Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Laropal A81 varnish for painting 2. RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran 3. RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran 4. Webinars: Sustainable Approaches to Managing Relative Humidity 5. Webinar Series: Thermodynamics in Collection Spaces 6. RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran 7. RE: Small suction platen source 8. Book Conservation Jobs in Italy for Americans ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Valeria Cocchetti Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 9:02 AM Subject: Laropal A81 varnish for painting Message: I am looking for painting conservators who use resin Laropal A81 dissolvesse in Shellsol D40 + the ester Isobutyl Isobutyrate (IBI) or another ester. If any conservator/restorer uses this solvent mixture to solubilize the resin in granules, I would be interested in knowing the proportions of the solvents and the positive/negative effects they observe. Thanks to everyone who can help me. Valeria CocchettiPainting ConservatorFlorence Italy 2.From: Omid Oudbashi Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 9:04 AM Subject: RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran Message: Dear colleagues, First, I would like to sincerely thank you for your attention and concern for Iran's cultural heritage. Second, there is no doubt that any damage to the cultural and natural heritage of countries and peoples during war is unacceptable and irreversible. All of us, as specialists in cultural heritage and the conservation of historical monuments, must express our concern about any potential damage or destruction of the world and national cultural and natural heritage. As both a cultural heritage conservation specialist and an Iranian, I also express my concern and objection regarding the impact of war on Iran's cultural heritage, and I ask the parties involved in the conflict to avoid any damage or destruction to Iran's cultural heritage and to prevent any potential risks. However, as a specialist in this field, I find it necessary to inform you and other colleagues of the following points: According to the available information, neither the United States nor Israel has directly targeted Iran's cultural heritage sites. The damages that have occurred appear to be the indirect consequences of airstrikes, which, of course, are still unacceptable and irreversible. However, due to the widespread internet shutdown in Iran and the lack of access for ordinary people and independent journalists, the information emerging from the country cannot accurately or clearly show the true extent of the war's impact on Iran's cultural heritage. Moreover, the available reports are published only by the Iranian government and its affiliates, which cannot be independently verified. For more than two weeks now, internet access has been cut off for ordinary and non-military citizens in Iran. This not only negatively affects the accurate exchange of information but also prevents the voices and demands of Iran's civilians from reaching the world. According to some of your statements, thousands of Iranian civilians have been killed during the war. However, these reports are also not reliable, and the limited available information does not support such figures. At the same time, about two months ago, thousands of Iranians inside the country were killed or injured by the government, and none of you reacted to that. It seems that your reactions may not be based on concerns for human rights but rather on your positions regarding the governments of the United States and Israel. I suggest that if you have problems with your own governments, please do not exploit the people of Iran or spread inaccurate or even untrue information. Regarding the possibility of acid rain resulting from missile attacks on Tehran, I must note that this could indeed become an environmental disaster with consequences for cultural heritage. However, are you aware that over the past two decades, Tehran and other major Iranian cities have continuously suffered from severe environmental pollution? In some cities, such as Tehran, the Air Quality Index has been at dangerous levels for more than one hundred days each year, posing risks to citizens and consequently to Iran's cultural heritage. In reality, both people and heritage sites in Iran have long been affected by air pollution and acid rain. The reasons include the use of low-quality fuels for electricity generation, low-quality fuels for vehicles, the domestic production of low-quality cars, and restrictions on importing higher-quality vehicles. Why, as cultural heritage professionals and activists, have you never expressed concern about these issues? Many of Iran's historical and cultural sites, particularly archaeological heritage, have been submerged due to excessive dam construction in the country. Despite the concerns repeatedly raised by Iranian experts, the government has never taken appropriate action. At the same time, many rivers and lakes in Iran have dried up for the same reasons, and parts of Iran's natural heritage have been lost. All of these problems are the result of mismanagement in the preservation and protection of Iran's cultural and natural heritage by the government. I suggest that you consider issues such as the drying of the Zayandeh Rud River in Isfahan and its effects on the historic