTOGRAPHS AFTER THE FLOOD>>

Other resources:

SALVAGE AT A GLANCE>>
HERITAGE PRESERVATION'S CURRENT DISASTER INFORMATION>>

Guidelines Announced for Bank of America/IMLS American Heritage Preservation Program

The Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation have announced the 2009 guidelines for the American Heritage Preservation Program. This new public-private partnership will fund the preservation of endangered and fragile artworks, rare books, scientific specimens, and historical documents (photographs, maps, deeds, etc.) held in small and medium-sized museums, archives, and libraries. The grants of up to $3,000 are aimed at completing stand-alone conservation projects that convey the essential character and experience of the United States. Examples of fundable projects are provided in the grant guidelines. For more information and to access application guidelines instructions, please visit www.imls.gov/collections/grants/boa.htm.

FAIC Awarded $1 Million Grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC) was recently awarded an endowment grant of $1 million from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support workshops in photograph conservation modeled on the successful Collaborative Workshops in Photograph Conservation, developed at the University of Delaware. Download the complete press release>>

AIC/FAIC 2007 Annual Report

The 2007 Annual Report for AIC and FAIC is now available. Download a PDF of the Annual Report>>

April 2008 Business Meeting Minutes Available

The 2008 Business Meeting Minutes will be approved by members attending the 2009 Business Meeting. If you have comments on these minutes, please contact Eryl Wentworth at ewentworth@aic-faic.org.

Download the April 2008 Business Meeting Minutes>>

AIC 2008 - 2010 Strategic Plan

Download the complete text of the strategic plan>>

Mid-Career Grant Program

The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation will award a research grant up to $25,000 to mid­career professionals who have an advanced or professional degree and 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. Additional smaller grants, up to $10,000, are made at the discretion of the Trustees. The grants are intended to support projects of innovative original research or creative design that advance the practice of historic preservation in the U.S. These grants may be partially supported through the generosity of the Kress Foundation.

Visit www.fitchfoundation.org for details or contact Erin Tobin, Executive Director, at info@fitchfoundation.org. The application deadline is Friday, September 19, 2008 (postmarked).

ColorChecker® Patch Sets for Photographic Reference Plates 2008 Now Available

Set No. 1

Set No. 2

These sets are designed for use in the construction of the photographic reference plates described in A Photographic Reference Plate for Conservation Documentation by Dan Kushel, Jiuan-Jiuan Chen, and Luisa Casella. The sets contain precut X-Rite ColorChecker® patch material for the six-step grayscale and the six color primaries. Two different sets are available

Set No. 1 contains patches to make three small reference plates measuring: 2 cm x 16 cm; 1.4 cm x 12 cm; and 1 cm x 8 cm. 

Set No. 2 contains patches to make a 3 cm x 44 cm or larger reference plate. 

The design of these plates complies with recommended practices for photographic documentation described in the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Commentaries to the Guideline for Practices and with suggested procedures in the AIC Guide to Digital Documentation for Conservators.

This project was generously supported by the Advanced Residency Program in Photograph Conservation at George Eastman House/ International Museum of Photography and Film, the Art Conservation Department at Buffalo State College, and the Photographic Materials Group of AIC. 

Download a pdf of the instruction document for constructing the photographic reference plates>>

Download a pdf of the templates for making the three small reference plates with Patch Set No. 1>>

Download a pdf of the template for making the large reference plate (Plate 4) with Patch Set No. 2>>

Obtain the slip-in label printing template for small Patch Set No. 1 plates>>

To purchase patch sets, download the AIC Publications Catalog and order form>>

IAG Meeting Minutes

Download the minutes of the Internal Advisory Group's November, 2007 meeting>>

Stipends Available for South American Conservators to Attend a Workshop on Iron Gall Ink on Paper

Download and read the complete announcement>>

Tuition Remission and Book Allowances at Buffalo State

The Buffalo State College Art Conservation Department is pleased to announce that effective Spring 2008, students will no longer be required to pay tuition. This new tuition remission program, established by Buffalo State College President Muriel Howard, will enable students to focus on their studies and to begin their careers as professional conservators as debt-free as possible. In addition, President Howard has agreed to provide book allowances for all first- and second-year students. The Department is thrilled to be able to offer all students ample fellowship support to cover living expenses. For more information, visit http://www.buffalostate.edu/depts/artconservation/.

