April 2018 – AIC Blog Archives: Conservators Converse

ECPN Profile on Riley the Museum Dog at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

ECPN had the opportunity to speak with Nicki Luongo, head of Protective Services at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to learn more about a very special four-legged volunteer at the MFA.

Riley the Museum Dog

1. Riley-the-dog-at-the-Museum-of-Fine-Arts-Boston — Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

· Occupation: MFA Volunteer

· Credentials: American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. Puppy program graduate

· Birthday: October 14, 2017

· Ear length: 5”

· Favorite MFA artwork: Hugo and Brenda! (Pair of Great Danes, 1907 by Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington. On view in the Calderwood Courtyard)

· Favorite pastime: Rope tug

4. Riley-the-dog-at-the-Museum-of-Fine-Arts-Boston — Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

ECPN: How did the idea to hire a dog come about in the first place, and does Riley have any special qualities that might make him better than other dogs at helping with integrated pest management (IPM)?

Nicki Luongo (NL): Discussions between the Conservation and the Department of Protective Services began in fall 2017. Weimaraners are very intelligent and have an incredible sense of smell. Riley’s duties as a scent dog at the MFA are well suited to his breed!

ECPN: Have you trained dogs for service or nose work before?

NL: In my spare time I’ve trained working K9’s for many years, so it’s exciting to be able to apply these training skills with Riley to work with the MFA’s conservation team.

ECPN: How many hours a week is Riley expected to be “on duty”?

NL: Once Riley’s completed his training, he’ll be on duty as needed.

ECPN: Who cares for Riley on his off-hours? And what are his favorite activities outside of “work”?

NL: Riley lives with me and loves to play hide and seek, rope tug and nap in his free time.

ECPN: How does Riley’s role fit into the MFA’s larger IPM strategy? What other IPM tactics does the MFA currently employ and how will Riley’s role supplement and enhance these protocols?

NL: In addition to the current conservation protocols we have in place, Riley will act as an additional layer in protecting the Museum’s collection. His extremely sensitive nose can be trained to detect the presence of pests that are hidden from plain view.

7. Riley-the-dog-at-the-Museum-of-Fine-Arts-Boston — Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

ECPN would like to extend sincere thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for the paw-some opportunity to learn more about Riley. For more information on Riley, visit his page on the MFA’s website: https://www.mfa.org/about/riley-the-museum-dog

Available spots to attend the “Pressure Sensitive Tape Removal” workshop (Barcelona, Spain)

There are 4 (four) available spots to attend the two-day workshop on “New products for Pressure Sensitive Tape removal” in Barcelona, Spain.

The workshop is part of the dissemination plan of the Nanorestart project (H2020 Grant Agreement 646063) and therefore has no cost for the participants except for travel and accommodation. It will take place on May 16-17, 2018 and will be taught in English by the paper conservator Antonio Mirabile.

Preference will be given to University Professors that teach in a recognized Master in Conservation in Europe so that they can disseminate the new knowledge gained. If none applies, then paper conservators working in institutions with large conservation sections across Europe will be considered.

Those interested should send an email to consrestpat@ub.edu with the subject “PST workshop” and the following information:

If you are a University Professor:

Name:
Surname:
Job title:
University:
Master’s name:
Master’s web page:
Unit currently taught:
City:
Country:
Studies done (at Bachelor/Master/PhD level) indicating type, title, year and university:

If you work somewhere else:

Name:
Surname:
Job title:
Institution:
Conservation speciality:
Number of conservators working in your institution (all specialities):
City:
Country:
Studies done (at Bachelor/Master/PhD level) indicating type, title, year and university:

More details on the workshop can be given upon expression of interest in the course.

Scholarships for non-EU/EEA nationals, MSc in Conservation of Decorative Architectural Surfaces (Malt)

Call for Participation: New Annual Meeting Event “A Failure Shared is Not a Failure”

AIC members from all specialty groups are invited to attend and participate in the event “A failure shared is not a failure: learning from our mistakes,” happening on Saturday, June 2nd, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. — click here to add it to your Sched. We will gather and share our cautionary tales, including treatment errors, mishaps, and accidents, with the idea of helping our colleagues not to repeat them.

Discussing mistakes is a hot topic that has already been embraced by others in our community. Two examples of events scheduled during the month of May are: “Mistakes were made,” a regular feature at the American Alliance of Museums conference, and the lecture “Conservation Confidential” hosted by our conservation colleagues across the pond in the Independent Paper Conservators’ Group.