bridges of the city, the depletion of groundwater resources and the resulting land subsidence in Isfahan and the Marvdasht plain (the location of the World Heritage site of Persepolis), and many other historical sites and monuments across Iran. A great deal of information about these issues can be found online-if websites in Iran are accessible to you. Should cultural heritage specialists not have spoken out about these matters, especially when experts inside Iran have repeatedly raised them over the years? Over the past decades, Iran's oil revenues and the taxes paid by Iranian citizens have been spent on issues that the people themselves had little interest in, including large payments to paramilitary groups in various Middle Eastern countries. These resources could instead have been spent inside Iran for the preservation of its cultural and natural heritage. Many Iranian conservation and restoration specialists have worked with great dedication in this field despite receiving very low salaries and often waiting months to be paid. Even with minimal budgets and limited resources, they have continued to try to protect Iran's cultural heritage, while funds were spent elsewhere-on wars that had nothing to do with the Iranian people. Were you concerned about these issues at that time? And as specialists in cultural heritage conservation, did you attempt to draw attention to these problems? Once again, I emphasize that as an Iranian and a cultural heritage conservation specialist, I do not in any way support the destruction or damage of cultural heritage during wartime. However, I will not allow the severe problems related to the protection of Iran's cultural heritage to be portrayed solely as the result of this war, while other issues are forgotten. Long-term problems have had-and continue to have-far more severe impacts on Iran's cultural and natural heritage. Is it not a misuse of cultural heritage when military forces hide near historical sites? Is spending the Iranian people's money on proxy forces abroad while failing to allocate adequate budgets for cultural heritage protection not a clear example of destruction? Is the use of low-quality fuels, effectively turning major Iranian cities into gas chambers for both citizens and heritage sites, not a form of damage? Is the deliberate drying of lakes and rivers not a clear creation of dangerous conditions for cultural and natural heritage? I suggest that you study the case of Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran and its drying. Finally, I thank you again for your concern for Iran's cultural heritage and for my fellow citizens. However, I must repeat that if your concerns are based on limited or inaccurate information, I would be willing to hold a meeting with you and other colleagues to present the numerous problems facing Iran's cultural heritage over the past decades. And if your concern is simply opposition to the United States and Israel, then please do not misuse the people of Iran or its cultural heritage. Sincerely, Omid ------------------------------ Omid Oudbashi (PhD, MA, BSc, FIIC) Senior Lecturer in Conservation, Conservation Scientist Department of Conservation University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 03-14-2026 10:57 From: Rosa Lowinger Subject: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran Thank you, Aisha, for this important post. In 2001, we were horrified when the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas. In 2015, ditto when Isis destroyed Palmyra and a long list of Shiite, Christian, and pre-Islamic sites in the region. Now the U.S. and Israel are targeting Iranian heritage with impunity. There is no moral ambiguity here, as far as our profession is concerned. Thank you for providing the resources for speaking out. 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: 3/12/2026 11:40:00 PM From: Aisha Wahab Subject: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran For anyone that has missed the latest calls and warnings from our cultural heritage sector about the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage in Iran by the United States and Israel, UNESCO <https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-expresses-concern-over-protection-cultural-heritage-sites-amidst-escalating-violence-middle>, ICOM <https://icom.museum/en/news/icom-calls-for-protection-of-museums-and-cultural-heritage-amid-conflict-in-iran-the-gulf-region-and-the-eastern-mediterranean/>, Museum Associations <https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2026/03/blue-shield-warns-of-potential-war-crimes-against-irans-cultural-sites/>, ICOMOS <https://www.icomos.org/actualite/icomos-statement-middle-east/>, and USCBS <https://uscbs.org/statement-iran-conflict-cultural-heritage-march-2026/> have all posted about the concern for Iranian cultural heritage, the warning of potential war crimes against Iran's cultural sites, and the call for protection of cultural heritage in Iran. We are currently witnessing the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, the loss of civilian life, and harm to our planet with this current war on Iran. The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is against our code of ethics, against what we stand for as cultural heritage protectors, it violates the Geneva Conventions' Additional Protocols, the 1954 Hague Convention, and it violates international law. In