Conservation and storage materials needed for the Regional Museum in Ica, Peru

Below is a list of conservation materials that colleagues from the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC), Direccion de Museos y Gestion del Patrimonio Historico and Direccion de Patrimonio Historico y la de Arqueologia of Peru are requesting as a result of the recent earthquates in Peru. Please contact Irene Velaochaga Rey, director, if you can help.

Almost every shelve fell in the storage area. Thousands of boxes containing archeological materials (including textiles, ceramics, wood, etc) need to be rearranged in a new storage area. It is very urgent to stabilize the collections since the research materials from the Paracas Museum will be moved soon to this museum, and all paintings, bells, altars, and works of art from the affected churches in the whole region will be brought to this institution as well. Also needed are conservation materials for first aid until we have the assessment of what needs to be restored and what we can save.

• Ethafoam planks (1”, 2”, 3”)
• Quick cut hot knife (Foam cutter)
• Unbuffered acid-free tissue paper
• Buffered acid-free tissue paper
• Cardboard
• Museum mounting waxes
• Dusting brushes
• Wishab dry cleaning sponges
• Preserve-it. Magnetic dusting fabric
• Tyvek
• Nomex
• Acid-free, lignin free, buffered conservation storage boxes (we need boxes and storage material for textiles, ceramics, etc)
• Corrugated polypropylene board sheets for making boxes (we have thousands of material which has to be put in order again)
• Pellon or Volara for lining boxes
• Adhesives (for ceramics)
• Paraloid B72
• Tags and labeling supplies
• museum storage shelves
• 2 (at least) drum hygrothermographs in centigrades
• 2 (at least) thermohygrometers in centigrades
• wood stapler and staples
• laptop computers for registration

The AIC Bylaws Committee seeks two new members.  The term of service is two years.

Due to existing participation by BPG members, candidates from other specialty groups will be preferred, but all will be considered. 

The Bylaws Committee is anticipating increased activity due to the AIC’s progress toward certification, but will probably involve at most a moderate time commitment. 

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest to Susan Russick, Bylaws Committee Chair at: 3751 W. Giddings Street, Chicago, Illinois 60625 or at: kcissur [at] aol [dot] com

Membership Committee's Certification Position Statement Released

Membership Committee Chair Thomas Edmondson has outlined the committee's position concerning the certification process and its relation with different AIC membership categories. Visit http://aic.stanford.edu/certification/ to view this new information and more pertaining to the development of AIC's certification program for the field of conservation. News articles, survey results, and FAQ will be updated here over the coming months.

AIC Member a Winner of 2007–2008 Rome Prize Competition

Jana Dambrogio, a conservator at the Document Conservation Laboratory at the National Archives and Records Administration is a recepient of the Booth Family Rome Prize. She will be working on "A Technical Study of Northeastern Italian Monastic Legal and Accounting Documents and Bindings at the Vatican Secret Archives."

The Rome Prize, administered by the American Academy in Rome, is awarded to 30 artists and scholars representing a variety of disciplines. Winners of the Rome Prize reside at the Academy's 11-acre center in rome and receive room and board, a study or studio, and a stipend. For more information, visit the American Academy in Rome's website.

French American Partnership DVDs Now Available

At the end of April 2006, four French artisans demonstrated their craft at the University of Delaware. The demonstrations were recorded with the support of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and are now available for purchase through the AIC office. Download the order form here.

Reparure / Recutting Marie Dubost with Veronique Desnoues

2 disks/1:49:31/$20 non-WAG members/$15 WAG members

“I for one am continually searching out valuable techniques in how to’ articles, and was thrilled to see Marie Dubost demonstrating Reparure. To be able to watch a master in her field demonstrating with such skill, an art which many of us don’t understand, was priceless. Though this is not an in depth course on recutting, it does give the viewer an understanding and a direction as to how to proceed. I would recommend this informative DVD to any gilder who wants to gain an understanding of a very specialized practice.” —Smith Colman, past President, Society of Gilders

Marie Dubost has been restoring gilded wood and painted wood since 1988. Previously she taught, and after studying a year in the Paris School of Fine Arts, she worked in Boston at the workshop of Alec Graham. There Brian Considine told her about the Paris atelier of Jacques Goujon. After returning to Paris she studied with Goujon for four years and worked with his father the legendary Maxime. She started her workshop in Paris, the Atelier de la Feuille d’Or, in 1992.

Véronique Desnoues is a former apprentice of Marie’s and in June 2005 she received the gold medal in gilded wood as one of the best apprentices in France. She has studied in London and Brussels.

