cleaning house: keeping your collection spick and span
TRANSCRIPT
Collections Access:New Spaces & Approaches
May 2016 the NEW SFMOMA opens
During 3-year closure SFMOMA’s Collections Center is purchased and begins to take shape
During 3-year closure SFMOMA’s Collections Center is purchased and begins to take shape
More than off-site storageA second campus
CC Photo Studio
More than off-site storage
• Conservation Studio
• Photography Studio
• Woodshop
• Museum Archives
• Overflow, non-climate storage for
the Library, OPS, and
the Museum Store
A second campus
CC Photo Studio
More than off-site storageA place for research and teaching
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Spring 2016
More than off-site storage
• SPACES
• Mockup Gallery
• White Box
• PROGRAMS
• Artist Initiative
• Higher Education
programing
A place for research and teaching
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Spring 2016
San Francisco Art Institute Class, Spring 2016
Mockup GalleryA full scale, 1300 sq/ft mockup of the new downtown galleries
White BoxClassroom/meeting space (dedicated media coming soon)
California College of Art Class, Spring 2016
Artist InitiativeMellon-funded collaborative collections research project
Artist Initiative
• 5-years
• $1.75M collections research
grant funded by the Mellon
Foundation
• Booster shot to CC to keep
balance between research,
access, and storage
Mellon-funded collaborative collections research project
Higher Education Programming
• TOUR: Meet staff
from 5 different
departments
• OBJECT STUDY SESSIONS:
Access objects not
currently on display
sfmoma.org/educators/higher-education/higher-education-offerings-collections-center
GOOD collections access =GOOD collections management
Research + Teaching spaces at downtown campusAccess policies/procedures to come! Spaces just completed.
Conservation Workroom
Collections Study Room
Library
Challenges and Successes
Challenges and Successes
• Challenges
• Concurrent activities:
Collection moves
• Overexposure
Challenges and Successes
• Challenges
• Concurrent activities:
Collection moves
• Overexposure
• Successes
• Scheduling & capacity
• Donors, staff, faculty
& students are excited
Rachael [email protected]
Photo by Grace Reamer
Cleaning Dedicated Storage Spaces
Agents of Deterioration
Contaminants (pollutants, inherent vice)
Pests
Incorrect RH
Incorrect Temperature
Light
Physical Forces (mishandling, shock, vibration, impact)
Water
Theft
Fire
Curatorial Neglect
Cleaning ScheduleDaily • Empty all trash containers• Sweep or dry mop• Refresh sticky mats• Vacuum carpeting in
hallways
Weekly• Dry mop• Wet clean office floor
Quarterly• IPM, Climate Data• Wet Clean Storage
Floors• Window Sills
Yearly• Summaries of IPM
and Climate Data• Special Projects
Ken MiddlebrookCurator of CollectionsHistory San José
The ideal historical structure environment…
Visitors sanitized for artifact protection
The ideal historical structure environment…
Artifacts sealed from visitors
Our Reality – Visitor Experience
Historic Site Preservation
Building MaintenanceSound Security Practices
Monitoring HVAC EnvironmentDisaster Preparedness
Integrated Pest Management
Collections Management
Objective – Visitor Experience
Historic Site Preservation
Building Maintenance
Sound Security Practices
Monitoring HVAC environment
Disaster Preparedness
Integrated Pest Management
Collections Management
Housekeeping
Objective – Visitor Experience
Housecleaning
It is Not!
Defined Housekeeping Responsibilities
• Administration• Collections• Curatorial• Exhibitions• Education • Docents• Events Coordinator• Facilities• Janitorial
Communication
Our Museum’s Largest Artifacts
Peralta Adobe1791
Fallon House1853
Individual Structure Requirements
Spiders, Termites and Rodents…OH My!
Carpet Fraying
Water Intrusion
Loose Boards
Proactive Maintenance
Dust Mites
Keys to Successful Housekeeping
• Common Sense
Keys to Successful Housekeeping• Common Sense• Careful Observation
Keys to Successful Housekeeping• Common Sense• Careful Observation• Consistency
Keys to successful housekeeping• Common Sense• Careful Observation• Consistency
Thank you
Object CleaningRobyn Haynie, Conservator
What is Conservation?
Always consult a conservator if you are unsure whether or not
an object should be cleaned
Mitigation of change over timePreventive Remedial
To find a conservator in your area go
to: http://www.conservation-us.org/membership/find-a-conservator
‘Museum Dirt’ vs. ‘Historic Dirt’
Dust build-up on framed works in storage at the UMFA Pillow from Abraham Lincoln’s
deathbed (photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)
What can dirt tell us?• Vulnerable objects• Effectiveness of gallery
maintenance/HVAC• Pests• Object history
Food residue inside ancient Egyptian bowl Photo courtesy of Alison Whyte, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
Frass shapesIllustration from Pinniger, D. (2001) Pest Mamgement in Museums, Archives and Historic Houses. London: Archetype.
Before you clean• Examine• Document• Assess• Prepare
Cleaning Methods: Dry • Do not involve chemicals or solvents of
any kind• Will typically address minor dust build-
up
Dry Cleaning Continued
• Involve chemicals or solvents
• Should not be used unless advised by a conservator
Cleaning Methods: Wet
How often should I clean?• Depends on your object and environment• Check objects regularly• Don’t forget about uncovered objects in
storage
How do I know when to stop?
• Careful observation• Don’t force it
Products to Avoid• Silver polishes• Windex• Commercial detergents and
leather dressings• Compressed air
Clean your cleaning Supplies! Don’t forget! Make it a
habit