less than 2 weeks of war, thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, toxic rain from bombed oil depots threatens the planet and people's health, and it has been reported that several UNESCO World Heritage sites have been damaged in Iran including the Golestan Palace, the Chehel Sotoon, the Masjed e-Jameh of Isfahan, Ali Qapu palace, several mosques around Nash e-Jahan Square, and prehistoric sites of the Khorrambad Valley. I fell in love with Iranian art and architecture prior to my career in conservation, when I was interning at the LA County Museum of Art under the Art of the Middle East Curator, Linda Komaroff, who showed me a world of magnificent beauty, craftsmanship and culture. A year and a half ago I fell in love all over again when I finally got the opportunity to visit Iran and witness in-person it's beauty, the kindness and hospitality of its people, and it's rich culture and history. I visited most of these World Heritage sites that have been damaged. It is heart breaking to witness such historical, cultural, and human loss and to know that my government is responsible, and my taxes are contributing to it. Please continue to stay informed, call your representatives, and use your voice to speak out against unethical wars, the deaths of civilians, and the destruction of cultural heritage.For further articles on the issue:https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/10/unesco-sites-in-iranian-city-of-isfahan-and-others-across-countrydamaged-by-us-israel-strikes <https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/10/unesco-sites-in-iranian-city-of-isfahan-and-others-across-countrydamaged-by-us-israel-strikes>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/dismay-as-ancient-heritage-sites-across-iran-damaged-in-us-israel-bombing <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/dismay-as-ancient-heritage-sites-across-iran-damaged-in-us-israel-bombing>https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/middleeast/iran-heritage-sites-damaged.html <https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/middleeast/iran-heritage-sites-damaged.html> ------------------------------ Aisha Wahab (she/her) Paper Conservator Stanford Libraries ------------------------------ 3.From: Benjamin Parry Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 11:15 AM Subject: RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran Message: I am just crushed to hear about this. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. To hear that our government is responsible for this tragedy is heartbreaking. It's also tragic that we rarely hear about this on mainstream news. One cannot help but think of how much of this is prevented from reaching the public attention. Another example of how our media is being manipulated and controlled. Cultural heritage sites are priceless and irreplaceable. As a restorer & conservator of historical antique furniture, there is no greater crime than the careless destruction of history by war hungry leaders that use our money for their gains. I've lost complete trust in our government many years ago. "Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us." Leo Tolstoy ------------------------------ Benjamin Parry Antique Furniture Restorer Freelance/Private Practice/Self-employed/Independent Oxford United States ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 03-12-2026 23:40 From: Aisha Wahab Subject: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran For anyone that has missed the latest calls and warnings from our cultural heritage sector about the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage in Iran by the United States and Israel, UNESCO <https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-expresses-concern-over-protection-cultural-heritage-sites-amidst-escalating-violence-middle>, ICOM <https://icom.museum/en/news/icom-calls-for-protection-of-museums-and-cultural-heritage-amid-conflict-in-iran-the-gulf-region-and-the-eastern-mediterranean/>, Museum Associations <https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2026/03/blue-shield-warns-of-potential-war-crimes-against-irans-cultural-sites/>, ICOMOS <https://www.icomos.org/actualite/icomos-statement-middle-east/>, and USCBS <https://uscbs.org/statement-iran-conflict-cultural-heritage-march-2026/> have all posted about the concern for Iranian cultural heritage, the warning of potential war crimes against Iran's cultural sites, and the call for protection of cultural heritage in Iran. We are currently witnessing the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, the loss of civilian life, and harm to our planet with this current war on Iran. The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is against our code of ethics, against what we stand for as cultural heritage protectors, it violates the Geneva Conventions' Additional Protocols, the 1954 Hague Convention, and it violates international law. In less than 2 weeks of war, thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, toxic rain from bombed oil depots threatens the planet and people's health, and it has been reported that several UNESCO World Heritage sites have been damaged in Iran including the Golestan Palace, the Chehel Sotoon, the Masjed e-Jameh of Isfahan, Ali Qapu palace, several mosques around Nash e-Jahan Square, and prehistoric sites of the Khorrambad Valley. I fell in love with Iranian art and