At the Lunder Conservation Center, visitors have the opportunity to see the art conservation labs, spaces that are traditionally left behind the scenes.
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Welcome to our page! Please feel free to share thoughts about our posts, ask us questions, or tell us about your visit. Find us on other social media sites: www.americanart.si.edu/visit/social_media
While on-topic discussion is encouraged, we ask that you express yourself in a civil manner and treat other users with respect. The Smithsonian also monitors and may remove posts consistent w
Operating as usual
What happens when an object’s attribution or date is called into question? Watch how conservators use innovative research and scientific analysis to identify the materials and methods used to create an artwork to find answers!
What happens when an object’s attribution or date is called into question?
Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Ox with the art doctors. From toys to tiles, see how artists have been inspired by oxen for generations and how Smithsonian conservators preserve these artworks.
Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Ox with the art doctors in this virtual workshop.
Update: The Artisphere: Arts. Music. Culture's Instagram Live on conservation public programming has been rescheduled to Thursday, 1/14, at 12:30 p.m. EST, given the events that unfolded in Washington, DC. https://www.instagram.com/artisphere/
UPDATE: LIVE CHAT POSTPONED
In light of recent events, we have decided to postpone this week's Live Chat until next Thursday, January 14th, at 12:30 PM EST.
We had so much fun during our Instagram Live Chats at the Virtual Experience presented by TD in October, we decided to continue hosting artists and interesting people in the arts on a weekly basis.
Thursday, January 7th at 12:30 pm EST on Artisphere's Instagram, we'll be chatting with Laura Hoffman, Program Manager of the Lunder Conservation Center of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery.
Hoffman specializes in visitor and online engagement, and since the pandemic, she has launched two new & noteworthy online program series.
The monthly Converse with a Conservator series features a different conservator every month, in which Hoffman moderates a 45-minute conversation driven by questions from the audience.
And during the Art & Me Preservation Family Workshop series, Lunder Conservation Center collaborates with Smithsonian - Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery to create an interactive artmaking workshop that focuses on preservation for early learners and their caretakers. Educators-Hoffman included-and conservators have teamed up to create a meaningful experience for kids of all ages.
You can see links to the most recent installments of these programs below.
https://americanart.si.edu/art/conservation/videos.
Be sure to join us on Thursday at 12:30 on Instagram
(https://www.instagram.com/artisphere/) to hear more from Laura Hoffman-we're honored she's joining us!
Smithsonian
Due to rising regional and national cases related to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Smithsonian museums, including the National Zoo, will temporarily close to the public starting Monday, Nov. 23. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time, and will share updates on social media and our website, si.edu. Visitors who had reserved timed-entry passes to visit at a future date are being contacted directly. https://s.si.edu/332bgmR
While our spaces are closed, you can always experience the Smithsonian online. Explore millions of pieces from across our collections, plus online exhibitions, videos and more: si.edu/online
We also have free, quality resources from Smithsonian Education for teachers, students and caregivers. These focus on pre-K through 12 education, including low-tech and no-tech options and some Spanish/English learning resources: learninglab.si.edu/distancelearning
Register for the FREE virtual 2020 Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit on October 29-30. The 5th Annual Seminar is organized by Washington Conservation Guild, Potomac Section of the AIHA - American Industrial Hygiene Association, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery's Lunder Conservation Center, Smithsonian National Collections Program, and Smithsonian's Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management.
Confirm your spot on Eventbrite by October 26: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-safety-and-cultural-heritage-summit-registration-120070954457
Join us for the fifth Annual Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit October 29th and 30th, 2020
Check out American Alliance of Museums Looking Ahead: A Year for Action towards Sustainable Development Goals webinar on September 21, featuring Lunder's Chief of Conservation Amber Kerr: https://www.aam-us.org/event/looking-ahead-a-year-for-action-towards-sustainable-development-goals-sdg/
The United Nations (UN) Climate Week inspires individuals and organizations to become part of the momentum created by the global climate agreement in Paris. It is a collaborative platform where bot…
Iccrom- Heritage Conservation Learning in the COVID World
The "Heritage Conservation Learning in the COVID World: Challenges and Opportunities" webinar* on 22/09/2020 will discuss how heritage conservation learning has continued during the disruption of COVID-19.
Discussions will consider the challenges now facing this practical field, as well as the learning opportunities for heritage conservation students from educational and training institutions, globally.
As student panellists partaking in the webinar, this page has been created to gather the insights and experiences of our fellow heritage conservation students during the pandemic, providing a platform for your opinions and stories to be discussed during the webinar.
We would love to hear your comments and stories so please do interact with us on our social media to voice the heritage conservation students’ perspective!
*Organised by ICCROM, Athabasca University’s Heritage Resources Management Program (AU), and International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC).
