The Old Problem of New Media: the archivist in the laboratory
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In this preservation survey we studied, isolated, and treated issues surrounding the prevalent use of porous-pointed pens (or markers) in graffiti sketchbooks in the Martin Wong Papers. Through this survey, we aimed to find solutions to a problem known as color transfer, which complicates long-term housing and preservation efforts. From this survey, we also introduced and contextualized a new genre of material - the blackbook, a.k.a. the sketchbook - to both archi- vists and conservators. Because of this study, we have a better understanding of why Martin Wong collected these blackbooks as well as how to treat them. Very little is known about the causes of color transfer or how to stabilize the inks used in po- rous-pointed pens manufactured in the late 20th century. Color transferred to interleaving paper within the span of this six week survey (see Fig. 3). The unpredictable behavior of the solvents and the chemicals in the dyes and inks pose the biggest problem. Prioritizing the preservation of items in collections that contain this medium bring the conservator and the archivist to a common ground on which to build a knowledge base for the care of late 20th century archival collection. THE OLD PROBLEM OF NEW MEDIA ABSTRACT METHOD RECOMMENDATIONS • Monitor interleaving and change often; use for studying color transfer. • Keep media from fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and long-term exposure to light. • Digitize after accessioning to capture creation and monitor true color. Further studies could be done to monitor color saturation and changes over time with enhanced digital readings. • Use phase boxes to further protect from fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The Martin Wong Papers, are housed at Fales Library and Special Collections at NYU. Martin Wong, born July 11, 1946 in Portland, OR, was raised by his Chinese American parents in San Francisco. Wong was involved in performance art in the seventies, but focused near exclusively on painting after moving to New York in the early 1980s. Martin Wong is best remembered for his paitings of gritty cityscapes, including New York’s Chinatown and Lower East Side, and for championing graffiti as an evocateve and legitimate art form in the 80s and 90s (see finding aid at http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/fales/wong.html). THE ARCHIVIST IN THE LABORATORY jennifer waxman : m.a. history/advanced certificate in archival studies : nyu supervised by Laura McCann, Conservation Librarian, Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department, NYU and Peter Wosh, Director of Archives and Public History Program, NYU NOTE: In this survey, “media” refers to the medium un- der consideration - porous-point- ed pens, a.k.a. felt-tipped mark- ers such as Marks-a-Lot, Sharpie, and Prismacolor. Color transfer, the movement of a dye-based medium through adjacent surfaces possibly due to solvent carriers found in the medium, is a ma- jor problem and threat to the integrity of the drawing and any absorbent material near it. (see Fig. 2). 21 out of 28 blackbooks showed color transfer. Colors that transfered the most were peach, black, and purple. Figure 5. Example of interleaving with note regarding placement of paper. Figure 4. Screen shot of Access database entry for the third blackbook in Figure 1. Figure 2. Example of color transfer. Figure 1. Various blackbooks found in Martin Wong Papers. Blackbooks were used by graffitti writers like artists used sketchbooks. Figure 6. Blackbook on display in exhibition at Fales Library and Spe- cial Collections, NYU Figure 7. Example of a phase box. • Research graffiti writing techniques and point of creation; conduct interviews with creators. • Research studies on porous-pointed pen construction / manufacture and contact conservator studying porous-pointed pens. • Perform condition survey; record findings in database. • Interleave with custom-cut, unbuffered Phototext paper by Archivart. • Make phase boxes. • Spread the word about color transfer and porous-pointed pens. Figure 3. Detail of color transfer occurrence during survey.
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Transcript of The Old Problem of New Media: the archivist in the laboratory
In this preservation survey we studied, isolated, and treated issues surrounding the prevalent use of porous-pointed pens (or markers) in graffiti sketchbooks in the Martin Wong Papers. Through this survey, we aimed to find solutions to a problem known as color transfer, which complicates long-term housing and preservation efforts. From this survey, we also introduced and contextualized a new genre of material - the blackbook, a.k.a. the sketchbook - to both archi-vists and conservators. Because of this study, we have a better understanding of why Martin Wong collected these blackbooks as well as how to treat them.
Very little is known about the causes of color transfer or how to stabilize the inks used in po-rous-pointed pens manufactured in the late 20th century. Color transferred to interleaving paper within the span of this six week survey (see Fig. 3). The unpredictable behavior of the solvents and the chemicals in the dyes and inks pose the biggest problem. Prioritizing the preservation of items in collections that contain this medium bring the conservator and the archivist to a common ground on which to build a knowledge base for the care of late 20th century archival collection.
THE OLD PROBLEM OF NEW MEDIA
ABSTRACT
METHOD
RECOMMENDATIONS • Monitor interleaving and change often; use for studying color transfer.
• Keep media from fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and long-term exposure to light.
• Digitize after accessioning to capture creation and monitor true color. Further studies could be done to monitor color saturation and changes over time with enhanced digital readings.
• Use phase boxes to further protect from fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
The Martin Wong Papers, are housed at Fales Library and Special Collections at NYU. Martin Wong, born July 11, 1946 in Portland, OR, was raised by his Chinese American parents in San Francisco. Wong was involved in performance art in the seventies, but focused near exclusively on painting after moving to New York in the early 1980s. Martin Wong is best remembered for his paitings of gritty cityscapes, including New York’s Chinatown and Lower East Side, and for championing graffiti as an evocateve and legitimate art form in the 80s and 90s (see finding aid at http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/fales/wong.html).
THE ARCHIVIST IN THE LABORATORYjennifer waxman : m.a. history/advanced certificate in archival studies : nyusupervised by Laura McCann, Conservation Librarian, Barbara Goldsmith Preservation and Conservation Department, NYUand Peter Wosh, Director of Archives and Public History Program, NYU
NOTE: In this survey, “media” refers to the medium un-der consideration - porous-point-ed pens, a.k.a. felt-tipped mark-ers such as Marks-a-Lot, Sharpie, and Prismacolor.
Color transfer, the movement of a dye-based medium through adjacent surfaces possibly due to solvent carriers found in the medium, is a ma-jor problem and threat to the integrity of the drawing and any absorbent material near it. (see Fig. 2). 21 out of 28 blackbooks showed color transfer. Colors that transfered the most were peach, black, and purple.
Figure 5. Example of interleaving with note regarding placement of paper.
Figure 4. Screen shot of Access database entry for the third blackbookin Figure 1.
Figure 2. Example of color transfer.
Figure 1. Various blackbooks found in Martin Wong Papers. Blackbooks were used by graffitti writers like artists used sketchbooks.
Figure 6. Blackbook on display in exhibition at Fales Library and Spe-cial Collections, NYU
Figure 7. Example of a phase box.
• Research graffiti writing techniques and point of creation; conduct interviews with creators.
• Research studies on porous-pointed pen construction / manufacture and contact conservator studying porous-pointed pens.
• Perform condition survey; record findings in database.
• Interleave with custom-cut, unbuffered Phototext paper by Archivart.
• Make phase boxes.
• Spread the word about color transfer and porous-pointed pens.
Figure 3. Detail of color transfer occurrence during survey.