architecture prior to my career in conservation, when I was interning at the LA County Museum of Art under the Art of the Middle East Curator, Linda Komaroff, who showed me a world of magnificent beauty, craftsmanship and culture. A year and a half ago I fell in love all over again when I finally got the opportunity to visit Iran and witness in-person it's beauty, the kindness and hospitality of its people, and it's rich culture and history. I visited most of these World Heritage sites that have been damaged. It is heart breaking to witness such historical, cultural, and human loss and to know that my government is responsible, and my taxes are contributing to it. Please continue to stay informed, call your representatives, and use your voice to speak out against unethical wars, the deaths of civilians, and the destruction of cultural heritage.For further articles on the issue:https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/10/unesco-sites-in-iranian-city-of-isfahan-and-others-across-countrydamaged-by-us-israel-strikes <https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/10/unesco-sites-in-iranian-city-of-isfahan-and-others-across-countrydamaged-by-us-israel-strikes>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/dismay-as-ancient-heritage-sites-across-iran-damaged-in-us-israel-bombing <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/dismay-as-ancient-heritage-sites-across-iran-damaged-in-us-israel-bombing>https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/middleeast/iran-heritage-sites-damaged.html <https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/middleeast/iran-heritage-sites-damaged.html> ------------------------------ Aisha Wahab (she/her) Paper Conservator Stanford Libraries ------------------------------ 4.From: Jennifer Jae Gutierrez Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 11:15 AM Subject: Webinars: Sustainable Approaches to Managing Relative Humidity Message: Webinars: Sustainable Approaches to Managing Relative Humidity This Spring, the Image Permanence Institute will offer three webinars that focus on different sustainable approaches to managing relative humidity in collection spaces. These webinars are supported by a Getty Global: Art & Sustainability Fellows grant, are free to attend, and will be presented by Emily Bernal, IPI's first Art & Sustainability Fellow: Implementing Seasonal Relative Humidity Set Points: April 23 Seasonal relative humidity (RH) set points offer a practical way to maintain established preservation conditions while responding to seasonal changes in outdoor climate. This webinar introduces the concept of seasonal RH management and will share a case study of how the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art implemented and manages seasonal RH set points in exhibition and collection spaces. Implementing Broader Annual Relative Humidity Ranges in High Density Storage Spaces: May 21 High-density archival storage environments present unique opportunities for managing relative humidity (RH) because large volumes of boxed and bound materials absorb and release moisture slowly over time. This webinar will focus on how the hygroscopic nature and sheer volume of organic archival collections contribute to RH management. Reducing Extreme Relative Humidity Conditions in Historic Houses Through Passive Environmental Management Approaches: June 25 Historic house museums often experience extreme seasonal and short-term fluctuations in relative humidity due to building characteristics, exposure, and limited mechanical systems. This webinar introduces passive environmental management strategies through case studies of how the Morris County Park Commission has reduced environmental risk across historic houses and collection spaces using low-cost, data-driven approaches. Learn more and register at: https://www.rit.edu/ipi/webinars <https://www.rit.edu/ipi/webinars> About IPI The Image Permanence Institute (IPI) is a preservation research center in the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. IPI achieves its mission to support and inform the preservation of cultural heritage collections through applied research, the development of practical preservation resources and tools, professional-level education and training programs, and consulting and materials testing services. As a non-profit research center, IPI depends on private and public philanthropy to fund its research program. Institutions that use IPI preservation products, and consulting and testing services support IPI's mission. Learn more about IPI: https://www.rit.edu/ipi/ <https://www.rit.edu/ipi/> 5.From: Jennifer Jae Gutierrez Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 11:15 AM Subject: Webinar Series: Thermodynamics in Collection Spaces Message: Webinar Series: Thermodynamics in Collection Spaces In the Fall, the Image Permanence Institute will offer a new webinar series designed for preservation professionals who would like to develop a foundational understanding of the thermodynamic principles that govern what happens in storage and display environments and why these phenomena matter. The series will be presented by Marvin Cummings, IPI Research Scientist. Part I: The Indoor Environment, Air and Water This webinar will: 1) discuss the three important properties that define the state of the indoor environment within collection spaces, namely temperature, pressure, and relative