(Image created by Amber Bhatty via canva)
Watch CBS Sunday Morning cover the incredible conservation of 20 The Legacy Museum, Tuskegee University dioramas from 1940, including "Reconstruction after the War" which was treated here #atSAAM two summers ago!
Conservators, including African American students, are restoring a series of dioramas created for the 1940 American Negro Exposition in Chicago, bringing their magical artistry, and stories, back to life. https://cbsn.ws/2EL6noY
Check out how our time-based media fellow is working on preserving the video games in SAAM's collection on the blog!
Ever wonder what it takes to care for a digital work of art? SAAM currently has three video games in its time-based media art collection. Like all technology-based works, technological change and platform obsolescence pose preservation challenges. From acquisition, to conservation, preservation, and exhibition, how do our curators and conservators go about caring for video games?
Explore how we're celebrating #EarthDay with Smithsonian's #EarthOptimism. In early March, we hosted #ClimateSTT—check out the videos, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7gn_68Hr4h-fIGqC-xRM6GnZTkqajDHL, and read about our call-to-action packed symposium!
Today is the 50th anniversary of #EarthDay
Ever wonder about the effects of climate change on cultural heritage? Lunder Conservation Center conservators do, and they recently convened a two-day conference exploring challenges while focusing on solutions.
#EarthOptimism
Smithsonian
Today is the 50th anniversary of #EarthDay. This 1991 poster by 6-year-old Jayme Morgan Penner was printed with vegetable-based inks on recycled paper, and is in our Cooper Hewitt's collection.
At this difficult and unprecedented time, we're sharing stories of #EarthOptimism: what's working to protect the future of our planet. By focusing on success stories in conservation and sustainability, we can find inspiration even in the face of immense challenges.
Tune in to the Smithsonian Earth Optimism digital summit from April 22 through 24 for live speakers, discussions and films at earthoptimism.si.edu.
Smithsonian
As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14. We will provide updates on social media and on our website.
Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
As a public health precaution, the Smithsonian is postponing or canceling all public events through May 3. See si.edu/events for details. Museums and the National Zoo remain open at this time. We are monitoring the guidance of the CDC and local public health officials.
Registration extended through Monday! Don't miss your chance to be part of this important discussion on climate change and its effects on cultural heritage—register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stemming-the-tide-symposium-tickets-89070276595
Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery and the Smithsonian’s National Collections Program for a symposium exploring the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change. Stemming the Tide Symposium: Global Strategies for Sustaining Cultural Heritage Through Climate Change is convening in Washington, DC on March 5 & 6. Be a part this important discussion—more info at s.si.edu/climate American Institute for Conservation International Institute for Conservation (IIC) US/ICOMOS ICOM US International Council of Museums - ICOM Emerging Conservation Professionals Network Unesco World Heritage
Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery and the Smithsonian’s National Collections Program for a symposium exploring the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change. Stemming the Tide Symposium: Global Strategies for Sustaining Cultural Heritage Through Climate Change is convening in Washington, DC on March 5 & 6. Be a part this important discussion—more info at s.si.edu/climate American Institute for Conservation International Institute for Conservation (IIC) US/ICOMOS ICOM US International Council of Museums - ICOM Emerging Conservation Professionals Network Unesco World Heritage
See why The New York Times named Lunder Conservation Center "a destination-worthy draw" and come see us for yourself!
Museums across the country are including visitors in the art restoration process. “It’s a little bit of forensic science, a little bit of chemistry,” one conservator said.
Get a glimpse into Nicole Chausse's Conservation Internship for Broadening Access here #atSAAM's Lunder Conservation Center this summer
2019 Conservation Internship for Broadening Access (CIBA)
Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM)
Exciting news! Lunder is hosting a three-day workshop on technical imaging #atSAAM on December 11–13. Buffalo State art conservation professor Jiuan Jiuan Chen will be leading this workshop. There are a limited number of spots available—free of charge—and applications have just opened. For more information and to apply, go to https://forms.gle/3myZd4ivomq5W1Tt9. Applications are due by November 25! American Institute for Conservation Washington Conservation Guild Emerging Conservation Professionals Network D.C. Emerging Museum Professionals Group D.C. Emerging Museum Professionals D.C. Mid-Career Museum Professionals (unofficial)
American Institute for Conservation
We’re taking your questions at the National Archives with Abigail Aldrich and AIC member Vicki Lee!
They’re discussing emergency response and planning, both locally for NARA and in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency responding to emergencies like the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. They’re also talking about ways that cultural institutions and individuals can prepare for an emergency, so you can feel more secure knowing your collections and personal heirlooms are secure. We’re accepting live audience questions, so leave them in the comments below.
