These are just a few postings that I have read on photography and art. How I came about knowing was from working in an anthropology museum, the curator, registrar and director pushed that point home. I have included web URLs for everyone to look at. If you can give me a source to look at to dissuade me, please do so. I am eager to be educated.
Shawn M. Weisser
Photography is not permitted in the Museum.
Why? Light from the flash of cameras can deteriorate the quality of colors in paintings and other artwork. http://www.camh.org/cam_education/resoedu.htm
Contemporary Arts Museum
Stelioes-Wills advises adults to tell young patrons prior to entering a museum or gallery "'If you're not sure whether you should do something, don't do it.' Also, remind them that flash photography should be avoided because it can damage paintings." http://msuinfo.ur.msstate.edu/~dur/nycu/art.htm
MS State University
Subject: Flash photography
From: Elaine Hodges ([log in to unmask])
Date: 08-08-1996
Next message: Owen Bradford: "Society of Bookbinders conference"
Previous message: Helen Coxon: "Flash photography"
Next in thread: Stefan Michalski: "Flash photography"
Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] Jennifer Queree <[log in to unmask]> writes>It has just been suggested to staff at our museum that we are party>poopers in not allowing flash photography in the exhibit areas.>Further, that we are one of few museums in the world still following>this creed.National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, currently forbidsflash photography in a new exhibit, "Eyes on Science: IllustratingNatural History," which contains many old objects. These includepencil, watercolor, and ink on paper as well as computer printouts(dye transfer), a dinosaur fossil, manuscripts, photos, herbariumand other specimens, etc. Some are over 150 years old, some are sixmonths old. This exhibit tells the story of the importance andrelevance of basic natural history research over Smithsonian's 150+years using scientific illustrations.The principle is that sensitive objects like art work or fabrics(especially silk, I am told) are affected by light, includingphotography flashes. Flash photography was not permitted in ourexhibit "Kimonos," that included beautifully decorated silk kimonos.The damage from light continues after exposure, even in the dark, Ihave read.Now, in our exhibits of stuffed animals (taxidermy) in dioramas,mostly behind glass or acrylic, flash photography is permitted, asit is in the dinosaur halls and virtually all halls that do notinclude art or fabrics.The Smithsonian art museums do not permit flash photography.Furthermore, wherever sensitive subjects are displayed light levelsare kept very low, as in the exhibit of First Ladies' gowns, "Eyeson Science," and others. Visitors complain about the dim light, butprotection of the objects comes first. So, I guess we are partypoopers, too.Elaine R.S. HodgesScientific IllustratorMRC 169, National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian InstitutionWashington, D.C. 20560202-357-2128Fax: 202-786-2894***Conservation DistList Instance 10:17Distributed: Thursday, August 8, 1996Message Id: cdl-10-17-008
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/1996/0717.html
Stanford Listserv
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).