humidity (RH); and 2) introduce terms such as the saturation vapor pressure of water and saturation mixing ratio; and 3) discuss how these terms help define the relative humidity of a collection space. Part II: Indoor Heat Gain and Loss This webinar will: discuss 1) what is the thermodynamic dewpoint temperature (Tdp), why it is important and what the Tdp can tell us about a collection space; 2) the heat energy of indoor spaces, known by HVAC engineers as thermodynamic enthalpy, and establish its relation to the heat capacity of water and air; and 3) define the important difference between sensible heat and latent heat. Part III: Practical Concepts of Heat Gain and Loss and the Psychrometric Chart This webinar will: 1) discuss practical examples of what the important indoor parameters- such as temperature, pressure, and RH - can tell preservation professionals about their display and storage spaces; and 2) explain how to use the psychrometric chart as a tool in understanding what is happening in collection spaces. Learn more and register at: https://store.imagepermanenceinstitute.org/products/three-part-webinar-series-introduction-thermodynamics-collection-environments-and-why-therm <https://store.imagepermanenceinstitute.org/products/three-part-webinar-series-introduction-thermodynamics-collection-environments-and-why-therm> About IPI The Image Permanence Institute (IPI) is a preservation research center in the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. IPI achieves its mission to support and inform the preservation of cultural heritage collections through applied research, the development of practical preservation resources and tools, professional-level education and training programs, and consulting and materials testing services. As a non-profit research center, IPI depends on private and public philanthropy to fund its research program. Institutions that use IPI preservation products, and consulting and testing services support IPI's mission. Learn more about IPI: https://www.rit.edu/ipi/ <https://www.rit.edu/ipi/> 6.From: Rosa Lowinger Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 11:16 AM Subject: RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran Message: Omid, thank you very much for your post and for providing context. As someone from Cuba, I'm aware of how information gets skewed to serve certain political interests. I appreciate the nuance you are bringing to the discussion. ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 3/15/2026 8:38:00 AM From: Omid Oudbashi Subject: RE: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran Dear colleagues, First, I would like to sincerely thank you for your attention and concern for Iran's cultural heritage. Second, there is no doubt that any damage to the cultural and natural heritage of countries and peoples during war is unacceptable and irreversible. All of us, as specialists in cultural heritage and the conservation of historical monuments, must express our concern about any potential damage or destruction of the world and national cultural and natural heritage. As both a cultural heritage conservation specialist and an Iranian, I also express my concern and objection regarding the impact of war on Iran's cultural heritage, and I ask the parties involved in the conflict to avoid any damage or destruction to Iran's cultural heritage and to prevent any potential risks. However, as a specialist in this field, I find it necessary to inform you and other colleagues of the following points: According to the available information, neither the United States nor Israel has directly targeted Iran's cultural heritage sites. The damages that have occurred appear to be the indirect consequences of airstrikes, which, of course, are still unacceptable and irreversible. However, due to the widespread internet shutdown in Iran and the lack of access for ordinary people and independent journalists, the information emerging from the country cannot accurately or clearly show the true extent of the war's impact on Iran's cultural heritage. Moreover, the available reports are published only by the Iranian government and its affiliates, which cannot be independently verified. For more than two weeks now, internet access has been cut off for ordinary and non-military citizens in Iran. This not only negatively affects the accurate exchange of information but also prevents the voices and demands of Iran's civilians from reaching the world. According to some of your statements, thousands of Iranian civilians have been killed during the war. However, these reports are also not reliable, and the limited available information does not support such figures. At the same time, about two months ago, thousands of Iranians inside the country were killed or injured by the government, and none of you reacted to that. It seems that your reactions may not be based on concerns for human rights but rather on your positions regarding the governments of the United States and Israel. I suggest that if you have problems with your own governments, please do not exploit the people of Iran or spread inaccurate or even untrue information. Regarding the possibility of acid rain resulting from missile attacks on Tehran, I must note that this could indeed become an environmental disaster with consequences for cultural heritage. However, are you aware that over the past two decades, Tehran and other major