The association RESTAURATORI SENZA FRONTIERE - ITALIA (RESTORERS WITHOUT BORDERS - ITALY) is a very young Association, founded in 2013 by a group of very experienced professionals in conservation, acting since decades in the field of cultural heritage, even in emergency circumstances. Many of them have been working in many countries also before the constitution of RSF and are currently continuing to operate for that scope: the emergency mobilization of cultural heritage professionals, in order to protect artistic and cultural heritage, nationally in Italy, and internationally, in times of crisis.
Our associated conservators have worked to mitigate the damages in the most serious natural disasters in Italy, in Bosnia, in Mostar immediately after the war, and finally in Angola. RSF have developed intervention systems, methodologies and materials designed specifically for emergency conditions. Our work after the devastating earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, in 2009, will be discussed as an example of the types of systems and methodologies that can be implemented. The interventions adopted in L'Aquila can be divided into two types. The first one concerned the recovery of movable works of art, which required special attention because the items were leaving for the first time their place of origin. The authorities at L'Aquila arranged the transfer of approximately 8,000 works of art. The second type of intervention was related to the safety of buildings. This operation, which required the entering of restorers inside the damaged buildings, was often highly dangerous for the rescue units. For this reason special equipment was built and methodologies were created and put in place for the protection of the operators. The buildings were chosen according to their historical importance or because of the need to secure areas that were needed to be used for the transit of the rescue units. 1,800 surveys were performed on the architectural heritage of L'Aquila. The interventions in the area of L'Aquila lasted about a year. Despite the experience gained in Abruzzo as in previous occasions of extraordinary emergency, we are aware that we still have limited knowledge in the management of disasters. This type of educational training, unfortunately, is completely missing in the formative world of restoration. Here we would like to illustrate our proposal for the creation of an international task force, which will work to develop a unique protocol, to intervene in emergencies on artistic heritage sadly subject to acts of terrorism, as the recent history has often shown us.
Join us in the exhibit hall for presentations on and demonstrations of conservation products and services! Read on below for a listing of demonstration topics:
Applied Surface Technologies: CO2 Snow Cleaning of art objects
We demonstrate CO2 Snow Cleaning to cleaning and restoring art. This precision cleaning process removes particles of all sizes and hydrocarbon based residues. We will demonstrate the K1-10-Art-1 unit, which uses heated compressed air about the CO2 snow stream, for cleaning clean different forms of art.
Bruker Corporation:
Bruker’s LUMOS FT-IR: Quick and Easy Infrared Microanalysis of Art Objects
Bruker will demonstrate the LUMOS – a fully integrated FT-IR Microscopy for micro-analysis and chemical mapping using transmission, reflection and ATR modes.
More than Just Elements: Layer Thickness and Bruker XRF
XRF is widely used for elemental analysis, but it can also be used to evaluate the layering in an object. We will discuss the principles and limitations of this approach along with an example of how a layered object can be identified in the spectrum.
Analysis of Historical Paintings
Micro XRF is a non-destructive analysis technique for full area elemental mapping of paintings for composition and depth profiling. See specific examples of this technique in action.
Demonstrations will occur every 15 minutes.
ClickNetherfield: RENEWVITRINE
Operations Director Alistair Williams will be giving a product demonstration of our new product RENEWVITRINE. He will be examining the issue of glass hazing that can form on inside surfaces of glass in museum showcases. He will be demonstrating how RENEWVITRINE can work to inhibit haze and prolong the useful life of a showcase.
Demonstrations will take place at the following times: 12:05-12:30, 12:35-1, 1:05-1:30, 1:35-2.
Dorfman Museum Figures: ADJUST your thinking: Working with a DORFMAN Conservation Form
See how to work with a Classic adjustable Dorfman Conservation Form. We will take apart a chest block, adjust it, and put it back together.
Demonstrations will take place every 30 minutes.