Participants can speak for up to 5 minutes; if you prefer to remain anonymous, a reader will be happy to present your tale on your behalf. If you are unable to attend AIC’s Annual Meeting but would like to submit a tale to be read by one of our organizers or a colleague, please reach out.

Screens to project PowerPoint slides containing your images/video will be available (16:9 format), and a Dropbox folder will be made available for submissions. Please also bring your presentation on a USB Drive (highly encouraged). Time permitting, audience members inspired by their colleagues will be welcome to present. If appropriate (and acceptable to the speaker), the floor will be opened for questions and discussion following presentations. Extra points for suggesting safeguards and solutions!

Please note that this is a forum for sharing personal mistakes and solutions only. Participants are requested not to name other persons, organizations, work places, and avoid politics—institutional, national, and global!

The event will include a cash bar, so come, relax, unwind, share, laugh, groan, and learn. We plan to publish the event for those who wish to be included.

If you are interested in participating or have questions about the event, please contact Tony Sigel at tony_sigel@harvard.edu or by calling 617-767-1900 (cell), or Rebecca Gridley at rebecca.ec.gridley@gmail.com by May 10th.

Please include 2-3 quick sentences introducing your topic and indicate whether you plan to use a PowerPoint with images and/or video.

See you in Houston!

Art Conservation Services – Paintings (USA)

Solicitation Number: 47PA0118R0003
Notice Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Synopsis

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in the Federal Acquisitions Regulation Subpart 12.6, “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items,” as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation is being issued. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC 2005-97), effective Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

This is a total small business set-aside. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 711510 – Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers; and the small business size standard is are $7.5 million average annual receipts.

The General Services Administration (GSA), Public Buildings Service (PBS), Office of Chief Architect, Art in Architecture and Fine Arts Division, located in Washington, DC is seeking the services of a contractor to provide care and preservation of Government-owned work of arts involving the assessment, analysis and treatment of paintings in/on Government-owned property in GSA buildings and offices.

GSA/PBS intends to establish a single award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for a base period of 12 months, and four (4) one-year option periods to the responsible offeror whose proposal constitutes the most advantageous approach to meeting the Art Conservation Services for Paintings, outline in the solicitation. The minimum guarantee for the base contract is $2,000.00. The contract will include a clause for four (4) options and may be exercised at the discretion of the Government. The maximum ordering limitation for the Paintings IDIQ contract is $1.75 million for each one year period. Services will be procured, as necessary, by the issuance of Firm-Fixed-Price task orders. All potential offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award (www.sam.gov).

The offeror must be able to demonstrate their experience to perform the work that is relevant to the Art Conservation Services – Paintings requirement. Offerors that submit proposals in response to this synopsis/solicitation are required to have been in business for three years or longer. The firms must demonstrate that 90% of the required services will be accomplished with the firms’ own employees. One (1) firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract will result from this solicitation. Offerors that submit proposals who do not meet this requirement will be disqualified and eliminated from competition.

All interested companies shall provide proposal(s) for the attached solicitation. Award shall be made to the Offeror whose proposal offers the best value to the government. The government will evaluate information based on the evaluation factors in the attached solicitation.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Offeror is to furnish proposal electronically to evangela.brown@gsa.gov, with a copy (cc) to collette.scott.gov no later than 2:00 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. All offers received after the due date and time will be considered late and will not be evaluated for award.

SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS: All questions concerning this solicitation must be submitted to evangela.brown@gsa.gov, with a copy (cc) to collette.scott@gsa.gov on or before 11:00 am Eastern Time, Friday, May 11, 2018, using the format in Attachment A – QA Format Template. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Any responses to questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be answered with an amendment to this synopsis/solicitation.

FitzHugh donation to the South African Institute for Heritage Science

In February 2017, a notice appeared in the Conservation DistList, offering to donate the conservation library collection of the late Elisabeth FitzHugh. This kind offer had been extended by the FitzHugh sons, Thomas and William.