Experience live conservation treatment of William Couper's sculpture of American naturalist and the Smithsonian's first curator, Spencer Fullerton Baird, at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History's Q?rius Center this week and next with Lunder's intern, Lindsay Cross!
Explore why content is king in the museum world with Lunder Conservation Center's Program Coordinator Laura Hoffman during the latest Museum Buzz podcast!
"Content is king. It is what we have in our pockets as museums. [And it’s important] to keep that in mind, that power. But, also think about the audiences and why we still exist and why that content remains powerful.” Content is still king. It’s what museums put out on social media, it’s the...
So excited to see our past interns, Genevieve Antoine and Jordan Wright, continue on their conservation studies at Yale Center for British Art!
Relive their fantastic work at Lunder #atSAAM last summer in collaboration with University of Delaware Art Conservation Programs and The Legacy Museum, Tuskegee University with generous funding from the Kress Foundation: https://americanart.si.edu/blog/eye-level/2018/11/57919/conservation-tale-two-summers and https://americanart.si.edu/blog/eye-level/2018/18/57917/through-eye-needle-treating-1940-diorama
Fifteen students from historically black colleges and universities recently got hands-on experience in art conservation thanks to a new Yale partnership.
There's still time to apply for the 2019–2020 Samuel H. Kress Fellowship in Paintings Conservation at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery by June 7 (new extended deadline)! Washington Conservation Guild American Institute for Conservation
Apply for the Lunder Conservation Center Fellowship—deadline has been extended to June 7! Washington Conservation Guild American Institute for Conservation
Smithsonian
Today we are thrilled to announce that our Board of Regents has elected Lonnie G. Bunch III as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, effective June 16.
The founding director of our Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Bunch brings a reputation for compelling scholarship and visionary leadership. He will be the first African American to lead the Smithsonian. He is also the first historian elected Secretary and the first museum director to ascend to Secretary in 74 years.
Learn more about our Secretary-elect: https://s.si.edu/2HWXkPy
Call for abstracts for the 2019
Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit:
Preserving Our Heritage and Protecting Our Health
Fall Professional Development Seminar!
The Lunder Conservation Center is collaborating with the Potomac Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Washington Conservation Guild, the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management, and the Smithsonian National Collection Program to host a Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit.
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
McEvoy Auditorium
Smithsonian American Art Museum
G and 8th Streets, NW, Washington DC
We are now accepting abstracts focusing on controlling health and safety risks from preparing, treating, managing, and exhibiting artistic, historic, and natural science collections as well as abating structural hazards and responding to disasters impacting collections. We welcome case studies and encourage joint presentations by conservators, collections care professionals, AND health & safety professionals!
Previous Summit topics can be found here: 2018 Summit Program Abstracts. Other examples include:
• Safety challenges in gallery exhibit installation,
• Exposure assessments and remediation of unique hazards in museum collections,
• Hazardous material abatement in historic houses,
• Risks posed by conservation treatments and safe work policies for conservation laboratories,
• Preparedness and emergency response in collections.
Presenters have 2 submission options:
1. A podium presentation of 20 minutes, with 5-10 minutes for questions. (30 min. max)
2. A lightning round presentation of 5 minutes. Q/A segment may follow as a group.
Posters will be accepted but only if content can be reduced to a readable 8 ½ x 11 or folded 11 x 17 sheet handout, as there is no available space at venue for mounted poster presentations.
Abstracts must specify your submission preference and should not exceed 300 words.
Questions Welcomed! Please send your presentation and poster abstracts to
[email protected] by COB August 1, 2019.
Smithsonian American Art Museum And The National Portrait Gallery, 8th And F Streets, NW
Washington D.C., DC
20001
The museums are conveniently located above the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail station (Red, Yellow and Green lines). Metro hours, fare information, and maps are available at http://www.wmata.com. The DC Circulator also serves the museums' Penn Quarter neighborhood. Hours, fare information and maps are available at http://www.dccirculator.com.
| Monday | 11:30am - 7pm |
| Tuesday | 11:30am - 7pm |
| Wednesday | 11:30am - 7pm |
| Thursday | 11:30am - 7pm |
| Friday | 11:30am - 7pm |
| Saturday | 11:30am - 7pm |
| Sunday | 11:30am - 7pm |
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Preservation is at the heart of what we do here at the Lunder Conservation Center. Composed of found plastic toys, Larry Fuente’s "Game Fish" (1988) is very tricky to clean. Recently, graduate intern Leila Sabouni vacuumed and used CO2 snow (microscopic dry ice) to remove dust—watch in slow motion! As preventative care, the artwork is on display in a gallery with controlled light levels, relative humidity, and airflow. Come see it in person at #RenwickGallery. #PreservationWeek #preswk
The dancer is back in step! Pre-program intern Tamara Dissi reinserts the central figure of the 1940 diorama, "Reconstruction after the War," which we have been conserving since June and is part of The Legacy Museum, Tuskegee University's collection. Tamara straightened her inner steel rod, molded and placed fill material to create a sturdy base, used adhesive, and installed a support overnight as materials set in place. See the diorama in our visible lab at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery for a few more weeks!
