ISSUE 12 | VOLUME 5 | November 2011
IDEAS, STORIES, EVENTS AND CAREERS
Just back from the International Registrars Symposium (IRS) in Houston,
attended by more than 400 registrars and collection managers worldwide. The
symposium was organized by the Registrars Committee of the American
Association of Museums - and mostly by that dynamic energizer Gabriela
Truly, Director of Collections Management at the Dallas Museum of Art, who
conceived of the recurring event several years ago.
Sessions included "Cultural Sensitivity in Museum Stewardship," a moving and
important presentation on provenance, restitution of cultural property and
bringing tribal and indigenous peoples into the planning and care of museum
collections, whether it be the blessing of museum storage facilities, or
arrangements made to accommodate visits or gifts to tribal objects in a
museum's care. Talks by Rajshree Solanki from the National Museum of the
American Indian, and Devon Akmon, of the Arab American National Museum were
particularly poignant.
"Extreme Installations: Large, Complicated and Explosive Projects,"
addressed the challenges of moving and displaying such works of art and
included a fascinating presentation from Tina Tan, conservator at the MFA
Houston. Tina's experience includes her work with celebrated Chinese artist
Cai Guo-Qiang in the preparation of his gunpowder drawing, Odyssey, which
fills an entire gallery. Based on traditional Chinese landscape painting,
the artist applied an assorted mix of gunpowders to panels on the floor and
then ignited them. Commissioned by the Museum as a permanent installation,
dozens of volunteers from Houston were engaged in the project.
When Pat Ellenwood from Crystallization Systems asked me to be on the panel
entitled "From Registrar to Construction Manager: Checklists for Planning
and Survival," I couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with her and our
long time colleague, Steve Weintraub, CEO of Art Preservation Services and
one of the leading museum environmental specialists in the world. My
presentation, "Moving Places - Designing Spaces," focused on preparing for a
major collection move, working with architects, and hiring consultants. The
three of us have worked together on numerous projects, including the
planning and requirements for off-site storage facilities to new museum
buildings; Pat and I most recently had the chance to work together on the
new David A. Cofrin Asian Art Wing at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at
the University of Florida in Gainesville, a magnificent addition to one of
the state's most distinguished university collections, scheduled to open
March 30th, 2012.
Overall, I addressed the steps in planning for the move of a collection, the
special needs of architects, and encouraged those working with art and
material culture to secure a seat at the table early on in any project.
Steve focused on considerations of relative humidity, temperature and
lighting, and Pat offered a series of room layouts and collection storage
furniture solutions.
The symposium underscored the importance of the role of registrars and those
working with collections in documenting and preserving works of art and
artifacts. The meeting also offered many opportunities for networking with
global colleagues and fine art shippers. The opening party at the MFA
Houston was the epitome of hospitality -- a country band; fried oysters;
barbeque and the biggest pieces of pecan pie I've ever seen caused me to
say, once again - I've never had a bad time in Texas!
Cheers,
Geri Thomas,
President
For further information on planning for a collection move, new facility or
how to engage with consultants, visit www.artstaffing.com/collectors
About Thomas & Associates, Inc. / artstaffing.com _ Celebrating our 10th
Anniversary serving the global arts community, Thomas & Associates, Inc. is
an innovative firm with offices in New York City and Chicago that offers
staffing, consulting, career services and training programs for museums,
non-profit organizations, and arts and culture businesses nationwide. In
addition to permanent placement and executive search, Thomas & Associates
also provides temporary and interim personnel at all levels and has recently
launched its career advisory division and outplacement services to address
the needs of arts and culture professionals everywhere.
Please contact us at 212-779-7059, or visit our website at
[2]www.artstaffing.com for more information on our firm and our services.
We look forward to hearing from you!
http://www.artstaffing.com
Thomas & Associates, Inc. | 6 East 39th Street, Suite 1200, New York, NY
10016
Phone 212.779.7059 | Fax 212.779.7096 | email [log in to unmask]
Thomas & Associates, Inc.
6 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
P. 212.779.7059
F. 212.779.7096
www.artstaffing.com
About Thomas & Associates, Inc. / artstaffing.com
With offices in New York City and Chicago, Thomas & Associates, Inc.
is an innovative firm that offers staffing, consulting, and professional
development workshops for museums, galleries and arts and culture
businesses nationwide and internationally. The company has recently
launched its career services division to address the needs of arts and
culture professionals everywhere.
For employment opportunities and to subscribe to the quarterly
newsletter, Art Career News, visit www.artstaffing.com.
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