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April 2009
- Vol 3, No 2
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The Vitrolite Building, ICA's Cleveland home.


Last fall in this e-newsletter we offered a "day in the life" glimpse into the wide range of projects undertaken at the ICA Conservation Center. The response from you, our readers, was enthusiastic. So in this issue we again present a selection of images that demonstrate the amazingly rich cultural heritage of the region that regularly passes through our doors.

Ohio Statehouse
Metaphorically speaking, that is! In our January issue we reported on Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's fall visit to the Conservation Center, accompanied by Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman (W-13). Since that time, the ICA has been fortunate to make connections with legislators and their staff on county, state, and national levels.

In March, ICA Director of Education Nicole Hayes traveled to Columbus for the annual Ohio Statehood Day celebration. Statehood Day is an advocacy opportunity for history professionals. Hayes was fortunate to meet with both Ohio Representative Michael Skindell (D-13) and Ohio Senator Dale Miller (D-23).

Also in March, US Senator Sherrod Brown's Deputy State Director Elizabeth Thames toured the Conservation Center. Thames was most interested to hear about the large-scale civic conservation projects in which the ICA is currently engaged, including work with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cleveland Public Art, and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.

In April, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones will visit our Detroit Avenue facility for the first time. Commissioner Jones is a renowned promoter of the arts in this region and in addition to his distinguished political career has continued to pursue his second passion, acting on the stage.

Advocacy is a core component of the ICA's mission. We welcome every opportunity to express our belief that, even in difficult times, the preservation of our common cultural heritage is not a luxury but rather the duty of a responsible citizenry.

Conservation scientist Paul Whitmore demonstrates his testing techniques.
By Jamye Jamison,
Paper Conservator

Paul Whitmore, conservation scientist and the director of the Art Conservation Research Center at Carnegie Mellon University, is at the forefront in the development of non-destructive testing mechanisms to determine the light stability of pigments. For two days in January, he brought his equipment to the ICA to run microfading tests on the pigments in the Maria Barosso watercolors from the Kelsey Museum of Archeology at the University of Michigan.

Because the objects will be on long-term display in a newly constructed gallery space, both ICA conservators and the Kelsey staff thought it imperative to gain a better understanding of the possible effects light exposure might have on the watercolors. The images have largely been in storage since their creation, and consequently are a better representation of the original colors in the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii than the frescos themselves, which have deteriorated significantly since their excavation.

Utilizing a focused beam of light and a spectrometer, Dr. Whitmore can document the color shift in a 300 micron area on an object and compare it to the color shift that a sample of blue wool undergoes in the same conditions. The lamp produces visible light only, filtering out infrared and ultraviolet light and reducing heat levels to safely test objects in situ. Each minute of testing approximates one year of gallery conditions (roughly 8 hours/day of exposure to light at 50 lux with UV light filtered out). The test results showed that most of the pigments Barosso used were fairly stable. However, some of the reds did test sensitive to light, darkening instead of fading as is usually the case. Because the test results can approximate the amount of light to which the object can be exposed before a visual change occurs, the Kelsey Museum can better control the light levels in their new gallery and help preserve these unique watercolors for future study.

Paper conservator Jamye Jamison inspects a Kelsey panel.
As we reported in our July issue, the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology received an IMLS grant to conserve a series of unique watercolors depicting the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii. Paper conservator Jamye Jamison is seen here creating a condition report for one of the panels. Each panel will have its condition documented and minor repairs, then it will be humidified and flattened. New hinges will be attached and each will be mounted to a ridged support panel for installation in a newly renovated gallery. The project will take one year.

The ICA has a full schedule of educational programming available to the public this spring. On Monday, April 6th, we are presenting, "Fire! Recent Trends in Suppression and Mitigation" as a workshop session at the Ohio Museums Association Conference. OMA has generously offered to make special pricing available for anyone who would like to attend the workshop without registering for the entire conference. The registration form and pricing options can be found here.

On Saturday, April 25th, the ICA is one of multiple organizations partnering to offer "Form to Finish: Strategies in Outdoor Sculpture Preservation." This FREE day-long symposium will take place at the Cleveland Museum of Art and will be followed by a free reception at The Sculpture Center. A complete listing of speakers and topics can be found here. The registration form can be found here.

In May, we are holding an Open House and textile program in conjunction with Fashion Week Cleveland, and offering a full-day program on pest management at Cleveland State University. Additional information on these and all other currently scheduled ICA programs can be found in the Calendar of Events (below) or on the education page of our website.

Conservators Heather Galloway and Mark Erdmann examine the LeWitt.
This stunning sculpture by the late artist Sol LeWitt was brought to the ICA for repair after being damaged in a fall. Paintings conservator Heather Galloway, who has extensive experience working on LeWitt installations, collaborated with objects conservator Mark Erdmann to repair and repaint the piece. The sculpture is shown here prior to its final assembly, after which it stood over eight feet high.

MayDay logo
Two important preservation-related commemorations occur every May. The first day of May is "MayDay," a date designated for archives, libraries, museums, and historical societies to reflect on their own emergency preparedness, and hopefully engage in at least one action to improve that readiness. MayDay is sponsored by Heritage Preservation, which offers an array of activities and services in support of the event.