G.C. Laser Systems, Inc.:Laser systems for conservation built by conservators
We are pleased to present the cutting edge GC-1 laser cleaning system and explain the unique features that make this patent pending technology a game changer for conservation. We will also show project examples where this technology was used in projects by the Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio Inc.. Come see if this conservation tool is right for your projects.
Kremer Pigments: Watercolor-making demo by Roger Carmona at Booth 413
Learn the different techniques of mulling watercolor paints. Understand the differences of pigment personalities with this ancient binder. Alternative binders to gum arabic will be discussed.
Demonstrations will be 30 minutes at 12, 12:30, 1, 1:30, and 2.
Newco, Inc.:Digital Radiography- What's the difference?
Chris Watters from Newco, Inc. demonstrates the latest in digital radiography and discusses technical considerations between detector technologies. Current practices in the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) industry and how they relate to the conservation field will also be discussed.
Demonstrations will take place every 30 minutes.
nSynergies, Inc.: pXRF Mapping: Chemistry in Context of Visual Features
A half-hour presentation will be offered at 12:00, 12:45, and 1:30 on Monday afternoon at the nSynergies/XGLab booth #119. The presentation’s underlying theme is the importance of seeing what and where you are analyzing with portable XRF. The introduction will show the power of ELIO’s 1 mm spot size and laser focusing technology. The bulk of the presentation will be devoted to portable and affordable XRF mapping. Mapping puts chemistry in context of visual features of the art object. Seeing the relationships between elemental distributions and visual features can reveal a far more complete and convincing story than spectra from point analyses.
Demonstrations will be offered from 12-12:30, 12:45-1:15, and 1:30-2.
Pixelteq: Multispectral Imaging for Cultural Heritage
PIXELTEQ will be demonstrating its flexible and portable multispectral imaging system. The system will be showing how one can take accurate color images using 8 parallel, narrow-band filters covering not only the visible band but also the near-infrared region to ‘see’ features otherwise missed with a regular color camera. The SpectroCam™ family of cameras covers from UV to SWIR (200nm – 1700nm).
Demonstrations will occur every 15 minutes.
SIT Grupo Empresarial S.L.: Microclimated Frames
A preventive conservation system improved in the European Conservation Research Projects PROPAINT & MEMORI. New generation of passive microclimated containers for artworks with control of air quality and environmental parameters.
Demonstrations will occur every 15 minutes.
Zarbeco:New MiScope Megapixel Extended Field for non-contact imaging
We will demonstrate our new MiScope Megapixel Extended Field digital microscope which has non-contact imaging. It can be used with a tripod adapter, or other stand for conservators to see less than 2 microns.
Demonstrations will take place every 10 minutes.
Zone Display Cases: Oxygen-Free casework made accessible!
Zone Display Cases will be presenting our new anoxic display case model, to be used for both storage and exhibition of your most sensitive archival documents. See this maintenance-free, argon gas-filled/oxygen-free case at our booth # 316. Zone Display Cases are designed to Present, Preserve, and Protect your collection.
