From: Anthony Crosby <[log in to unmask]>
An announcement concerning an RFP for conservation services for the
Lincoln Memorial Murals appears in Commerce Business Daily. The complete
RFP package will be available on January 16 from
Scott Riebel
303 969-2115
Fax: 303 969-6645
I appreciate anything you can do to insure that qualified
conservation firms are aware of this important project.
Lincoln Memorial Mural Paintings
Overview:
The mural paintings by Jules Guerin are located in the north and
the south chambers, or halls, of the Lincoln Memorial. They are
each 60 feet long by 12 feet high and are mounted high on the
limestone walls of the memorial above the carved inscription
panels. Each is painted on a single piece of heavy canvas in an
oil and wax medium and directly adhered to the limestone walls
with an adhesive.
The painting ground which was applied first to the canvas is zinc
oxide in an emulsified glue and oil binder. The pigments applied to
the ground are in a beeswax and oil medium; the beeswax was
dissolved in a solvent such as turpentine or kerosene. The canvas
was applied to the walls with a mixture of white lead and oil
(probably linseed oil) and "venetian" varnish.
The paintings were completed in the artist's studio between 1916
and ca. 1919, when they were installed in the Memorial. The two
murals, "Emancipation" above the Gettysburg Address and "Reunion"
above the Second Inaugural Address are each composed of three
groups. The groups represent different aspects of the main themes
such as "Freedom and Liberty", "Justice and Law", "Immortality",
"Unity", "Fraternity", and "Charity" and are allegorical in
nature. The primary problem which is leading to the decay of the
murals is moisture in the form of condensation. This particular
project does not address the actual causes of the condensation -
that will come in a later stage. The goal of this current project
is to stabilize the existing paint and ground to prevent further
loss until a permanent solution which addresses the cause of
decay can be implemented.
Scope of Work
Independently, and not as an agent of the government, the
contractor shall provide professional services including all
labor, materials, facilities and travel (except as otherwise
specified herein) necessary to complete stabilization and all
associated work of this contract of the north and the south
murals of the Lincoln Memorial. All work shall be accomplished in
accordance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of
the American Institute of Conservation (A.I.C.).
A. Mural Examination and Treatment Proposal
The Mural Examination and Treatment Proposal will be
completed within sixty (60) days after receipt of Notice of
Award.
The contractor shall develop proposals for the actual
stabilization treatment after review of the existing
materials and documentation, material testing and on-site
examination.
The murals examination and material testing shall follow an
on-site meeting with project team members during which
testing and examination requirements are to be discussed. The
contractor will then prepare a memorandum outlining the
examination and testing procedures and their relationship to
actual stabilization intervention.
After completion of testing and the development of specific
stabilization methods, and the completion of the Treatment
Proposal, the contractor shall participate in an orientation
meeting with the NPS project team members, which will
include a discussion of the stabilization methods. The
actual Treatment Proposal will be in the form of a report, of
which ten (10) copies will be provided to the government. The
proposal will include the methods and materials to be
employed, a proposed work schedule, and a comprehensive
description of the actual organization of the team and the
work. After the completion of the orientation meeting, the
review and approval of the proposal and the completion of
required compliance requirements, the government will notify the
contractor to proceed with the actual stabilization
treatment.
B. Mural Stabilization
After approval of Section 106 clearance documentation and
notification by the COTR, the contractor will stabilize the
murals as proposed in the approved Treatment Proposal.
During the stabilization the contractor will participate in
presentation progress meetings. The meetings will serve the
following range of purposes: 1) Progress meetings with NPS
project team members to discuss project progress, technical
problems, and coordination with other studies. This meeting is
typically held the first Thursday of every month at the
National Capital Parks, Central; 2) Presentation meetings
with National Park Service, Department of the Interior, or
Congressional staff. These meetings will present management
personnel with the scope and nature of the efforts and will be
coordinated by the COTR; 3) Presentation meetings with
conservation personnel which will present the scope and the
nature of the work and also will be coordinated by the COTR; 4)
Public affairs meetings/interviews with members of the press,
radio, or television and will present the news media with the
scope and the nature of the project. These
meetings/interviews are only to be held with prior
permission of the on-scene coordinator (See H.4).
All meetings/presentation/interviews, other than those in
category one (1) are to be completed only with prior
permission of the contracting officer.
The actual treatment shall be documented in color and black
and white photography and detailed drawings. The
documentation shall record before and after treatment, the
specific treatment methods, and the type and quantity of
conservation materials used. This documentation shall be
used in the Completion of Treatment Record.
C. Treatment Report
The treatment report shall contain 1) statement of the
purpose of the treatment and the methodology, 2)
documentation of the project team, including sub contractors and
their specific involvement, 3) an executive summary of the
work, 4) comprehensive documentation of the actual treatment
procedures and accomplishments with comprehensive graphic
support, 5) recommendations for future studies and treatment,
and 6) appendices of all support information such as additional
graphics, results of testing and material analysis, and
relevant correspondence.
One set of all photographs and the original negatives shall be
submitted to and become property of the National Park Service
on completion of the work. All photographs shall be labeled.
Within sixty (60) days of the completion of the treatment,
provide the National Park Service, one original and fifty (50)
copies of the Treatment Report. The report shall meet
professional standards.
Anthony Crosby
Preservation Architect
National Park Service
303 969-6956, ext 6411
Fax: 303 969-6966
|
