Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. MFT-IDG Webinar, Nov 14: "Microfading Testers in Use: Whitmore, Fotonowy, and Retroreflective 2. First meeting of the Digital Preservation Interest Reading Group on November 13, 2025! 3. Gels and Nanofluids: How Colloids and Soft Matters Preserve Artworks ~ A Hands On Practical Workshop Focused on Paintings and Works On Paper 4. Green Tea x "The C Word: The Conservators Podcast" 5. ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION STUDENT INTERNSHIPS IN TURKEY 2026 SEASON 6. Registration Still Open – MFAH Greenart 2025 Online Workshop (Closes Oct 30) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Vincent Beltran Posted: Tuesday October 14, 2025 7:57 AM Subject: MFT-IDG Webinar, Nov 14: "Microfading Testers in Use: Whitmore, Fotonowy, and Retroreflective Message: The Microfading Tester International Discussion Group (MFT-IDG) <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/mft-idg> will host its first webinar titled "Microfading Testers In Use: Whitmore, Fotonowy, and Retroreflective" on Friday, November 14, from 8-930am (Los Angeles) / 11am-1230pm (New York) / 1-230pm (Rio de Janeiro) / 4-530pm (Edinburgh) / 8-930pm (Dubai) / 12-130am (next day, Singapore). Attendance is free, but requires event registration at the following link: https://getty.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iNfBtLtjQ8qFfVBiQ0Ngrg <https://getty.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iNfBtLtjQ8qFfVBiQ0Ngrg> This live webinar will review three iterations of the microfading tester (MFT), which is used to assess the in situ light sensitivity of an object. Heritage institutions that have been long-time MFT users continue to rely upon instruments based on the original design by conservation scientist Paul Whitmore (Whitmore, Pan, and Bailie; JAIC 1999), which employs a 0/45 measurement geometry and a xenon-arc light source (Whitmore MFT). In recent years, many institutions have turned to an MFT developed by Instytut Fotonowy that uses an LED light source and incorporates more automation (Fotonowy MFT), while others have adopted an MFT design by Jacob Thomas using a retroreflective head that allows for flexibility in the measurement angle (Retroreflective MFT). Topics to be discussed for each MFT include acquisition, assembly, training, portability, maintenance, procedure, and examples of use. Three speakers, all of whom are experienced MFT users, will introduce the different instrument types: Kirsten Dunne ACR, Senior Projects Conservator, National Galleries of Scotland (Whitmore MFT); Abed Haddad, Assistant Conservation Scientist, Museum of Modern Art (Fotonowy MFT); and JP Brown, Senior Conservator, Field Museum (Retroreflective MFT). Their presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Cindy Connelly Ryan, Preservation Science Specialist, Library of Congress; and Vincent Laudato Beltran, Scientist, Getty Conservation Institute. For those interested but unable to attend, the webinar will be recorded and posted to the AIC YouTube channel. Further discussion about MFT practice and lighting policy development can be found in the MFT-IDG online community <https://www.culturalheritage.org/groups/mft-idg>, which you can join for free. The MFT-IDG is supported by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and sponsored by the AIC's Preventive Care Network. Thanks also to the Getty for supporting organization of this MFT-IDG webinar. We hope to see many of you at the November 14 event and in our MFT-IDG community! ------------------------------ Vincent Laudato Beltran Scientist, Getty Conservation Institute Chair, MFT-IDG [email protected] ------------------------------ 2.From: Ephranette Brown Posted: Tuesday October 14, 2025 12:58 PM Subject: First meeting of the Digital Preservation Interest Reading Group on November 13, 2025! Message: On November 13, 2025 join us for the first meeting of the Digital Preservation Interest Group (DPIG) Reading Group!!!! We will be discussing future topics and potential readings for the group as well as outline meeting schedules for our reading discussions. We will meet via Zoom at 3-4 pm EDT | 2-3 pm CDT | 1-2 pm MDT | 12-1 pm PDT | 11-12 pm AKDT | 9-10 am HDT. Our first discussion topic will be "Web Archiving"! Please add more readings under this topic in the "Reading Group Ideas". We will vote on what to read on November 13. We've started a list of possible readings in the document, Reading Group Ideas <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p7g66Woo5xDoZ6xoePw55p0LP46rUiKi98CQ1TOkc6k/edit?usp=sharing>. Please feel free to add more readings to the list for web archiving that you would like to read. To participate in the reading group, please join at: https://emory.zoom.us/j/96878289950?from=addon <https://emory.zoom.us/j/96878289950?from=addon> Thank you the DPIG Co-chairs ------------------------------ Ephranette Brown Head, Library Conservation Emory Libraries Atlanta United States ------------------------------ 3.From: Elise Morin-Rousseau Posted: Tuesday October 14, 2025 2:25 PM Subject: Gels and Nanofluids: How Colloids and Soft Matters Preserve Artworks ~ A Hands On Practical Workshop Focused on Paintings and Works On Paper Message: Gels and Nanofluids: How Colloids and Soft Matters Preserve Artworks A Hands On Practical Workshop Focused on Paintings