From the Conservator's Bench: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
Every day, the vision of artists, the identity of peoples, and the very existence of tangible history are threatened. Without active preservation and conservation, buildings and monuments will crumble; the Declaration of Independence will fade into oblivion; paintings that captured the essence of the West and heroes of the past will darken and flake away.
Preserving cultural material is of paramount importance, but it still presents complex challenges, even in our sophisticated society. Conservators spend their professional careers embracing these challenges with passion, commitment and dedication. By melding art with science, conservators protect our heritage, preserve our legacy, and ultimately, save our treasures for generations to come.
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, known by the acronym "AIC," is the largest and most comprehensive organization that serves conservators and conservation interests in the United States and Latin America. Gilcrease Museum conservators are very active in this and other professional societies.
This year's AIC meeting was titled "Conservation Continuum: Examining the Past and Envisioning the Future." Some interesting and relevant topics were the care of contemporary Native American artworks made of commercially available plastics, analysis and protection of original bronze sculpture patinas, recent studies about more energy efficient climate control standards for museums, and the ways in which conservators are assisting with disaster recovery at cultural sites in Haiti, Chile, and Nashville.
Participation increases the quality of care that we can provide to the Gilcrease Museum collection, ensuring that these amazing objects will be around for the enjoyment and edification of our great-great-grandchildren and beyond.
For more information about the conservation profession, including links to finding a conservator, go to www.conservation-us.org.
If you have questions about artistic techniques or preservation, you can ask Victoria Book Lupia, our chief conservator. Send questions to: GMConservation@utulsa.edu.