Care of Plastics In Art & Design collections [email protected] 07974985849...
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Transcript of Care of Plastics In Art & Design collections [email protected] 07974985849...
Scope
• Artists’ plastics• Care principles - a stable environment• Identification – prioritise problem plastics • Signs and Causes of Deterioration • Preparation, handling, storage and display• Labelling• Cleaning• Other options
–
Artists’Plastics
• Paints• Acrylics, PVA – poly
vinyl acetate
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – Glass Reinforced Plastic
Philip KingTra-La-La 19632743 x 762 x 762 mm
–
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic
• Polyester resin
Arman
Venus of the shaving brushes c.1968
–
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic
• Polyester resin• Silicone resins
Ron Mueck Ghost 1998Fibreglass, silicone, polyurethane foam, acrylic fibre and fabric2019 x 648 x 991 mm
–
– Naum Gabo Linear construction in space no2 1970 h.1150mm
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic
• Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic
•
–
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic
• Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found
objects & readymades
Bruce Lacey The Womaniser 1966Mixed media 1500 x 1650 x 730 mm
–
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic
• Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found
objects & readymades• Cellulosics –cellulose
nitrate and acetate
•
Naum Gabo, Column 1920 h.144mm
–
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic • Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found objects &
readymades• Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate
and acetate• Photographic, new media,
videos, tapes and disks
Scrap heap services
Artists’Plastics
• Paints -acrylic, polyvinyl acetate
• GRP – glass reinforced plastic • Polyester resin• Silicone resins • PMMA - Acrylic• Mixed media, found objects &
readymades• Cellulosics –cellulose nitrate
and acetate• Photographic, new media,
videos, tapes and disks• Polymer clay
Thomas Schutte from United Enemies 1993 h.350mm
Carol BlackburnPolymer clay bowls 2007
each 45 x 75mm diam
Care principles
• Prevention• Damage is irreversible.• Create a dark, cool, clean, dry• and stable environment
Care principles
• Prevention• Damage is irreversible, create a stable environment
• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?
• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s intent?
Care principles
• Prevention• Damage is irreversible, create a stable environment
• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on,
accommodate artist’s intent?
• Continuity - establish good practice• Maximise access, minimise handling
Care principles
• Prevention – damage is irreversible
• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on,
accommodate artist’s intent?
• Continuity - establish good practice• Maximise access, minimise handling
• Identify, document, record and monitor Survey, Photography, avoid hot lights. Annual check of ‘at risk’ works
Care principles
• Prevention – damage is irreversible• Purpose – what are we trying to achieve?• Mission policy, display, reference, hands on, accommodate artist’s
intent? • Continuity - establish good practice• Maximise access, minimise handling
• Identify, document, record and monitor• Survey, Photography, avoid hot lights. Annual check of ‘at risk’
works
• Any plan is better than none
Prioritise the problem plastics
• Identify:– Cellulose acetate– Cellulose nitrate (celluloid)– Plasticised PVC– Polyurethane polyester foams
• Isolate
• Ventilate
• Monitor
Signs of Deterioration• Odour – acidic, camphor (CN)• Change: colour -yellowing, bleaching
shape –distortion, sagging, sweating – oily spots
bloom – white powdercracks, splits (CAc) and crazing(CN)
• Corrosion of metal parts• Discolouration of packing materials• Increased brittleness, crumbling of foam• Onset is unpredictable and rapid• Occurs at stress points and handled areas• Unstable environments cause stress
Gabo Construction in Space (Crystal)1937: Details of condition in 2007
Causes of deterioration
• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress
Causes of deterioration
• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress
• Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants
Causes of deterioration
• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress
• Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants
• Mechanical damage – handling, transport & housekeeping. Wear gloves
Causes of deterioration
• Inherent vice –material, manufacture, history, shape, stress
• Unstable environment -excess light, temperature swings, changes in relative humidity, pollutants
• Mechanical damage – handling, transport & housekeeping. Wear gloves
• Cleaning and misconceived repairs
Light damage
• Cumulative and irreversible
• Affects both the plastic and pigments
• Control light in storage and on display
• UV component in light is most damaging
• Use UV filters on windows and lights
Storage
• Stable conditions at all times
• Clean & dry
• Cool & dark
• Minimise handling
• labels
Storage
• Use: ‘archival’ quality material– Avoid contact with wood, metals, dust and
other ‘objects’– Acid free paper– Silicone release paper– Polyester wadding– Polypropylene containers– Plastazote (closed cell polyethylene foams)
Storage – Problem Plastics
• Isolate and separate ‘at risk’ from ‘deteriorating’ objects
• Use:– Acid free paper– Silicone release paper– Polyester wadding– Ventilated polypropylene containers
• Scavengers for acidic gases– Charcoal cloth and zeolites– Artsorb board
Gabo –cellulose acetate storage with plastazote & charcoal cloth in ventilated polypropylene bin
Storage – Problem Plastics
• Check vulnerable ‘at risk’ items at least once a year, preferably more often.