At the time, the South African Institute for Heritage Science was excitedly anticipating the launch of its newly accredited, postgraduate program, “Technical Conservation Studies”. A faculty member – having seen the ConsDistList notice – recognized the express value and favourable timing which attended the offer, and brought it to the attention of the Institute’s governing board. A written application was soon brought, requesting to be considered as recipients. Less than two weeks later came the delightful news: The FitzHugh family had decided to favour this institution and its nascent, postgraduate programme – a gracious nod to a milestone achievement for South Africa’s conservation domain.

For our institution, the value of this gift – comprising of nearly 150 books and a considerable number of journals – lay in equal parts in the well-timed addition to the Physical Sciences library, and in the keenly sensed encouragement which inevitably attends such a generous and open-handed gift. The FitzHugh gift was also notable for being the first donation of any kind received by the Institute in its 25 years of existence, and accordingly had a palpably outsize effect on morale! (As a private provider of higher education, the Institute is not funded or subsidized by the State or any other benefactor.)

One year later, and with the postgraduate program already in full swing, the FitzHugh name has been formally conferred on the Institute’s entire conservation library, now collectively referred to as the “Elisabeth FitzHugh Collection”. The clearly marked book cabinets not only actively serve the needs of the program and students, but also pay elegant homage to a remarkable and prescient career in conservation. Our institution’s deepest and most sincere appreciation extend to the FitzHugh family, also as a respectful tribute to all whom had known and loved the evidently remarkable Elisabeth West FitzHugh.

Adriaan Botha, Chairman of the Board
The South African Institute for Heritage Science and Conservation
Faculty of Physical Sciences
Faculty of Commerce
www.sainst.org

Registered as: The South African Institute for Heritage Science (Pty) Ltd. Registration Number: 2015/317414/07
An institution of Postgraduate Higher Learning (Higher Education Act No. 101 of 1997)

Associate Professor (Teaching) in the Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects (Durham, UK)

Reference number: 012805
Department: Archaeology
Location: Durham
Contract Type: Full time, Permanent
Grade: Grade 9
Salary Range: £50,618 – £56,950
Opening Date: April 17, 2018
Closing Date: May 17, 2018 at midday
Working Arrangements: This role is full time but we will consider requests for flexible working arrangements including potential job shares

Durham University Archaeology department is seeking to appoint an Associate Professor (Teaching) to lead the MA Conservation of Archaeological & Museum Objects when Dr. Christopher Caple retires in the summer of 2018.

The interdisciplinary Department of Archaeology is ranked first in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and is listed as one of the top five archaeology departments in the world in the 2018 QS World University Rankings list. You will therefore bring your expertise of Archaeological Conservation to the department, offering detailed insight into ancient and historical materials and artefacts, and the way in which they are decaying or have been conserved. Taking the lead in MA in Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects (which you will ensure remains a professionally recognized conservation qualification), you will also teach various undergraduate and postgraduate modules and contribute significantly to our Artefacts Research Group.

You’ll need:

To be a qualified conservator with professional accreditation (FIIC, ACR or equivalent) and practitioner experience.
An excellent track record in teaching the practice of conservation, including conservation ethics and preventive conservation.
Good leadership and communication skills.
To have a teaching qualification or be willing to attain fellowship of the UK Higher Education Academy.

Ideally you will also have a PhD in archaeological/object conservation or a related field, and are able to supervise PhD students, building on your own research interests.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University. We are committed to equality: please feel free to bring to the attention of the panel periods of leave that may have impacted on your career path, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave.

All applicants are asked to submit:

A CV and covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
PDFs of two reports of your most significant pieces of conservation work, at least one of which should demonstrate engagement with conservation education and/or outreach;
A statement outlining your vision for conservation teaching and professional practice at MA level and beyond.

Applications should be made on line via the Durham University Vacancies Site https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/.

To apply for this role please visit: https://recruitment.durham.ac.uk/pls/corehrrecruit/erq_jobspec_details_form.jobspec?p_id=012805.

For academic or department related queries, contact Dr. Mary Brooks (mary.brooks@durham.ac.uk) Director, MA International Cultural Heritage Management, Cultural Heritage, Museums & Conservation, Department of Archaeology, Durham University.

How does two conservators walk into a bar sound?

In an article in the April 6, 2018 issue of Science magazine about the then forthcoming second annual “March for Science” (on April 14th), Jeffrey Mervis mentions a number of outreach activities that were developed after the first march. Among them is the Fleet Science Center’s attempt to demystify science with “Two Scientists Walk Into a bar” . In this program, pairs of scientists speak to patrons in San Diego bars for two hours about whatever topics the patrons bring up. How does two conservators walk into a bar sound ?