What's happening in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery's conservation lab? Come learn about our latest treatment on this 1940 diorama during our weekly Lunder Conservation Center tour today at 3 p.m.!
Curious about how we keep the lights on Jenny Holzer's "For SAAM" sculpture? Come to Media Conservator Dan Finn's spotlight at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery today at noon: https://s.si.edu/2MaMMNz!
Our paintings conservators and interns were busy this morning cleaning the delicate surface of Terasita Fernandez's 'Nocternal (Horizon Line)," on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This painting is made of solid graphite on panel. It is a delicate surface that can easily be damaged by fingerprints, smudges, and abrasion. It was carefully cleaned with soft cloths this morning to remove accumulated grime and marks while on display in our Lincoln gallery. Our paintings conservators and interns worked hard to get their work done before our visitors arrived.
Yesterday we posted a photo of conservator Amber Kerr working in the lab. Considering all the love that image got we thought you might like a video of Amber removing discolored varnish and old retouching of the same painting. Enjoy!
In conservation, sometimes the objects come to you, other times you go to the object. That was the case this morning when conservator Ariel O'Connor carried out a simple surface cleaning of this piece, first with a cosmetic sponge, then (as can be seen here) with a cotton pad and deionized water, in order to prepare the sculpture for a loan. Because the sculpture is so heavy, and the cleaning so simple, it was best for Ariel to perform the treatment in the Luce Foundation Center for American Art rather than in the lab. All in a day's work!
Today in our paintings lab Kress/FAIC Conservation Fellow Anne Schaffer is treating "In the Cascade Mountains" by Edward Bruce. What you're seeing here is a raking light photo of the painting, followed by Anne adding weights to the back (or verso) of the artwork after gently and incrementally humidifying the canvas with damp blotter paper in order to reduce planar distortions. Learn more about this piece by going to http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=2995
Objects conservator Helen Ingalls is examining a number of pieces of Alexander Calder's jewelry in our collection and demonstrates opening the clasp on a bracelet in this video
Objects Conservator Helen Ingalls is working on 'Memory High-Buttoned Shoe' today in the conservation lab. Learn more about this interesting piece by going to http://s.si.edu/2lglF9y
In this video you can see Painting Conservator Amber Kerr removing a layer of yellowed varnish from the surface of Gene Davis's 'Red Line'. Come to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery today at 4 pm for a gallery tour with Amber where she will discuss her work on the Hot Beat exhibition: http://bit.ly/2lnbJsi
In this video FAIC/Kress Conservation Fellow Anne Schaffer is consolidating the painted surface of this work using some of the isinglass she made yesterday in the lab. Anne is using a brush to apply the isinglass along with a soft, a silicone-tipped tool to apply gentle pressure, and a hot air pencil to warm the paint.
Paintings Conservation Intern Laura Raven is surface cleaning Gene Davis's 'Hot Beat' in preparation for an upcoming exhibition
Our Conservation Specialist Susan Edwards takes to a lift to document Roy Lichtenstein's 'Modern Head' at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery before beginning treatment tomorrow
Objects conservator Ariel O'Connor is preparing test samples of unfired clay mixed with various acrylic emulsions. This particular mixture "feels just like working with unfired clay and can be easily rolled out" but is stronger than unfired clay alone.
Today in the lab objects conservator Ariel O'Connor is researching how to make unfired clay stronger. Here, you can see Ariel mixing unfired terracotta clay with various acrylic emulsions in order to test the strength and aging properties of the material after drying.
In this video you can see Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery paintings conservator Amber Kerr sewing strips of canvas onto the tacking margins of a Gene Davis painting so that it can be restretched.
Objects conservator Helen Ingalls has been cleaning this untitled Rooster piece by David Butler in our lab. Learn more about the piece by going to http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=110512
Lichtenstein's 'Modern Head' gets a wash down outside of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery by our conservation team
Just another day in the lab...vacuuming art. Our objects conservator Helen Ingalls is carefully vacuuming 'Arachne,' a work by Bruce Conner, for an upcoming exhibition at MoMA The Museum of Modern Art. By placing a synthetic screen over the artwork and the vacuum's nozzle Helen can remove dust while assuring nothing is lost from the piece. Learn about the artwork by going to http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=74665
This morning our Chief of Conservation Tiarna Doherty is varnishing a work by Romaine Brooks
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