Workshop Announcement:

Posted by:
Lori van Handel
Director of Field Services
Williamstown Art Conservation Center
225 South Street
Williamstown, MA  01267
tel.  413-458-5741
email  [log in to unmask]

The Williamstown Art Conservation Center, Williamstown, Massachusetts,
will offer their workshop:  Preservation, Care and Re-Housing of
Three-Dimensional Objects at five locations in 1996:

Locations and Dates:
Raleigh, NC:   March 26-27
Birmingham, AL:   March 29-30
Sobago Lake, Maine: April 17
Hinkley, Maine:  April 18
Rochester, NY:  May 6-7

Workshop Focus and Content
*Preventive Conservation Methods
*Applying Accession Numbers to Museum Objects
*Storage Concerns and Solutions

This one-, or one and 1/2-day workshop is designed to familiarize museum
professionals with collections care for three-dimensional objects, and to
introduce concepts, tools and materials needed for the proper storage and
housing of museum collections.  Participants will be guided by WACC staff
conservators in designing and creating storage containers and mounts made
of archival materials.

Part one.  The first session will provide a foundation for understanding
the basic principles of preventive conservation.  The instructors will
discuss the physical properties of the materials which make up museum
collections, including objects made of wood, leather, ivory, plants,
glass, metal, plaster and ceramics.  The interactions of materials and
the effects of the environment around them will be discussed.

Techniques, methods and materials used for labeling and
accession-numbering three dimensional museum objects will be
demonstrated.

Part two.  Practices and materials for storage and housing of
three-dimensional objects will be introduced, including a discussion of
the use of proper archival materials.  A slide presentation outlining
examples of preferred and problematic storage conditions will be presented.

The second session will provide participants with the technical skills
needed to design and construct relatively inexpensive storage containers
and supports for their collections.  In this hands-on session,
participants will work together to solve a design problem, and will use
the tools, materials and techniques introduced by the conservators, and
by their fellow participants.

A short list of tools required for workshop participation will be sent
with confirmation of registration.

Agenda:
Part 1:
Basic Principles
Maintenance and Preventive Care of Three-Dimensional Museum Objects
  *  Inherent problems and warning signs
  *  Selecting materials for cleaning and stabilization
  *  Health hazards
  *  When to call a conservator

Applying Accession Numbers to Museum Objects
  *  Methods, tools and materials
  *  Object types of special concern
  *  Demonstration

Part 2:
Storage and Housing:  Design and Construction
  *  What to consider
  *  Storage area microclimates
  *  Slide lecture depicting examples of museum object housing and storage

Introduction to Materials, Tools and Methods
  *  Archivally stable foams, boards, glues, etc.
  *  Useful knives, patterns, etc.

Practicum:
  *  Selection of objects and initial group planning
  *  Execution of schemes by groups
  *  Group Review and Critique

Maintenance, Preventive Care and Cleaning
  *  Tools, Materials, and Techniques

Who Should Attend:
Curators, registrars, collection managers, preparators and all personnel
responsible for the care and storage of three dimensional museum objects.


Speakers:
The workshop will be presented by WACC staff Conservators:
Lori van Handel, Director Of Field Services/Assistant Conservator of Objects
Ingrid Neuman, Associate Conservator of Objects
Linda Landry, Winterthur Museum/University of Delaware Art Conservation
Program Intern

Workshop Fees:
Registration fees vary according to length and location of the workshop.
Please contact WACC for further information.

Workshop supplies and a binder containing handouts and Technical Leaflets
pertaining to care and re-housing of three-dimensional objects is
included in registration fee.

For More Information, or to request a brochure/application, contact:
Doe Zottoli, Assistant Director for Administration
Williamstown Art Conservation Center
225 South Street
Williamstown, MA  01267
tel.  413-458-5741
fax  413-458-2314
email  [log in to unmask]

For more information about Raleigh and Birmingham Workshops, contact:
Pamela Meister,
South Eastern Museums Conference: Central Office
P. O. Box 3494
Baton Rouge, LA  70821-3494
tel.  504-383-5042
fax  504-343-8669