Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: Business as usual? Updates on the Los Angeles Wildfires? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Rosa Lowinger Posted: Saturday January 18, 2025 10:48 AM Subject: RE: Business as usual? Updates on the Los Angeles Wildfires? Message: Thanks for reminding us of this, Pam! Most helpful. I also want to say one or two more things, related to the question of assistance... Please note that I am speaking only for myself here, not the LA conservation community as a whole, when I say that interest and response to questions is much appreciated, but honestly, it is most helpful to us on the ground if the Heritage Responders wait for there to be an ask from the local conservation community. People forget that LA has a vast deep talent pool of conservators with more experience in fire damage than the rest of the world put together. There may be a need for people to come in from other places to help, but I am seeing that the local community is doing just fine at responding to clients needs at the moment. I may be missing something, but thats how it seems right now. As a conservator with a practice in LA and Miami, where disasters abound, I find that it is helpful for the AIC community to assist with advice and information, but it is vastly better if local conservators and stewards of colleciton poses the ask to the Heritage Responders, rather than AIC driving what is needed. Have faith in those of us who work in regions with hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires. We know what we are doing, and also that AIC is out there to help. Again, this is just my personal opinion, and I am open to hearing a dissenting point of view from LA colleagues. Rosa Rosa Lowinger, F-AIC, FAPT, FAAR 09Founder/ Principal ConservatorRLA Conservation of Art + Architecture <http://www.rlaconservation.com> Miami Los Angeles 305.573.7011 323.377.8425Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/RLAConservation> | Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/rlaconservation/> | Website <https://rlaconservation.com/> New Yorker on Dwell Time <https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/11/06/the-woman-restoring-basquiats-forgotten-ferris-wheel> Kirkus Starred Review of Dwell Time <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rosa-lowinger/dwell-time/> This email message and any files attached are for the sole use of the intended recipient(s), are confidential and may contain privileged information from Rosa Lowinger & Associates. The information is intended solely for use by the individual(s) or entit(ies) named as the recipient hereof and is also covered by the electronic communications privacy act (18 USC Sections 2510-2521). Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email immediately and destroy copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 1/17/2025 8:16:00 AM From: Pamela Hatchfield Subject: RE: Business as usual? Updates on the Los Angeles Wildfires? Hello everyone, Thank you for this important discussion, Christian and Carolyn. There isn't much we can do to bring back what has been lost in this heartbreaking event, although we try to help and contribute where we can. As the Coordinator of the multi-year Held in Trust <https://www.culturalheritage.org/about-us/foundation/programs/held-in-trust> initiative that FAIC created with the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH), I want to remind the community that one of the first things recognized by that project was the dire impact the climate emergency would have on all of us and the collections we hold dear. So while we worked on characterizing the state of conservation and preservation in the U.S., we immediately set about developing Climate Resilience Resources for Cultural Heritage, which, thanks to the additional support and vision of the NEH, created a way for caretakers of cultural heritage to understand their climate risk, build support communities, and plan for the future. This includes a detailed, interactive mapping resource, among other useful tools. Those resources can be found here <https://www.resilience.culturalheritage.org/>. Our hearts go out to those that have lost much in LA, and in many other communities where climate disasters strike. With all best wishes, Pam ------------------------------ Pamela Hatchfield [she/her/hers] Head of Objects Conservation Emerita Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-16-2025 01:28 From: Christian Mueller-Straten Subject: Business as usual? Updates on the Los Angeles Wildfires? Hi, thank you Carolyn for your explaining and compassionate words, I appreciate them. Let me explain what I mean with my "business as usual". Of course, business goes on everywhere, in the US and else, and has to. And of course, conservators in LA are fighting for their lives and properties. And the shock is still profound. But this is not my topic. My topic is that this 9-11-like subject is apparently not treated in this forum by conservators outside LA... My topic is that this forum could be an excellent place to report on the fires with conclusion, for example by quoting excellent sources. Many people worldwide mistrust the so-called social media as sources of hate and fake news. Or, to organize help for the LA families. Normally, conservators are not treating natural desasters like wildfires. But this case is different. This wildfire has shown that firestorms may endanger cities, communities, even cultural institutions, libraries, museums etc. These institutions normally care against fire from inside sources, but we have learned from the LA wildfire that fire may endanger buildings also from the outside. This raises the question how to protect buildings from firestorms like these in general. There are many causes of this desaster. The area is special, there is the climate change, and it may have been a wet-and-dry year. But there are also lots of human causes which include aspects which can be analyzed and described. This forum could be a place to start discussion on human causes to prevent similar desasters in LA and elsewhere. One point could be future building restrictions with regard to combustible building structures, the rection of storm-breakers etc.etc. We have had similar desasters here in Germany (flood desasters) which destroyed whole areas along rivers. One of the main reasons had been that the local authorities allowed to build houses just in front of small rivers which may turn to gigantic streams overnight after torrential rain in distant areas. We should start discussing these topics, because prevention of catastrophes is a main subject for conservators. Best Christian ------------------------------ [Christian] [Mueller-Straten] [Researcher, Publisher, Art Historian] [Owner] [Verlag Dr. Christian Mueller-Straten] [Munich] [Germany] [0049-89-839 690 43] [https://www.museum-aktuell.de] https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO <https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO> ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 01-15-2025 11:56 From: Carolyn Riccardelli Subject: Business as usual? Updates on the Los Angeles Wildfires? Full disclosure that I'm not a conservator affected by the Los Angeles fires, but thought I would chime in to respond. Because the city is in an active state of emergency, with fires still spreading in multiple locations, I'm sure the conservation community (and all Angelenos) are managing their personal lives, trying to stay out of harm's way, and caring for themselves and their loved ones. Some of them have lost all of their possessions and are facing starting over from scratch. It will be some time before the recovery of cultural heritage will be addressed, but the time will come. I have been following many informative updates from various institutions and members of the conservation community on social media platforms, which is probably the best place to gather up-to-the minute information. When the active event passes into response and recovery phases, I'm sure we'll hear more from our colleagues. For now, I'm wishing everyone in the Los Angeles region safety and strength in the coming days and weeks. ------------------------------ Carolyn Riccardelli Conservator Objects Conservation 212 396 5498 The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028 @metmuseum metmuseum.org Original Message: Sent: 01-14-2025 13:45 From: Christian Mueller-Straten Subject: Business as usual? Updates on the Los Angeles Wildfires? Dear all, Somehow I miss the voices of the restorers on the LA Wildfires in this forum. Christian ------------------------------ [Christian] [Mueller-Straten] [Researcher, Publisher, Art Historian] [Owner] [Verlag Dr. Christian Mueller-Straten] [Munich] [Germany] [0049-89-839 690 43] [https://www.museum-aktuell.de] https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO <https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO> ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