May is also National Preservation Month, an initiative sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The theme of this year's Preservation Month is "This Place Matters." Preservationists across the country are encouraged to submit photographs of themselves in front of historic structures holding a sign that states, "This Place Matters." Images can then be uploaded to the National Trust website.

Objects assistant Anne Goodwill with the walrus reproduction.
For several years the ICA has been engaged in a long-term conservation campaign to preserve the WPA-era artwork of the Valleyview Housing Project. The complex held murals, ceramics, and whimsical cast stone animals that were spread around the grounds for children to climb. The ICA previously collaborated with Cleveland Public Art to reproduce a squirrel sculpture. We are now finishing a walrus that will be installed at Tremont Point, the housing complex that replaced Valleyview.

Need an engaging and educational spring outing for your group? Consider visiting the ICA Conservation Center. We have always offered free tours of our Detroit Avenue facility to the public. Our most frequent visitors include teachers and students, history enthusiasts, art and antique collectors, and those interested to learn more about the arts and culture scene in Cleveland. Any group is welcome by appointment. Our standard operating hours are Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. No fee is charged but donations are gratefully accepted. To learn more or to schedule a tour, contact ICA Director of Education Nicole Hayes.

Conservator Jane Hammond treats a tapestry.
This lovely 18th-century Flemish tapestry belongs to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Textile conservator Jane Hammond is shown restoring a missing section of the piece's weave structure. The tapestry will undergo cleaning, repair, and the removal of some stains related to an earlier episode of water damage. It will also be relined for future installation. Kenyon hopes to someday make this tapestry the centerpiece of a proposed performing arts center.

Alliance for Response logo
April 6, 2009
9:00AM-11:30AM
Fire! Recent Trends in Suppression and Mitigation
2009 Ohio Museums Association Annual Conference
Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, Akron, OH
The ICA is the current spearhead organization for the Northeast Ohio Alliance for Response, which is presenting this program. What are the latest trends in fire suppression technology? What steps should you be taking to protect your collections from fire and its associated dangers? And what can you expect to happen to your objects if they are exposed to a fire? Click here for the registration form.

April 25, 2009
Form to Finish: Strategies in Outdoor Sculpture Preservation
Symposium at the Recital Hall, Cleveland Museum of Art, 9:30AM-5:00PM
Evening reception at The Sculpture Center, 5:00-6:30PM
Full details of this FREE program can be found here.
Click here for the registration form.

May 1-May 31, 2009
Preservation Month
Raise awareness about the power historic preservation has to protect and enhance our homes, neighborhoods and communities. Sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

May 1, 2009
MayDay!
Do one thing to improve your organization's emergency preparedness. Sponsored by Heritage Preservation.

May 1, 2009
Deadline for the Optium Conservation Grant Program
This grant, funded by Tru Vue and administered by the FAIC, supports projects in glazing applications for the preservation of museum and library collections. Each year, up to four awards of $4,000 each, plus donated Tru Vue� Optium� materials, will be made available to qualifying museums and libraries. Details and application can be found here.

May 6, 2009
9:00AM-4:30PM
Museum Marauders: Integrated Preventative Pest Management
Fenn Tower, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
Cockroaches, carpet beetles, and clothes moths--oh my! Join nationally-known insect expert Tom Parker as he explains how to identify, understand the habits of, and non-chemically prevent or control various insect populations. The afternoon will include practical suggestions for developing an effective, low-cost, in-house pest management program. OPC members receive discounted admission! Registration form can be found here.

May 8, 2009
5:00PM-7:00PM
Fashion Forward: Caring for Your Textiles Now for the Future
ICA Conservation Center, Cleveland, OH
The ICA is pleased to welcome Fashion Week Cleveland attendees and the public to an open house at our Detroit Avenue facility. Textile conservator Jane Hammond will make a brief presentation (at 6:00PM) on issues of preservation around modern clothing materials, and conservators from other disciplines including paper, paintings and three-dimensional objects will be on hand to answer questions and show examples of recent conservation treatments. Light refreshments will be served. This event is FREE of charge; no advance registration is required.

May 14, 2009
Deadline for submission of applications for NEH Preservation Assistance grants.

June 4, 2009
10:00AM-4:00PM
Preservation of Sacred Artifacts: Care and Handling of Cultural Materials in Religious and Spiritual Institutions
The Msgr. Joseph Jessing Conference Center, Columbus, OH
This program helps religious and spiritual institutions understand the basic care of the cultural materials of which they are stewards. Each talk will address the principles of caring for, displaying, and storing materials found in religious collections and buildings. Preventative conservation and information on practical ways to ensure the long-term stability of artifacts and documents will also be discussed. Registration form can be found here.

June 16-17, 2009
Training in Collections Care
Buffalo, NY
This IMLS/Heritage Preservation conference is the latest installment of the "Connecting to Collections" National Tour, a series of programs offered across the country to engage a broad audience on making collections care a priority. Details can be found here.


Nicole Hayes, Director of Education and External Relations
Intermuseum Conservation Association

216-658-8700
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