French Chairmaking Benoît Jenn with Cathy Mackenzie

2 disks/1:36:25/$20 non-WAG members/$15 WAG members

Benoît Jenn graduated from the Ecole Boulle in chairmaking and for 6 years practiced furniture conservation, beforehe was accepted at the Institut National du Patrimoine. The I.N.P. is a five year program in conservation and Benoît specialized in furniture and wooden objects. He is now employed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and has been responsible for the furniture conservation studio since 2001. His responsibilities are the conservation of wooden objects, preventive conservation, and training for students and professionals. For the last two years, he has taught furniture conservation as an assistant at the I.N.P.

French 18th-century Upholstery Techniques Xavier Bonnet

2 disks/2:32:54/$20 non-WAG members/$15 WAG members

“His deft hands waste no effort and he makes it look so easy, all the while discussing the interesting facts that he has uncovered during his research into 18th-century French upholstery methods. His technique of successfully using upholstery tacks from his mouth is equally amazing to watch.... Spurred on by the relevant questions from his audience, Xavier includes many small but important details and, despite the language difference, makes himself clear. The informal format of the presentation keeps the process from being too technical and showcases his wonderful sense of humor.” —Anne Battram. Upholstery Conservator, Biltmore Estate

For 10 years Xavier Bonnet was trained in the “traditional” methods of French upholstery, as part of the compagnon du devoir system, during which he toured thirteen European cities in order to learn from master upholsterers. In most cases what he learned were versions of 19th-century techniques. Realizing that 18th-century techniques were different, he conducted additional research in the archives of French cities and upholstery compagnons. He has taught himself the early techniques as he studied existing 18th-century examples of upholstery.

Rempli Ciré / Wax Polishing Anna Østrup

1 disk/50:07/$10 non-WAG members/$7.50 WAG members

Anna Østrup received her diploma in cabinetmaking in Denmark in 1967 and she has worked predominately in Paris specializing in the restoration of marquetry. Her clients have included prestigious institutions such as the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Musée du Cluny as well as many provincial institutions. Since 1998 she has worked extensively on the art nouveau collections of the Musée de l’Ecole de Nancy in Nancy, France.

Very few examples of original wax polishing has survived and it may have been much more frequently used than is commonly known. Anna previously demonstrated the techniques at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles CA.

Update Your Contact Information Online

To better ensure timely and accurate communication with our membership, you can now easily update your address, phone number, and other pertinent information on file with AIC at www.aic-faic.org/members/change_of_address_form.cfm.

U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield Has a New Website

First conceived of after the looting of the Iraq National Museum in 2003 and incorporated in 2006, the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield (USCBS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the protection of cultural property during armed conflict. Visit their new website to learn more about USCBS goals and information on how to get involved in supporting the USCBS mission.

Coatings on Photographs book now available

"Ten years ago, this book would have been unimaginable. Twenty years ago it would have been impossible." –Foreword by Roger Taylor

The Photographic Materials Group is proud to announce the publication of its new book, Coatings on Photographs: Materials, Techniques, and Conservation. This book was made possible through the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, and the exceptional efforts of its volunteer authors and other PMG members.

Forty-two leading photograph conservators, scholars, and scientists present this important reference book about coatings on photographs from the nineteenth century to the present. This vast compilation of information regarding historic and modern coating materials–from natural resins to synthetic polymers–and its comprehensive chapter on the chemistry and analysis of coatings will be valuable to conservators of all specialities.

For more information or to order a copy, visit http://aic.stanford.edu/sg/pmg/coatings.html or call the AIC office at 202.452.9545.

AIC Responds to Collections Impacted Hurricane Katrina

AIC's Emergency Preparedness, Response, & Recovery Committee immediately began collaborating with allied organization to coordinate donations for travel, lodging and the purchase of supplies. Read more (pdf 21 KB). Working with AASLH, AIC volunteer conservators are making initial assessments of sites impacted by the hurricane.

AIC is matching volunteer conservators with specific experience and expertise to the needs of particular sites. AIC is participating this effort with allied organizations through the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, read more (pdf 19 KB).

AIC is compiling a list of its members who have volunteered for the recovery effort. AIC members who wish to volunteer can click here for an online survey.

AIC has established a website for sharing and disseminating information on the recovery of cultural materials. For the latest news on the recovery effort see AIC's National Collections Emergency News (NCEN).

AIC's Disaster Recovery Page has key links to resources useful for the recovery of collections affected by the hurricane.