Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites 2. RE: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites 3. RE: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites 4. Job Posting: Public Art Conservation Student, City of Calgary, Canada 5. RE: Thank you 6. Extended Deadline: International Museum Conference on Climate Change with the University of Applied Arts Vienna 7. Request for advice: external reflection FTIR spectroscopy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Lora Angelova Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 12:25 PM Subject: RE: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites Message: Hi Christopher, You may have seen this already, but this research group just published a review of these types of coatings for heritage applications: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.06.014 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2024.06.014> My colleagues and I are just about to publish a paper on the use of intumescent coatings on a series of wooden sculptures from the 1970s. In this case, we do see degradation in the form of powdery efflorescence, blistering and cracking of the paints. This is due to the large amount of water-soluble additives that make intumescent paints functional and resistant against fire. Over many years, and especially in conditions with increased RH, these components seem to have leached out of the paints. However, I don't have experience with the modern coatings, which may be (indeed are probably) more durable. ------------------------------ Lora Angelova, PhD, FIIC Heritage Science Researcher and Consultant Berlin Germany ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-29-2025 08:35 From: Christopher Weeks Subject: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites Our friendly neighbourhood Fire Officer has instructed us to apply intumescent fire retardant base varnish to wood composite structures we are planning for an exhibition. Does anyone have any experience of these products? Are some (even) worse than others? ------------------------------ Christopher Weeks Collections Care and Conservation Manager Manx Museum Douglas United Kingdom Manx Museum ------------------------------ 2.From: George Schwartz Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 12:25 PM Subject: RE: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites Message: You may want to ask if they would approve coating the wood with a couple of coats of sodium silicate (water glass) which is a terrific fire retardant and inexpensive. Good luck george ------------------------------ George Schwartz Principal, Senior Conservator ConservArt, Inc. Boca Raton FL [email protected] Chair CIPP 2011-2013 Conservators in Private Practice ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-29-2025 08:35 From: Christopher Weeks Subject: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites Our friendly neighbourhood Fire Officer has instructed us to apply intumescent fire retardant base varnish to wood composite structures we are planning for an exhibition. Does anyone have any experience of these products? Are some (even) worse than others? ------------------------------ Christopher Weeks Collections Care and Conservation Manager Manx Museum Douglas United Kingdom Manx Museum ------------------------------ 3.From: Alex Lim Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 12:25 PM Subject: RE: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites Message: I would be very interested to know more about this product. In particular, has anyone come up with ways to remove the intumescent coating without harm/discoloration to the substrate structure/art? -- Alex B. Lim ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 1/29/2025 8:36:00 AM From: Christopher Weeks Subject: Fire retardant coatings for wood composites Our friendly neighbourhood Fire Officer has instructed us to apply intumescent fire retardant base varnish to wood composite structures we are planning for an exhibition. Does anyone have any experience of these products? Are some (even) worse than others? ------------------------------ Christopher Weeks Collections Care and Conservation Manager Manx Museum Douglas United Kingdom Manx Museum ------------------------------ 4.From: Camille Lafrance Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 12:25 PM Subject: Job Posting: Public Art Conservation Student, City of Calgary, Canada Message: The City of Calgary is looking for a Conservation Student to join the Public Art team during the summer 2025. This is a paid opportunity for students enrolled in a graduate degree in Art Conservation, preferably specializing in objects and sculpture, or other relevant academic programs. Applications must be submitted before February 10, 2025. How to Apply <https://recruiting.calgary.ca/psc/hcm/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant&Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=311188&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=1> As a summer student, you will be given meaningful, productive and challenging assignments while being introduced to a career in municipal government. You will support the Public Art Conservator and Associate Conservator in the conservation and maintenance of the outdoor public art collection. Work will be primarily on-site at artworks located throughout the City. Primary duties include: Provide conservation treatment support for the public art conservation and maintenance work scheduled for the summer months. Support conservation documentation, including the writing of condition reports, graffiti/vandalism reports, and treatment reports. Use conservation documentation software to complete reports, process documentation images, and upload documentation to the art collection database. Carry out conservation and materials research as required to support conservation treatment work. Qualifications Enrolled in a graduate degree in Art Conservation, preferably specializing in objects and sculpture. Working at Heights Certification is required (could be completed during first few weeks of employment if not attained previously) WHIMIS Certification is required. Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Experience working with gallery or museum collection management systems is an asset. Experience working with outdoor sculpture is an asset. A Valid class 5 Driver's License (or provincial equivalent) and the use of personal vehicle. First Aid training is an asset. Critical thinking to support conservation decision-making. Strong work ethic and genuine interest in working with outdoor sculpture, as conservation of outdoor sculpture can be physically taxing. Strong communication skills to promote safe site-work. Strong conservation writing and documentation skills, with ability to be succinct and expeditious to keep up with summer maintenance workloads. Pre-Employment Requirements Must be currently enrolled in school on a full-time basis with the intent to return to school full-time in the Fall of 2025. A security clearance will be conducted. If invited to an interview, you will be asked to provide an unofficial transcript or an enrollment verification letter (indicating the program and year you are currently completing). Position Type: 1 Temporary Student (May - August) Location: 2105 Cliff Street SW Compensation: $28.88 per hour (2025 Rates) Days of Work: This position works a 5 day work week with 1 day off in a 3 week cycle. Hours of work: Standard 35 hour work week Audience: Internal/External Apply By: February 10, 2025 ------------------------------ Camille Lafrance Public Art Associate Conservator City of Calgary Public Art Program Calgary, Canada ------------------------------ 5.From: Tony Sigel Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 2:29 PM Subject: RE: Thank you Message: I'm happy for you Jamie! I remember your generosity sharing with me your innovative sample-mounting methods way back in 1993. You've had an outstanding, interesting, and challenging career. A memoir is essential! Being able to return to your roots as a painter must be a thrill. Enjoy it! All best wishes, Tony ------------------------------ Tony Sigel Conservator of Objects and Sculpture Freelance/Private Practice/Self-employed/Independent Somerville MA (617) 767-1900 ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 01-28-2025 08:22 From: James Martin Subject: Thank you Dear All, I found a home in conservation, a place to plant and grow my mind and a place to and use my eye and hand skills to preserve what others had created, while in the good company of other professionals who found the same home. I found that home after a chance meeting with a conservator at the Baltimore Museum of Art, where I was copying a large work painted by William Merritt Chase. I paused painting to learn conservation and to create practical conservation science services and laboratories to benefit conservators, art historians, collectors, and others. After tens of thousands of hours closely studying the facture and chemical composition of works that others created - and - with no bigger, unachieved professional goals - I have returned to painting, with a better eye, a visual memory of thousands of master works, and passion without pressure. I am immensely grateful to the many hundreds of conservators and conservation scientists with whom I learned, shared, and worked. Thank you. It's been a pleasure and an honor. With a little effort, you can find me on Instagram and LinkedIn, if you like. I leave you with these thoughts that I published in 2015, which guided me and remain true to me: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thoughts-15-years-extraordinary-success-james-martin?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via <https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thoughts-15-years-extraordinary-success-james-martin?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via> All best, Jamie James Martin Williamstown, Massachusetts Sent from my iPhone 6.From: Sejal Goel Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 4:55 PM Subject: Extended Deadline: International Museum Conference on Climate Change with the University of Applied Arts Vienna Message: Hello! The Sustainability Committee would like to share details on the International Museum Conference on Climate Change! The Scientific Committee and Local Organizing Committee invites you to join an international conference on museum climate, climate change and future challenges related to insect pests, fungi, increasing energy costs and sustainable green museums. The conference will be held in Vienna, Austria, from 9-11th of April, 2025. Register here: https://www.museumclimate.org/ <https://www.museumclimate.org/> Regular fee: 450 €, incl. organic three lunches, excursion and coffee breaks Theme 1: Sustainable and Green Museums Theme 2: New climate corridors to save energy Theme 3: Modelling climate change and insect pests and fungi Theme 4: Effects of outdoor climate change on indoor museum climate They want to bring together conservators, facility managers, climate researchers, building physicists and (micro)-biologists to share results and discuss the future indoor climate in museums. So please consider joining! **This information is third-party content reposted by the Sustainability Committee as a part of our mission to make sustainability issues and practices more visible in the field. All the best, ------------------------------ Sejal Goel Assistant Object Conservator Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center AIC Sustainability Committee Member ------------------------------ 7.From: Caroline Garratt Posted: Thursday January 30, 2025 9:44 PM Subject: Request for advice: external reflection FTIR spectroscopy Message: Dear Colleagues, Our institutions – Archives New Zealand and National Library of New Zealand – are investigating options for the purchase of a desktop FTIR spectrometer with an external reflection accessory. Specifically, we would appreciate any feedback or advice on Thermo Scientific's ConservatIR external reflection accessory. We would be interested in knowing what items you have analyzed with the ConservatIR and the ease and safety of applying the accessory to an object for analysis, e.g. is any contact or pressure required? Further, if anyone has experience using an external reflection accessory for identifying cellulose nitrate substrates in photographic negatives we would be most grateful for any feedback. Thanks in anticipation. Kind regards, Caroline Garratt Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand 10 Mulgrave St | Pipitea | Wellington | Aotearoa New Zealand ------------------------------ Caroline Garratt Preservation Technician Archives New Zealand Wellington New Zealand ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. 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