Posters on a range of conservation topics are on view in the Exhibit Hall -- join us for the Author in Attendance session! Take the opportunity to ask the authors questions about their work and learn more about a variety of topics in conservation. Download the PDF file below to read all poster abstracts. See below for a full listing of authors:
01. Testing a Model for Multi-Faceted Engagement and Maximized Efficiency for Collection Response Under Restricted Time Nancy Odegaard, Conservator Professor, Arizona State Museum - University of Arizona, Marilen Pool, Project Conservator, Arizona State Museum - University of Arizona, Christina Biscula / Gina Watkinson, Conservation Scientist / Laboratory Coordinator, Arizona State Museum - University of Arizona, Elizabeth Burr, 3rd Year Graduate Conservation Intern (UCLA), Arizona State Museum - University of Arizona, Nicole Peters, 3rd Year Conservation, Arizona State Museum - University of Arizona
02. Weathering the Unexpected: Lessons Learned in Keeping Seminole Cultural Property Safe Marlene Gray, Conservator, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum
05. Collaborations for Safety: A Team Approach to Writing Emergency Procedures Plans Karen Nourse Reed, Assistant Professor and Education Librarian, Middle Tennessee State University
06. Updating our Emergency Plan at Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute Fiona Hernandez, Conservator, Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute, Harold Bosum, Facilities Manager, Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute
07. Elements of 9/11 in Focus Fenella France, Chief, Preservation Research and Testing Division, Library of Congress
08. Fools Rush In: Creating a Disaster Salvage Lab Elizabeth Stone, Assistant Conservator, University of Iowa Libraries, Caitlin Moore, Conservation Technician, Olin Library Cornell University
09. Collaboration as Preparation: Keeping Interest and Commitment to the Cycle of Disaster Preparedness Elizabeth DeBold, Curatorial Assistant, Folger Shakespeare Library, Renate Mesmer, Eric Weinmann Head of Conservation, Folger Shakespeare Library, Heather Wolfe, Curator of Manuscripts, Folger Shakespeare Library
10. Aden’s Ancient Cisterns: Historic Preservation, Water Management and Disaster Avoidance Edith A. Dunn, PhD, Conservator/Historic Preservation Specialist
11. Response to the Burning of the Scientific Library in Cairo, Egypt Cheryl Porter, Director, Montefiascone Project
12. Salvage Course Integrated into the Training for Conservators at the University of Applied Arts HeArc Neuchâtel, Switzerland Nathalie Ducatel, Coordinatrice de la formation continue / Continuing Education Coordinator, Haute école de Conservation-restauration Arc, Eléonore Kissel, Responsable du pôle Conservation et Restauration, Musée du quai Branly, Karin von Lerber, Textile Conservator and Consultant in Preventive Conservation, Prevart GmbH
13. Preventive Conservation for Seismic Risk Randy Silverman, Head of Preservation, University of Utah Marriott Library
14. Biohazard Abatement: National Cathedral Vandalism William B. Adair, Lead Conservator, Gold Leaf Studios, Inc.
15. The Identification of Natural Indian Yellow and other Historic Late 19th Century Pigments from the Toulouse-Lautrec Estate in France Aaron N. Shugar, Andrew W. Mellon Associate Professor of Conservation Science, Buffalo State, SUNY, Rebecca Ploeger, Assistant Professor of Conservation Science, Buffalo State, SUNY
16. Investigating the Story Beneath: The Examination and Treatment of Charles Baugniet’s “Washington’s Birthday” Erica Schuler, Samuel H. Kress Fellow in Paintings Conservation, Indianapolis Museum of Art
17. Chromolithography 1870-1930: The identification of commercial colour lithography processes, ink modifications and conservation treatment Erin Walker, Assistant Paper Conservator, Tate
18. Technical Investigation and Reattribution of Tintoretto’s Apollo and the Muses at the Indianapolis Museum of Art Fiona Beckett, Clowes Conservator of Paintings, Indianapolis Museum of Art
19. Determination of Binding Media in Easel Paintings: A Direct Analysis Method Henry DePhillips, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, Department of Chemistry, Trinity College, Jacqueline Busa, Student, Department of Chemistry, Trinity College
20. Solvent Sensitivity of Water-Mixable Oil Paints Kelsey Fox, Graduate Student, Queen’s University Department of Art History and Art Conservation
21. Technical Analysis of Watercolor Pigments in Early American Fraktur Kesha Talbert, Assistant Paper Conservator, Etherington Conservation Services
22. Rescue of a Decorative Element of High Symbolic Value in the Old Convento Santa Teresa de Jesús Lisette Alvarez, Restorer and Conservator of Fine Arts, Monuments Restoration Company, City Historian’s Office, Luis Alberto Hernández Armas, Assistant Professor, practice of restoration of polychrome, Workshop School “Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos,” Historian City Office
23. Re-examination of “While Baby Sleeps” Makedonka Gulcev, Graduate Student, Art Conservation, Queen’s University, Alicia Boutilier, Curator of Canadian Historical Art, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen’s University, Ron Spronk, Professor of Art History, Art History Department, Queen’s University, Alison Murray, Associate Professor, Art Conservation, Queen’s University
24. What Happened? One Woman with Two Faces Ting-fu Fan, Chief Conservator, San Jian Art & Conservation Co., Ltd., Yi-Chiung Lin, San Jian Art & Conservation Co., Ltd.