• Use smell and dampened indicator strip to confirm acidic off-gassing.
Construction in Space ‘Two Cones’ (c.1968)
Photo taken 1978
Construction in Space ‘Two Cones’ (c.1968)
Display –Problem Plastics
• Low light - less than 100 lux
• Ventilated plinth covers
• Allow at least 72 hours for plinth paint to dry before covering
Labelling
• Avoid solvent based inks, paints and isolating layers.
• Avoid adhesive tapes
• Avoid rubber bands
• Use tie on labels with cotton tape
• Use soft pencil (inside objects)
Cleaning• To remove dust and contaminants• Cleaning causes damage – both mechanical and
chemical• Decide on a balance between appearance and
risk of damage • Avoid solvents, eg alcohols, acetone, cellulose
thinners, cleaning fluids• Use soft dry lint free cloths, eg microfibre • For stubborn marks only, use water to dampen
cloth and dry immediately
Other plastic formats
• Fabrics – costumes and accessories - provide supports, isolate PVC’s
• Photograhic – archival quality storage materials
• New media: videos, tapes, disks – a management policy is essential for maintenance and migration.
UK conservation supplies
• Conservation by Design www.conservation-by-design.co.uk
• Preservation equipment www.preservationequipment.com
• To find a conservator- www.conservationregister.com
• Book- ‘Plastics, collecting and conserving’ Quye & Williamson
• Article -Scott Williams – Care of Plastics; Malignant Plastics – 8 pages –google it or…
• http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/wn/wn24/wn24-1/wn24-102.html
Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record
Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record
• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions
Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record
• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions
• Avoid light
Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record
• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions
• Avoid light
• Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,
Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record
• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions
• Avoid light
• Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,
• Monitor
Care Summary• Know what you’ve got – survey & record
• Keep in clean, cool, dry stable conditions
• Avoid light
• Isolate CN, CAc, PVC’s,
• Monitor
• Keep on collecting and researching
Jim Lambie Tate Britain 2001
3D Documentation of Plastic Sculptures by Naum Gaboin Tate’s Collection
A Project Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Tate version
Gabo Construction on a Line (1937-8)
Undated photo c.1940’s
Original Replica
Original Replica
Original Replica
Construction on a line(c. 1935 – 7 )
Naum Gabo.
Richard Artschwager Table and Chair 1963-4Melamine laminate and woodobject: 755 x 1320 x 952 mm object: 1143 x 438 x 533 mm
Spiral Theme (c. 1941)
Construction in Space ‘Crystal’ (c. 1937)
The two sculptures chosen forour pilot study
Spiral Theme 1941: Photo taken in 2007
Laser scanning ‘Construction in Space “Crystal”
‘Construction in Space “Crystal” (Model coloured to show different component parts)
Data from Plowman Craven
Photogrammetry
Lines drawn from different camera position to targets on the object
A1
A2
A3
Taking measurements in 3D space from photogrammetric images
Use of the touch probe
Construction in Space “Crystal”: Showing warping of form