Indigo Nights wrote:

> Again, I think the swabs would be incapable of being a
> contaminant, but I am, by no means, an expert on the
> matter.

If I remember anything from my grade 10 biology class, I'm quite certain
infectious disease transmitted through blood dies when oxidized.  Of course,
I'm no expert either.

The reason why I'm replying to this post again is because looking at it a
second time I'm feeling that the questions are not ones that can be answered
without seeing the work, knowing its full list of materials, who made it and
with what intention.  For the sake of arguing that anything could possibly
constitute art, my first question would be "what makes this work of art this
an important contribution to society and is it something that fits into the
mandate of our institution?"  Since you mentioned that the piece was offered
to you, is it something you would have sought to acquire on your own anyway
or are you thinking of acquiring/exhibiting it just for the sake of the fact
that its available?  If it fits into your mandate and would be a worthy
contribution, it almost seems like the fact that it could be hazardous is
secondary.  If the exhibition committee decides the piece has a profound
place in the museum then I'd say that where there's a will, there's a way.
I don't know what the National Gallery of Canada spoke behind closed doors
concerning the infamous meat dress ("Vanitas: Flesh Dress for an Albino
Anorectic") but they put it up because they felt there was a darned good
reason for them too and we can only imagine what sorts of health risks were
involved with that.

How the work is exhibited depends on what it is -- is it an assemblage in
the round or are the swabs mounted to a flat surface with only one intended
viewing angle?  In terms of conservation -- is the artist alive?  He/She
would be the best person to advise, typically.  But maybe the piece is not
intended to be something with a long shelf life (like the meat dress) and to
preserve it past its artists' wishes would be to harm the integrity of the
work.  Still, it comes down to the fact that without knowing exactly what
the work is, there's no way anyone can provide advice.

I don't know how many others out there are curious to learn more, but I sure
am!

Good luck!
- Milena

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Roeland Stulemeijer
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 5:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: contemporary artwork with blood swaps

Recently somebody offered us a contemporary work of art that includes blood
swaps.  I am very hesitant in accepting this work as the swaps could come
from a person with an infectious/contagious disease.
How would you advise on accepting this artwork?
If advised on accepting the work, how would one go about exhibiting this
work to safeguard the public and the museum staff?
Would someone be able to tell me how I could conserve this artwork from
deterioration?

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