25. Graphics Atlas: New Process Identification Methodology Alice Carver-Kubik, Photographic Research Scientist, Image Permanence Institute
26. Comparison of Commercial Light and UV Data Loggers Anisha Gupta, Graduate Fellow, Winterthur/University of Delaware and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
27. Analysis of Rock Deterioration in Naqsh-e Rostam Reliefs by GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Azadeh Ghobadi, PhD Candidate in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Art University of Isfahan, Mohammad Amin Emami, Assistant Prof., Art University of Isfahan, Jenoos Gashasy, Rs/GIS expert
28. Microorganisms Influence the Mechanisms of the Rock Erosion at Tang-e Chogan Azadeh Ghobadi, PhD Candidate in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Art University of Isfahan, Mohammad Amin Emami, Assistant Prof., Art University of Isfahan
29. ABC Chemical Cleaning Effectiveness on Cultural Materials Clare Boczon, Research Assistant, William and Mary Applied Science, Emily Williams, Conservator of Archaeological Materials, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Michael Kelley, Professor, College of William and Mary Applied Science
30. Examining Paintings on Wood or Canvas using 3D x-ray Imaging with Digitome® Daniel Boye, Professor of Physics, Davidson College, Rebecca Garner, BS in Physics candidate, Davidson College, Ryan Kozlowski, BS in Physics candidate, Davidson College
32. Capturing Watermark using Reflectance Transform Imaging with 3D Modeling and Fast Fourier Transform Processing Kurt Heumiller, Senior Imaging Systems Specialist, Yale Center for British Art, Jens Stenger, Associate Conservation Scientist, Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage at Yale University, Soyeon Choi, Head Paper Conservator, Yale Center for British Art, Chelsea Graham, Digital Imaging Specialist, Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage at Yale University
33. The Adaptation of the Video Slider into a ‘Microscope Bridge’ as a Practical Alternative for Using a Stereomicroscope to Examine and Treat Oversize Flat Artifacts Seth Irwin, Paper Conservator, University of Hawaii Hamilton Library
34. Discoveries and Challenges - Using XRF for an Inorganic Pesticide Contamination Survey at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum Timothy Greening, Conservation Assistant, Royal Saskatchewan Museum
35. A Presidential Frame Treatment: Monroe’s Lafayette Elizabeth Robson, Furniture Lab Conservation Intern, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
36. What’s the Worst That Can Happen? Accelerated Testing of Conserved Waterlogged Wood Karen Martindale, Conservator, Texas A&M University Conservation Research Laboratory
37. The Secret Language of Spray Paint Valerie Marlowe, Doctoral Candidate, University of Delaware
38. 11th Hour Conservation: Salvaging the Historic Surf Club Bryon Roesselet, Architectural Conservator, EverGreene Architectural Arts
39. Conservation of the Archaeological Site of Kotzia Square in the Center of Athens Vasileios Lampropoulos, Professor, Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, faculty of Graphic Arts and Artistic Studies of T.E.I. of Athens
40. Conservation of Zappeion Roman Baths in the Center of Athens Vasileios Lampropoulos, Professor, Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, faculty of Graphic Arts and Artistic Studies of T.E.I. of Athens
41. The Sectional Mannequin: A Unique Approach for First Nations Clothing Caroline Bourgeois, Conservation 3-D Assistant, McCord Museum
42. First Aid Strategies of Rare Ancient Egyptian Textiles in Excavation Harby E. Ahmed, Associate Professor of Historical Textiles Conservation, Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University
43. Sending Clam Shells across the Atlantic: Preparing the Alexander McQuee