Iranian cities have continuously suffered from severe environmental pollution? In some cities, such as Tehran, the Air Quality Index has been at dangerous levels for more than one hundred days each year, posing risks to citizens and consequently to Iran's cultural heritage. In reality, both people and heritage sites in Iran have long been affected by air pollution and acid rain. The reasons include the use of low-quality fuels for electricity generation, low-quality fuels for vehicles, the domestic production of low-quality cars, and restrictions on importing higher-quality vehicles. Why, as cultural heritage professionals and activists, have you never expressed concern about these issues? Many of Iran's historical and cultural sites, particularly archaeological heritage, have been submerged due to excessive dam construction in the country. Despite the concerns repeatedly raised by Iranian experts, the government has never taken appropriate action. At the same time, many rivers and lakes in Iran have dried up for the same reasons, and parts of Iran's natural heritage have been lost. All of these problems are the result of mismanagement in the preservation and protection of Iran's cultural and natural heritage by the government. I suggest that you consider issues such as the drying of the Zayandeh Rud River in Isfahan and its effects on the historic bridges of the city, the depletion of groundwater resources and the resulting land subsidence in Isfahan and the Marvdasht plain (the location of the World Heritage site of Persepolis), and many other historical sites and monuments across Iran. A great deal of information about these issues can be found online-if websites in Iran are accessible to you. Should cultural heritage specialists not have spoken out about these matters, especially when experts inside Iran have repeatedly raised them over the years? Over the past decades, Iran's oil revenues and the taxes paid by Iranian citizens have been spent on issues that the people themselves had little interest in, including large payments to paramilitary groups in various Middle Eastern countries. These resources could instead have been spent inside Iran for the preservation of its cultural and natural heritage. Many Iranian conservation and restoration specialists have worked with great dedication in this field despite receiving very low salaries and often waiting months to be paid. Even with minimal budgets and limited resources, they have continued to try to protect Iran's cultural heritage, while funds were spent elsewhere-on wars that had nothing to do with the Iranian people. Were you concerned about these issues at that time? And as specialists in cultural heritage conservation, did you attempt to draw attention to these problems? Once again, I emphasize that as an Iranian and a cultural heritage conservation specialist, I do not in any way support the destruction or damage of cultural heritage during wartime. However, I will not allow the severe problems related to the protection of Iran's cultural heritage to be portrayed solely as the result of this war, while other issues are forgotten. Long-term problems have had-and continue to have-far more severe impacts on Iran's cultural and natural heritage. Is it not a misuse of cultural heritage when military forces hide near historical sites? Is spending the Iranian people's money on proxy forces abroad while failing to allocate adequate budgets for cultural heritage protection not a clear example of destruction? Is the use of low-quality fuels, effectively turning major Iranian cities into gas chambers for both citizens and heritage sites, not a form of damage? Is the deliberate drying of lakes and rivers not a clear creation of dangerous conditions for cultural and natural heritage? I suggest that you study the case of Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran and its drying. Finally, I thank you again for your concern for Iran's cultural heritage and for my fellow citizens. However, I must repeat that if your concerns are based on limited or inaccurate information, I would be willing to hold a meeting with you and other colleagues to present the numerous problems facing Iran's cultural heritage over the past decades. And if your concern is simply opposition to the United States and Israel, then please do not misuse the people of Iran or its cultural heritage. Sincerely, Omid ------------------------------ Omid Oudbashi (PhD, MA, BSc, FIIC) Senior Lecturer in Conservation, Conservation Scientist Department of Conservation University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 03-14-2026 10:57 From: Rosa Lowinger Subject: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran Thank you, Aisha, for this important post. In 2001, we were horrified when the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas. In 2015, ditto when Isis destroyed Palmyra and a long list of Shiite, Christian, and pre-Islamic sites in the region. Now the U.S. and Israel are targeting Iranian heritage with impunity. There is no moral ambiguity here, as far as our profession is concerned. Thank you for providing the resources for speaking out. 