and Works On Paper ACdR Art Conservation ~ SF is hosting a three day GreenArt Workshop focusing on new sustainable solutions for art conservation with the use of NANO Technologies, with guest instructors Prof. Piero Baglioni and Prof. Giovanna Poggi from CSGI and Chemistry Department, University of Florence. When: Winter, February 6th - 8th 2026 (Friday - Sunday) Where: The Cabrillo Clubhouse, SF Park & Recreation (a short walk from the ACdR Art Conservation Studios) 853 38th Avenue, San Francisco, California ACdR Art Conservation ~ SF, in collaboration with the Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI) at the University of Florence, Italy is offering an advanced hands-on workshop to introduce the chemistry and practical use of cleaning solutions, gels, and nano-materials for reinforcement/pH-control with a foundation in sustainability and "greener" alternatives to traditional methods. The workshop is open to mid-carrier professional conservators and will encourage discussions and exchange of methods and techniques concerning a range of CSGI's latest research results. Professor Baglioni and the CSGI have pioneered, in the last decades, innovative wet cleaning solutions. These advanced systems enable selective material removal while maintaining precise control over penetration and interaction with underlying original layers. The new cleaning systems are the outcome of a multi-year research project, including GreenArt (GREen ENdeavor in Art ResToration), an EU-funded global research consortium with 28 collecting and academic institutions, which ended in September 2025. The goal of the GreenArt project is "to produce sustainable, safe and effective solutions for the corrective and preventive conservation of Culture Heritage, based on environmentally friendly and low impact materials obtained from renewable natural sources or recycled waste." Workshop Approach and Goals: The workshop spans three days and combines theoretical understanding with practical hands-on experience. The use of these new gels, nanostructured fluids, and nanomaterials for reinforcement/ pH-control requires an understanding of their chemistry as well as their extensive complex uses. The proposed three-day workshop will integrate lecture series with hands-on experience and sharing information. This workshop will provide a review of the most recent and advanced methodologies for the cleaning of works of art, from nanostructured cleaning fluids (micro-emulsions, surfactants, swollen micelles) to physical and chemical gels. These new systems can be used to selectively remove or physicochemically detach/de-wet the unwanted material. Registration: The workshop is open to a maximum of 30 professional conservation participants, whom specialize in the treatment of paintings and works on paper-whether experienced with these cleaning systems or new to the approach. All participants are encouraged to engage actively in both theoretical and practical sessions to maximize the learning experience. All workshop equipment, materials and supplies ~ will be provided Daily Breakfast Break ~ Coffee, Tea and Pastries ~ will be provided Daily Box Lunches ~ vegetarian, or chicken sandwiches, with fruit and beverages ~ will be provided Daily Afternoon Break ~ healthy snacks and beverages ~ will be provided Fees: $600. 3-day workshop + $25. If you'd like to pre-order a take home sample kit of the NANO Gels system materials. Please note all fluids will be less than 3 oz. (prepared for safe travel) for those who may be flying in and out of San Francisco. For Inquiries and Registration, all registration requests will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Registration fees can be paid by check, made payable to ACdR Art Conservation, or by credit card through PAYPAL.com to Elise Rousseau [email protected] as "Friends and Family" to avoid extra processing fees. Please submit an email, including your contact information, company name or institution, if your professional experience is focused on paintings or paper, and indicate whether you want to pre-order a sample NANO Gels Kit, along with your meal preferences and any dietary restrictions to: Elise Morin-Rousseau at [email protected] Distinguished Presenters & Instructors: The workshop features two prominent figures in the field of conservation and preservation sciences, Professor Piero Baglioni and Prof. Giovanna Poggi. Piero Baglioni is Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florence. He is on the editorial/advisory boards of several international journals and a member of the scientific board of several national and international institutions and societies. He is the author of more than 600 publications and 29 patents in the field of colloids and interfaces, and a pioneer in the application of soft matter to the conservation of Cultural Heritage. Giovanna Poggi is associate professor in physical chemistry at the Chemistry Department of the University of Florence. She was involved in several EU Projects coordinated by CSGI@UNIFI including HORIZON EUROPE GREENART. Her research deals with the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and their application to paper and wood deacidification. She is also working on hydrogels and organogels for the cleaning of works of art and on the development and use of biocompatible polymers in several applicative