• Case Studies

    El Anatsui Wall Sculpture: Adventures in Handling, Installation, and Display 

    Published on 03-09-2011 06:49 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Art/Object Handling,
    3. Materials,
    4. Fasteners/Hardware,
    5. Tools/Equipment,
    6. Space Preparation,
    7. Installation
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    By Perry Hurt, Associate Paintings Conservator
    North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA)

    With contributions by:

    Kurt Christian, Head Preparator, Saint Louis Art Museum
    Kevin Etherton, Installation Coordinator, National Museum of African Art,
    Smithsonian Institution
    Christine Giuntini, Conservator, Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas,
    Metropolitan Museum of Art
    Kellen Haak, formerly Collections Manager and Head Registrar, Hood Museum of
    Art at Dartmouth
    Kinsey Katchka, Associate Curator of Modern and African Art, NCMA
    Mark Milani, Chief Preparator, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
    Rachel Raynor, Collections Manager, Fowler Museum at UCLA
    Kendra Roth, Conservator of Modern and Contemporary Sculpture, Metropolitan
    Museum of Art





    ...
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    Reinstalling the New NCMA – a conversation with art handler Tom Lopez 

    Published on 08-09-2010 05:21 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Art/Object Handling,
    3. Tools/Equipment,
    4. Installation,
    5. Rigging
    Article Preview

    This Article is the first of two that feature the North Carolina Museum of Art. This article generously appears here courtesy ...
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    Lightweight Recyclable Hybrid Container. 

    by
    T. Ashley McGrew
    Published on 05-30-2010 01:13 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Packing,
    3. Crating,
    4. Art/Object Handling,
    5. Materials
    Article Preview

    Hybrid "Soft Pack" style crate



    One of the most satisfying aspects of what we do is putting together solutions that address the unique circumstances encountered in any given exhibitions move or collections relocation. This particular situation is one of those instances of where with methods and materials thoughtfully employed - less can end up being more.
    ...
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    Behind the scenes of Lords of the Samurai: Legacy of a Daimyo Family 

    Published on 03-10-2010 08:36 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Packing,
    3. Art/Object Handling,
    4. Materials
    Article Preview

    by Cathy Mano, Registrar, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco

    I had the very fortunate opportunity this year to work closely with Japanese art packers and shippers Nippon Express Co. Ltd. in conjunction with the Museum’s summer exhibition Lords of the Samurai: Legacy of a Daimyo Family (displayed at the museum June 12 – September 20, 2009). The Asian Art Museum borrowed over 160 artworks from the Hosokawa family collection housed in the Eisei Bunko Museum in Tokyo, the Kumamoto Castle and the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum in Kyushu. The artworks included full suits
    ...
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    NMAI Collections Move 

    Published on 03-09-2010 09:13 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Packing,
    3. Crating,
    4. Art/Object Handling,
    5. Shipping,
    6. Materials,
    7. Technology,
    8. Conservation,
    9. Registration,
    10. Storage,
    11. Resources
    Article Preview

    by T. Ashley McGrew



    Michael Van Hook scanning barcodes on packed boxes

    Completed in June of 2004 and spanning a 5 year period, over 800,000 objects were documented, packed and relocated at the National Museum of American Indian. This collection is now one of the most thoroughly documented collections of its type and size due to the digital imaging component integrated into the move process. It is also one of the more accessible collections due to the addition of a barcoding system that was also integrated into the move project.
    ...
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    National Gallery of Victoria Sculpture Garden Installation 2004 

    Published on 03-08-2010 12:59 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Art/Object Handling,
    3. Installation,
    4. Rigging,
    5. Project Management
    Article Preview

    Brent Powell, Coordinator Art Handling
    National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Australia



    Geoffrey Bartlett "Messenger"

    In January 2003 the primary logistics started to be put into place for the re-installation of outdoor sculptures for the newly renovated National Gallery of Victoria Sculpture Garden. Five sculptures were to be installed in the garden and one sculpture removed from the present site before the grand reopening of the newly refurbished building on December 4th 2003.The sculptures from the NGV collection were August Rodin's "Balzac", William DeKooning's "Standing Figure", Henry ...
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    Moving Your Collection: A Midsize Museum's Perspective 

    Published on 03-08-2010 12:28 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Packing,
    3. Project Management
    Article Preview

    By Drew Talley, Registrar (photographs by Darryl A. Smith)



    The California African American Museum (CAAM) recently reopened after a 3.8 million dollar renovation to improve and update its infrastructure, which lasted 18 months. Improvements included automated remote monitoring HVAC system, CCTV security system, dry-pipe fire suppression system, hardwood floor installation, new roof and automated light dimmer system. CAAM is a midsize museum in Los Angeles funded by the State of California with a 1.8 million dollar annual budget and a 3,000-object collection. The Museum had to relocate its collection during this time period and I will summarize how the museum was able to ...
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