Northern States Conservation Center announces a new on-line class:
MS213: Museum Artifacts: How they were made and how they
deteriorate
Instructor: Helen Alten
Dates: April 17 through May 19, 2006
Price: $395
Location:
www.museumclasses.org
Description:
By learning to understand the materials and processes used to make
objects, participants in MS213 are better prepared to decide how to care
for their collections. Though every object is unique, items made of the
same material share similar characteristics. Participants will
examine two objects that represent all materials found in our museums.
Through an in-depth analysis of these two objects and their components,
they will explore all possible objects found in any museum. The two
objects an Aleut Hunting Hat and an Art Deco Fireplace use
every organic and inorganic material used to create every object a museum
might collect.
Course Outline
Introduction
The Aleut Hunter: Organic Materials
Wood
Skin
Materials
Hair,
Feathers
Ivory,
Bone, Teeth
Textiles
Painted
surfaces
Polymers
adhesives and plastics
Fireplace: Inorganic Materials
Ceramic
Glass
Stone
Metal
Mortars
Mixed Media: How things interact
The Bigger Picture: Mixed Collections, Outdoor Display, etc.
Conclusion
Logistics
Participants in Museum Artifacts work through sections at their own
pace. Instructor Helen Alten is available for scheduled email support.
Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and
dialog between students and online chats led by the instructor. The
course is limited to 20 participants.
Museum Artifacts runs four weeks. Please enroll at
www.museumclasses.org
and pay for the course at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html. If you have trouble completing an on-line order, please contact Helen Alten at [log in to unmask] or 651-659-9420.
Text Books
Gilroy, David and Godfrey, Ian, eds. A Practical Guide to the Conservation and Care of Collections. Western Australia Museum. 1998
Demeroukas, Marie, ed. Basic Condition Reporting: A Handbook. Southeastern Registrars Association, 1998.
Available for purchase from Northern States Conservation Center at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html.
The Instructor
Helen Alten is an objects conservator and owner of Northern States Conservation Center, St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been an educator, conservator and trainer since 1986. Ms. Alten received her master’s degree in archaeological conservation and materials science at the Institute of Archaeology, University of London in 1986. She began working with small, rural, and tribal museums as conservator for Montana and Alaska.