Hi Stephen:

Thanks for the great info on the walls . . . question: how long does the
glue process take to dry and out (off) gas?  I only am permitted to
close my gallery for a week (and it's the space in which we must prep as
well), so I need a fast-drying and off-gassing system.  Also, does the
carptetr-process (#2) you mentioned have an out-gas problem?  My cases
are enclosed with little filtration . . . makes me a little wary of the
carpet-method (tho I love the sound of it from a budget standpoint).
Can you offer any futher information or suggestions!  Thanks in advance.
I bet there are other small institutions (budget-wise anyway) that could
use your guidence, so please respond to the list.  Thanks in advance for
your help.

Lee Langston-Harrison
Curator
James Monroe Museum
Fredericksburg, VA USA
[log in to unmask]

>
> My favorite substrate for gallery walls seeing lots of wear & tear is
> PLYWOOD.  Do not cover this with wall board or sheetrock, the stuff is too
> soft, dents and deteriorates too fast, etc.
> Cover the plywood wall with fabric.  Two options exist:
> 1. Cover with painted muslin or awning canvas, available in humoungous sizes.
>    Prime the ply with primer; BIN, KILZ, or your preference.
>    Size the wall with a dilute solution of Elmers (not too thin),
>    and apply the fabric soaked in a trough of the dilute glue to the wall.
>    Prime & paint the wall as usual.
>    Assault the wall over time as you will with hangers and patches.
>    When the paint build-up becomes a problem: !Strip off the fabric and
>    start over!  The plywood should be fine for many, many years.
> 2. Cover the plywood with a commercial office interior carpeting designed
>    for walls... which ACCEPTS HOOK VELCRO.  Our galleries exterior walls
>    were covered with close pile fabric over 12 years ago and I have done
>    nothing more than vacuum annually.  Nothing.  I mount my exhibit labels
>    with velcro dots (hook type) and use standard picture hooks and occasional
>    security screws of small diameter.  From arms length these holes are not
>    visible, so there is no touch-up or patching.  If I have to mount something
>    large &/or heavy, I screw a board to the wall with several sheetrock screws
>    , but put a layer of of expanded polyethylene behind to keep from crushing
>    the pile of the fabric.  When the board is removed there are no dents in
>    the wall covering.  I Love it.
>
> PS re mounting labels on painted walls - the topic of my last thread - the
> solution is 3M Wall Mounting Tabs #7220 (pkg of 48) or #7225 (pkg of 480).
> I'll post this to the list as a separate item later.
>
>
>    ============================================================
>    Stephen B. Ringle, Registrar             [log in to unmask]
>    University of Maine Museum of Art
>    5712 Carnegie Hall, Room 109              vox: 207-581-3257
>    Orono, Maine   04469-5712                 fax: 207-581-3083
>    ============================================================
>