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: 3/12/2026 11:40:00 PM From: Aisha Wahab Subject: Cultural Heritage Destruction in Iran For anyone that has missed the latest calls and warnings from our cultural heritage sector about the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage in Iran by the United States and Israel, UNESCO <https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-expresses-concern-over-protection-cultural-heritage-sites-amidst-escalating-violence-middle>, ICOM <https://icom.museum/en/news/icom-calls-for-protection-of-museums-and-cultural-heritage-amid-conflict-in-iran-the-gulf-region-and-the-eastern-mediterranean/>, Museum Associations <https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2026/03/blue-shield-warns-of-potential-war-crimes-against-irans-cultural-sites/>, ICOMOS <https://www.icomos.org/actualite/icomos-statement-middle-east/>, and USCBS <https://uscbs.org/statement-iran-conflict-cultural-heritage-march-2026/> have all posted about the concern for Iranian cultural heritage, the warning of potential war crimes against Iran's cultural sites, and the call for protection of cultural heritage in Iran. We are currently witnessing the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, the loss of civilian life, and harm to our planet with this current war on Iran. The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is against our code of ethics, against what we stand for as cultural heritage protectors, it violates the Geneva Conventions' Additional Protocols, the 1954 Hague Convention, and it violates international law. In less than 2 weeks of war, thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, toxic rain from bombed oil depots threatens the planet and people's health, and it has been reported that several UNESCO World Heritage sites have been damaged in Iran including the Golestan Palace, the Chehel Sotoon, the Masjed e-Jameh of Isfahan, Ali Qapu palace, several mosques around Nash e-Jahan Square, and prehistoric sites of the Khorrambad Valley. I fell in love with Iranian art and architecture prior to my career in conservation, when I was interning at the LA County Museum of Art under the Art of the Middle East Curator, Linda Komaroff, who showed me a world of magnificent beauty, craftsmanship and culture. A year and a half ago I fell in love all over again when I finally got the opportunity to visit Iran and witness in-person it's beauty, the kindness and hospitality of its people, and it's rich culture and history. I visited most of these World Heritage sites that have been damaged. It is heart breaking to witness such historical, cultural, and human loss and to know that my government is responsible, and my taxes are contributing to it. Please continue to stay informed, call your representatives, and use your voice to speak out against unethical wars, the deaths of civilians, and the destruction of cultural heritage.For further articles on the issue:https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/10/unesco-sites-in-iranian-city-of-isfahan-and-others-across-countrydamaged-by-us-israel-strikes <https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/03/10/unesco-sites-in-iranian-city-of-isfahan-and-others-across-countrydamaged-by-us-israel-strikes>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/dismay-as-ancient-heritage-sites-across-iran-damaged-in-us-israel-bombing <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/dismay-as-ancient-heritage-sites-across-iran-damaged-in-us-israel-bombing>https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/middleeast/iran-heritage-sites-damaged.html <https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/world/middleeast/iran-heritage-sites-damaged.html> ------------------------------ Aisha Wahab (she/her) Paper Conservator Stanford Libraries ------------------------------ 7.From: Yeonjoo Kim Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 7:50 PM Subject: RE: Small suction platen source Message: Hello Gillian, I have one from University Products. This is for painting canvas, so the vacuum hole is at the bottom. No complains so far. They carry small ones for book and paper, too. Please check the link below. https://www.universityproducts.com/small-portable-suction-table.html Good luck! ------------------------------ Yeonjoo Kim Paintings Conservator Newark Museum of Art Newark NJ [email protected] ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 03-12-2026 10:11 From: Gillian Marcus Subject: Small suction platen source Our lab is looking to source a small suction platen, and we are having trouble finding one to order now that Talas no longer carries the very slim version they used to (I cannot remember the manufacturer). I'm curious if anyone has been able to find one or is considering getting rid of theirs? We're primarily a paper and book lab, so we're looking for something fairly slim and small if we can find it. Thank you! ------------------------------ Gillian Marcus Associate Conservator Newberry Library ------------------------------ 8.From: Caitlin O'Brien Posted: Sunday March 15, 2026 7:54 PM Subject: Book Conservation Jobs in Italy for Americans Message: Hey all! My husband is applying for a job in Milan and I am trying to figure out how feasible it is to work in conservation over there. I have 10 years experience in book and paper conservation, but no graduate degree in conservation (working on a Library Science MA degree currently). Any advice or next steps would be greatly appreciated. Online job forums in Europe? Thank you! Caitlin O'Brien 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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