Conservation Imaging Specialist (Krakow, Poland)

The National Museum in Krakow is currently seeking applicants for the position: Conservation imaging specialist.

Responsibilities:

conducts work in the field of technical photography and analysis of cultural heritage objects using the following techniques:
– advanced analytical imaging using visible light: reflected, transmitted, raking, and macro,
– infrared (IR) reflectography
– UV-induced visible fluorescence
– digital radiography
– computer graphics and image processing
analyzes and interprets images to document and better understand the materials and techniques found in cultural heritage objects
organizes and continues to develop our image and analysis archive
presents the data in the form of reports, scientific articles, and conference papers
collaborates with a multidisciplinary team in the area of art technological research

Requirements:

master’s degree in conservation, chemistry, physics, or a related area (PhD will be an advantage),
knowledge of imaging and photographic techniques as well as the characteristics and construction of cultural heritage objects,
minimum 3 years of working in a similar position (or equivalent documented experience in the field of scientific imaging in conservation),
very good knowledge of English (knowledge of another European language will be an advantage),
experience with imaging software as well as with the MS Office package,
independent and organized.
analytical thinking skills,
consistency in achieving goals and effect oriented,
communication skills,
willingness to develop skills and competences.

We offer:

a contract of employment,
the opportunity to develop your own qualifications through participation in training,
interesting work in a prestigious institution,
private medical care.

Applications should be sent to hr@mnk.pl until May 15, 2018 with a note indicating the position “Conservation Imaging Specialist.”

Please be advised that we will only respond to selected offers and we reserve the right to terminate recruitment before the date specified above.

Please include in your CV the following clause: “I agree to the processing of personal data contained in my job offer for the needs necessary to carry out the recruitment process in accordance with the Act of 29 August 1997 on the Protection of Personal Data (Journal of Laws of 2014 item 1182, 1662)”.

This data is collected for recruitment purposes. You have the right to access your data and correct it. Providing data remains within the scope specified by the provisions of the Act of June 26, 1974. The Labor Code and executive acts are mandatory. Providing additional personal data is voluntary.

For more details, visit: http://mnk.pl/article/conservation-imaging-specialist.

Sculpture Technician ( Kansas City, MO, USA)

SCULPTURE TECHNICIAN
(Part-time, non-exempt)

WHO WE ARE
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is dedicated to the enjoyment and understanding of the visual arts and the varied cultures they represent. At the core of the museum’s vision of the future is the goal of playing a central role in Kansas City life by catalyzing connections to neighbors; an ever-expanding range of visitors; and community, civic and cultural partners in the city and the larger region. In short, the Nelson-Atkins is “where the power of art engages the spirit of the community.”

POSITION FUNCTION
To provide daily maintenance of thirty-three sculptures in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and others in the museum collection donated by the Hall Family Foundation primarily during the spring, summer and fall seasons.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

To clean, wax and repair coatings on the sculptures.
To report and document damages as required in written and photographic forms
To assist the Conservator of Objects, Associate Conservator and Conservation Associate in performing treatments or other duties as needed in the sculpture park
To perform additional duties as assigned.
Maintain Noguchi sculptures and fountain and monitor and adjust water chemistry.
Survey, monitor and document condition of W. De Maria sculpture.
Must be able to work with many different departments and personalities across the institution to achieve desired results.
Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Prefer an undergraduate degree in studio art, art history and/or chemistry or equivalent experience.
Must have manual dexterity and the patience of a craftsperson.
Must be comfortable lifting heavy equipment (up to 50lbs.) and working on scaffolding.
Must have the ability to do strenuous work in hot and humid conditions and exposure to sun.
Must be detail oriented and able to interact with staff members and the general public in a polite and courteous manner.
Digital photography skills and familiarity with related software programs (Photoshop) are essential.
Must be self-motivated with the ability to work independently and prioritize the positions daily schedule.
The sculpture collection consist of bronze, stone, wood, glass, gilt and painted fiberglass and metals. Broad knowledge of materials is beneficial.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the Sculpture Technician is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; climb ladders; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The worker must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color visions, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Must also be physically capable of operating a motor vehicle and have a current driver’s license.

If interested, apply online at https://nelson-atkins.org/careers-internships/.