Examination

The Basis for All Decisions

Examination is the first step of any conservation process. Research, materials analysis, and testing, help conservators predict how materials will age, and how they will react with materials used in treatment, storage and display.

Some of the things a conservator will be interested in are:

Artist, Maker or Culture  Materials and Method of Manufacture  Historic Use  Future Intended Use  Present Condition

This information is then used to prepare a condition report and treatment proposal, along with a cost estimate.

For larger collections, Condition Surveys allow prioritization, guide the design of display and storage systems, and red flag items in need of immediate stabilization or treatment.

Treatments

Damage, neglect and natural aging can disfigure and destabilize art. Conservation treatment helps turn back the clock.

Textiles and Paper

Historical Documents

Art on Paper

See All Treatments

Display

Well planned display lets us enjoy our possessions while minimizing environmental damage.

Display in uncontrolled environments allows damage to occur. Good display practices include:

Even distribution of stress to prevent distortions.
Sealed frames and display cases to protect art and artifacts from air pollution, moisture and insects.
Limited light exposure to slow fading and yellowing.

I work with owners, picture framers, mount makers, art installers, lighting designers and others to help protect art and artifacts while on display.

Storage

Cool, dark and dry. A moderate environmental and stable contact materials slow down the effects of time.

Well planned storage allows you to organize and safeguard your possessions when they are not on display or in use. Systems can range from the basic to the deluxe, but in all cases moderate environment and stable contact materials will prolong the life of your valuables.

Rolling tubes, folders, pillows, boxes, compartmentalized trays and dust-covers made from chemically stable materials keep possessions safe and reduce unnecessary handling.

Environmental monitoring lets you know when normal seasonal swings in temperature and humidity deviate to unsafe extremes, and can give early warning of floods.

Depending on site conditions and the materials in your collection, pest management may also be an important part of storage maintenance.

I can help you plan or upgrade you storage; family collections are a specialty.

Disaster Preparation and Recovery

We can’t always prevent disasters, but pre-planning can mitigate their impact.

Mishaps that effect collections range from “Rare with Catastrophic Consequences” (e.g. earthquake, tsunami) to “Common with Minimal Consequences” (e.g. short term power outages). Risk management begins with identifying risks and plotting them against probable impact. This will help focus direction and resource allocation.

A good disaster plan will be specific, yet flexible enough to accommodate unexpected events. The plan will include:

Emergency, insurance and recovery contacts with confirmed lines of communication, between staff and contacts
Personal safety protocol
Prepared emergency kits and artifact evacuation plans including specific handling and salvage guidelines according to the type of materials in your collection
Off-site storage locations and transport options

When damage occurs, a Disaster Plan will provide a road map for response and recovery.

Disaster Resources

Presentations

You don’t have to be a Conservator to love Conservation!

Conservation is a fascinating field and I love to share what we do. Artists, collectors, and the general public all have reasons to explore the wonderful world of conservation. Presentation services include:

Presentations and demonstrations
Private lessons on basic preservation and treatment methods
Research into client areas of interest

Below is a list of presentations given and articles written to date. Topics range from basic preservation to cutting-edge scientific developments. New topics are added regularly.

Professional Lectures and Demonstrations

2013. Iron in Paper Treatment Options: The Final Chapter, Pacific Conservation Group, Vancouver, BC
2012. “Conservation Treatments for Oscar Cahen’s Illustrations”, Cahen Colloquium, Vancouver, BC
2012. “Iron in Paper: overview of problems and treatment options” Pacific Conservation Group, Vancouver, BC
2010. “Treatment of a Salish Wooly Dog Blanket” Pacific Conservation Group, Victoria BC
2010. “Treatment of a Nuu-Chah-nulth Ceremonial Curtain” Pacific Conservation Group, Vancouver. B.C.
2008. “Conservation Framing: non-invasive attachment techniques” FCC Framer’s Choice, Vancouver, B.C.
2008. “Paper Conservation: recent treatments of the permanant collection”, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, B.C.
2007. “Quilt Conservation”, Boundary Bay Quilter’s Guild, Tsawwassen, B.C.
2004. “Paper Conservation”, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA
2003. “Mounting Textiles: Cross Fertilization of Methods Between Stitchers, Framers and Conservators”, Canadian Association for Conservation Annual Meeting, Victoria, B.C.
2002. “Washing Historic White Linens”, Heritage Fair, Vancouver, B.C.
2002. “Caring for and Washing Family Textiles”, Langley Centennial Museum, Langley, B.C.
2002. “Conservation for Artists” Ferry Arts Group, West Vancouver, B.C.
2002. “Early Shadbolts” Pacific Conservation Group, Vancouver, B.C.

2001. “Preserving Family Photographs”, Presentation House, North Vancouver, B.C.
2000. “Press Mount Treatment for Shattered Silk,” Pacific Conservation Group, Burnaby . B.C.
1999. “Dealing with Chine Collé” Pacific Conservation Group, Vancouver, B.C.
1998 “The Complete Restoration Of A Large Silk And Wool Family Crest” Pacific Conservation Group, Victoria, B.C.
1998. “Conservation for Framers” Accent Art, Vancouver, B.C.
1997. “In Praise of Japanese Scrolls: A Call To Conservation” Organized and Administered 8-Day Workshop, Vancouver, B.C.
1997. “Educating Your Eye” Art ’97, Canada Place, Vancouver, B.C.
1996. “Why Do I Need a Conservator and How Do I Find One?” Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, B.C.
1996. “Conservation for Framers” Robson Media Center, Vancouver, B.C.
1995. “Preserving Family Documents and Photographs” Jewish Genealogical Society, Vancouver, B.C.
1993. “Cleaning the World’s Biggest Textile” Pacific Conservation Group, Vancouver, B.C.
1992. “Quilt Conservation” Queen Street United Church, New Westminster, B.C.
1989. “Techniques in Paper Conservation” Dust to Dust: Conservation, The Artist and The Gallery Vancouver Museum, Vancouver, B.C.
1989. “Preventive Paper Conservation” “Dust to Dust: Conservation, The Artist and The Gallery”  Emily Carr College Of Art, Vancouver, B.C.
1988. “Basic Conservation for Archivists and Curators”  Association of B.C. Archivists, Kamloops Museum  Esquimault Municipal Archives
1988. “Textile Conservation: Basic Treatments, Preventive Conservation, Display and Storage”
1986. “Lecture delivered at the Institute of Paper Conservation” 10th Annual Conference, Oxford

“Textile Conservation: Basic Care, Treatment, Display and Storage” presented to the following groups from 1998 to the present.

Lower Mainland Embroiderers’ Association, Vancouver, B.C.
North Shore Needle Arts Society, North Vancouver, B.C.
Richmond Textile Arts Society, Richmond, B.C.
Capilano College, North Vancouver, B.C.
Doll Collector’s Society, Vancouver, B.C.
Peace Arch Spinners and Dyers Guild, Whiterock, B.C.
Langley Centennial Museum, Langley, B.C.

Fine Art Conservation

Welcome to Fine Art Conservation, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of art on paper, historic documents, and textiles.