A Peek into Paper Conservation Stephanie Porto Niagara Art - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A Peek into Paper Conservation Stephanie Porto Niagara Art Conservation

What is Art Conservation? Image courtesy of Julie Heath & Ann Creager, Lunder Conservation Center.

Damage to Cultural Property Photos courtesy of Samantha Springer (top left), the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (lower right), and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation.

What do conservators do? Photos courtesy of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. Lower left and right photos by Lazlo Bodo.

Code of Ethics Surface cleaning an Andy Warhol print Photo courtesy of Corine Norman.

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Photo courtesy of Stephanie Oman.

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Photo courtesy of the Art Conservation Department, Buffalo State College.

Looking at Paper: Transmitted Light Laid paper Wove paper

Watermarks • chiaroscuro J. WHATMAN TURKEY MILL 1850 Raking light Transmitted light

Looking at Paper: Raking and Specular Light Verso, raking light Recto, oblique specular light

Looking at Paper: Ultraviolet Radiation Slight yellow fluorescence under the arch indicates zinc white retouching Restoration in the sitter’s face absorbs UVA and appears dark

Looking at Paper: Infrared Radiation IR Vidicon camera used to visualize a partially hidden inscription

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Photo courtesy of Julie Heath & Ann Creager, Lunder Conservation Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery.

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Photo courtesy of Anya Shutov.

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation for loss

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation for loss Re-adhereing flaking gelatin emulsion on a photograph

Consolidation Gelatin applied by both ultrasonic mist and brush Acrylic adhesive applied by brush and set with heat

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation for loss Grated vinyl eraser crumbs used to gently and evenly remove surface dirt

Surface Cleaning / Varnish Removal Unwashed support prone to tidelines Surface grime reduced by swabbing with distilled water; varnish reduced by swabbing with ethanol

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation Removing an acidic corrugated cardboard for loss backing that was adhered overall to a large drawing

Facing Carbopol and Ethomeen mixed Unwashed support prone to with ehtanol, applied over tidelines Japanese tissue Japanese tissue adhered to stabilize torn and fragmented areas during treatment

Backing removal Two textile backings removed by tearing away in strips

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation for loss Immersion washing an etching

Localized washing and stain reduction Localized suction treatment of banded discoloration (left) and tape stains (right).

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation for loss Wet paste lining performed to stabilize a drawing previously backed with corrugated cardboard

Stabilization Reinforcing holes caused by Consolidating flaking corrosive pigments media

Restoration Japanese woodblock print before treatment (left), after overall bleaching (centre), and after spot bleaching.

Common Interventions • Consolidation • Surface cleaning During treatment • Backing removal • Washing • Lining • Compensation for loss After treatment Inpainting pulp fills to restore lost image

Loss Compensation Losses toned with dry pigment and pastel media Map of the City of Buffalo (detail) Before compensation Hand-coloured lithograph 1833

Fine Art vs. Archival Material Untitled Sympathy certificate for widow Norval Morrisseau of Burr Plato Acrylic on paper Gelatin silver photograph 1969 1909

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Conservator measuring light levels Photo courtesy of Anya McDavis-Conway.

Preventive Conservation Includes: • Proper handling • Packing and transport • Housing/storage • Monitoring the environment • Conducting surveys and assessments • Preparing for emergencies • Guidelines for use of artifact or collection

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Photo courtesy of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation.

Six Primary Activities of Conservation: • Examination • Documentation • Treatment • Preventive Care • Research • Education Photo courtesy of Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. Photo by Joyce Hill Stoner.

Rotary Club Charter – Before treatment

Rotary Club Charter – Before treatment Raking light

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. (Locally bleach) 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. (Locally bleach) 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges Removing dried mold structures using a HEPA filtered vacuum

Removing surface dirt using grated vinyl eraser crumbs

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. (Locally bleach) 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges Immersion washing in pH balanced water

Before treatment After washing

After washing After ACD treatment

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. Locally bleach 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges Reducing bleach brushed onto distracting tideline stain

After ACD treatment After local bleach

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. Locally bleach 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges Mold damaged areas treated with a water and ethanol solution on the suction table

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. Locally bleach 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges Creases burnished flat on the suction table

Treatment Plan 1. Surface clean 2. Wash 3. Locally bleach 4. Disinfect mold 5. Humidify / flatten 6. Attach hinges Japanese paper hinges attached to facilitate matting and framing

Before treatment After treatment

Raking light Before treatment After treatment

Acknowledgements • Many thanks to the private collectors and institutions whose artifacts were entrusted to my care and appear in this presentation. They include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Niagara Falls History Museum, and Niagara Historical Society. • Thank you also to The American Institute for Conservation , for the use of portions of their presentation, “What Is Conservation?”