fields. Join us in this exploration towards a more sustainable and effective future for art conservation. Your active participation will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of cultural heritage and art preservation. Organizational Hosts: Elise Yvonne Morin-Rousseau Is a multi-disciplinary conservator in San Francisco with bachelors in biochemistry and art history. She did her M.S.c. graduate studies in Conservation Sciences abroad in Brussels, Belgium at the Institute Royal de Patrimoine Artistique (KIK- IRPA) Cultural Heritage and further Textile Disciplines at the Karlshrue Archdiocese Schuleder Künste in Ettlingen, Germany. She has an M.A. in Museum Studies, and post graduate credits focused in Mycology from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Albany, New York. In 1999 she established the atelier Art Conservation de Rigueur et Anoxia Abatement Solutions, now simply ACdR Art Conservation, a large multi-disciplinary conservation practice in San Francisco. Ms. Morin-Rousseau is an ongoing guest instructor at Loyola Mary Mount University in Los Angeles, teaching conservation science and collections care in partnership with the William H. Hannon Library and Archives Special Collections. Giovanna Carravieri Specializes in painted artworks, and is a graduate of Art History at the University of La Sapienza in Rome, at the University of Paris IV- Sorbonne, and studied at the Old Masters Conservation School in Cremona, Italy. She has worked to preserve our global cultural heritage for museums, private collections, and on many frescoes in Italy and several international historical sites. After fifteen years in private practice in Paris, focused working with contemporary arts, she landed in San Francisco in 2020, and later joined the staff at ACdR Conservation's San Francisco Studios in 2022 . Currently, Giovanna is working with the ACdR Conservation Studios on a large collection of 19th and 20th century paintings and fine art from the de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University, 17th c. Spanish Colonial paintings from the SCU Jesuit Seminary, along with many other studio client projects. NANO GELS ~ SCIENCE AND APPLICATION Gels and Nanofluids: How Colloids and Soft Matters Preserve Artworks WORKSHOP SCHEDULE ~ Winter 2026 ~ February 6th - 8th ACdR Art Conservation at The Cabrillo Clubhouse ~ San Francisco, California 853 Cabrillo 38th Avenue between Fulton Street/North Golden Gate Park and Cabrillo St. FRIDAY 9:00 am Check-in, Welcome Coffee & Tea Breakfast 9:30 am Introduction to the workshop and presenters 9:40 am LECTURE: Overview and Materials Introduction 10:00 am LECTURE: Gel Theory I 11:00 am BREAK: Coffee & Tea 11:20 am LECTURE: Gel Theory II & Application (removal of water soluble materials) 12:20 pm LUNCH: Box Lunches Provided 1:10 pm LAB SESSION: Demonstrations *gel handling, loading, safety *removal of grime, stains, tide lines, foxing, soot 3:15 pm BREAK: Snacks, Coffee & Tea 3:45 pm LAB SESSION: Practical Hands-On *sample testing using a variety of teaching collection artworks and mock-ups 4:45 pm Questions, Discussion, Closing Remarks 5:00 pm End of Day 5:30 - 7pm ACdR Art Conservation Studios Tour ~ group 1 SATURDAY 9:00 am Check-in, Welcome Coffee & Tea Breakfast 9:30 am LECTURE: Nanostructured Fluids Theory I 10:40 am BREAK: Coffee & Tea 11:00 am LECTURE: Confining Nanostructured Fluid into Scaffold, Theory & Application 12:20 pm LUNCH: Box Lunches Provided 1:10 pm LAB SESSION: Demonstrations *gel handling, loading, safety *removal of tape and adhesive residues on canvas, paper and wood using cellulose poultices, gels load with nanostructure fluids LAB SESSION: Practical Hands-On *sample testing using a variety of teaching collection artworks and mock-ups 3:15 pm BREAK: Snacks, Coffee & Tea 3:45 pm LAB SESSION: Demonstrations *removal of coatings on canvas, paper and wood LAB SESSION: Practical Hands-On *sample testing using a variety of teaching collection artworks and mock-ups 4:45 pm Questions, Discussion, Closing Remarks 5:00 pm End of Day 5:30 - 7pm ACdR Art Conservation Studios Tour ~ group 2 SUNDAY 9:00 am Check-in, Welcome Coffee & Tea Breakfast 9:30 am LECTURE: Reinforcement and pH-control of Fibrous Materials 10:40 am BREAK: Coffee & Tea 11:00 am LECTURE: New Products Developed under GreenART 12:00 am LUNCH: Box Lunches Provided 12:45 pm LAB SESSION: Practical Hands-On *sample testing using a variety of teaching collection artworks and mock-ups 3:00 pm BREAK: Snacks, Coffee & Tea 3:30 pm LAB SESSION: Practical Hands-On *sample testing using a variety of teaching collection artworks and mock-ups 4:45 pm Questions, Discussion, Closing Remarks 5:00 pm End of Day ADDITIONAL INFO Participants only need to bring a notebook. All materials, tools, and supplies will be provided including PPE, nitrile gloves and lab aprons. The Cabrillo Clubhouse is a public space available through the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department - located a short walk from the ACdR Art Conservation Studios. It is a quick 20 minute UBER, Lyft or Waymo ride from downtown SF, where there are many hotel accommodation options. ------------------------------ Elise Morin-Rousseau Director and Principal Conservator ACdR Conservation SF ~ Art Conservation de Rigueur et Anoxia Abatement Services San Francisco United States ------------------------------ 4.From: Lindsey Williams Posted: Tuesday October 14, 2025 2:31 PM Subject: Green Tea x "The C Word: The Conservators Podcast" Message: Green Tea x The C Word: The Conservators Podcast Kloe and Solange chat with fellow podcasters Roxy and Lindsey from the AIC Sustainability Committee's podcast Green Tea to talk all things podcasting and staying sustainable. Check out this recent cross-over episode of The C Word: The Conservators Podcast <https://thecword.show/podlove/file/1593/s/download/c/select-show/the-c-word-S17E02.mp3> for some 'behind the scenes' of how Green Tea comes together and why its so important to maintain conversations around sustainable action in our field. Thanks Kloe and Solange for having us! ------------------------------ Lindsey Williams Conservation Technician ------------------------------ 5.From: Alice Paterakis Posted: Tuesday October 14, 2025 2:55 PM Subject: ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION STUDENT INTERNSHIPS IN TURKEY 2026 SEASON Message: ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION STUDENT INTERNSHIPS IN TURKEY 2026 SEASON The Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology (JIAA) expedition is seeking two conservation student interns for 6 weeks from July 6 to August 15, 2026. Priority will be given to students currently enrolled in a conservation program and those with little to no experience with archaeological conservation. Students must be fluent in the English language. In 2009 excavation of two new mound sites commenced, Yassıhöyük and Büklükale, located approximately 20 to 30 km from Kaman in Central Anatolia, in addition to Kalehöyük which has been ongoing since 1986. The primary cultural levels are Hittite, Phrygian, and Islamic. Interns have the opportunity to participate in an active conservation program that emphasizes fieldwork, hands-on treatment in the conservation laboratory of many different materials and artifacts from excavation, preventive approaches to archaeological conservation, and research. The 6-week internship runs between the dates July 6 to August 15, 2026. The excavation provides a stipend of $ US 40 per day, based on a six-day workweek. Students participate in the everyday conservation activities of the field lab. A well-equipped field lab and comfortable living facilities compensate the long workday (starting at 5:00 am). Students have the opportunity to collaborate with an international team of archaeologists, osteoarchaeologists, archaeobotanists, etc. English is the primary language at the site. Students are requested to cover the cost of their room and board (10$ per day, 7 days per week), all transportation costs, and visa (varies with nationality). Interns carry out a research project that begins prior to arriving at the site. Depending on the project developed between the intern and the Conservation Director, this first phase may consist of a literature review. The research provides an opportunity to gain familiarity with the site prior to arrival, and contributes in a beneficial way to our conservation program. A practical component of the research is designed into each project to be implemented at the JIAA. The research results in a formal report submitted to the excavation's journal, Anatolian Archaeological Studies, published by the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology, to be completed by October 31, 2026. Applicants should email a Curriculum Vitae, a short letter of interest, and have three letters of recommendation emailed directly from the referee to Alice by November 15, 2025. Questions concerning the internship should be sent by email. Interns will be selected by November 25, 2025 at which time visa applications must be submitted. Alice Boccia Paterakis, PhD Director of Conservation Kaman-Kalehöyük, Yassıhöyük, and Büklükale, Excavations Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology email: [email protected] Alice Boccia Paterakis . 6.From: Soraya Alcala Posted: Tuesday October 14, 2025 8:23 PM Subject: Registration Still Open – MFAH Greenart 2025 Online Workshop (Closes Oct 30) Message: Dear colleagues, Just a friendly reminder that registration is still open for the online lectures of the Greenart Workshop 2025: Colloids and Soft Matter in Art Conservation, hosted by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH). Don't miss your chance to be part of this exciting event! Registration closes October 30, 2025. The online component is part of the first session of the workshop: Workshop I: Introduction to Gels and Nanofluids in Conservation November 10–11, 2025 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM CST Online morning lectures $100 Learn more about the workshop <https://greenart-mfah.square.site/> Register now to secure your spot <https://checkout.square.site/merchant/VK128H24RPV5S/checkout/CDF5LR3NKWLT7CWDDVSP667S> We look forward to welcoming you online in November! ------------------------------ Soraya Alcalá Conservator, Paintings/ Head of Lab Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Center for Conservation MFAH | The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston P.O. Box 6826 Houston, TX 77265 Tel: +1 (713) 639-7732 | [email protected] ------------------------------ 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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