“Thou are not for the fashion of these times, where none will sweat but for promotion”The inevitable consequence of declining resources for government institutions is declining staff levels. David suggests that conservators need to expand their perspectives to gain relevance leading to constructive conservation outcomes. In the AICCM outgoing President’s lightening talk, Kay Soderlund suggested the AICCM appoint a community conservator with a view to expanding the role of conservation. Community consultation is already occurring. Samantha Hamilton liaised with an indigenous community during the Bunjelaka Re-development project at Museum of Victoria in which indigenous elders were involved in the hands-on conservation of artefacts. The AIC Angels community engagement project is another instance where conservators are working with local communities to preserve local heritage. In the “Museum Workshop” at the National Museum of Australia, a curator/conservator collaboration between Anne-Marie Conde and Vicki Humphries made conservators the exhibits by exposing the logistics of preparing an exhibition and the generally behind-the scenes work of the conservator to the public, resulting in greater understanding and appreciation of the role of conservation, the dynamics and funding required to prepare exhibits for display. Anne Carter proposed the development of an Asia Pacific forum for the International Network for Contemporary Art (INCCA) to gain a greater understanding of technologies to devise conservation protocols and installation instructions using artist interviews. These community and global interactions are expanding our role as conservators. A more futuristic view of conservation was expressed in the incoming AICCM President’s presentation in which Mary Jo Lelyveld used causal layered analysis (CLA) to define different levels of understanding of conservation across time. Using a four tiered pyramidal structure to map hidden structures such as emotional and intangible conservation values at the base of the pyramid to more visible social and political structures and trends at the apex incorporating the lateral depth of stakeholder beliefs. Even more futuristic was the concept of space as an orbital museum! Alice Gorman from Flinders University, in her paper entitled “The impacts for the space environment on terrestrial materials used in the spacecraft industry and the future prospects for curating what is, effectively, an orbital museum” explored what is culturally significant in space junk and the logistics of conserving more significant objects in the environment of space. There are four options related to environmental and heritage management in space: The first option is in-situ management, conserving objects in their current orbit. The second option is removing objects to a safe location. The third option is relocating the object to earth. the fourth option is destruction of insignificant objects. In-situ management requires an understanding of how metal alloys, pure metals, ceramics and poly-matrix composite materials behave in a high atomic oxygen environment with the added complexity of cosmic, ultra-violet and x-radiation prone to thermal cyclic effects (300-100 C) and coronal mass ejections. The possible impact of meteoroids and space debris adds another conservation risk to the care of space collections. Case studies have shown that aluminium corrodes faster in a high atomic oxygen environment than glass and paint finishes and that low earth orbits cause more damage. Where cultural value lies in the location, setting and relationship of the object in orbit, this field poses a new dilemmas for future conservators.
Textile Conservation: Ethical Considerations
My treatments, as a member of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) are guided by the AICCM Code of Ethics. This document can be found at AICCM. The principles of the code relate to personal integrity, and the integrity of the treatment towards the object in our care.
Firstly, as a Conservator, I have a duty of care to maintain the highest standards of our profession within the limits of my professional expertise. Last year, I organised the AICCM bi-annual conference for textile conservators. This resulted in an on-line publication of papers presenting the most up to date conservation treatments for textiles.
Secondly, materials and practices relating to conservation treatments should be of the highest standard and should not compromise the cultural value of the object. So prior to any treatments, a thorough examination of the materials and methods used to manufacture an object is undertaken. This forms the foundation of a treatment report which documents the condition prior to and after treatment.
Underpinning any decision relating treatments and materials depends on the physical, scientific, historic and aesthetic value of an object.
read moreRefuge in the Tide of War
Under the cover of darkness on 26th September, 1943, a group of naval servicemen in three canoes, paddled from Palau Subar into Singapore Harbour. This was their second attempt, having been hampered by strong tides a few nights before. The “clink” of metal on metal as they attached their magnetic charges to the hulls of their targets, must have raised a sweat as they turned their backs. The explosions heard at dawn the next morning marked the success of Operation Jaywick which maimed several ships in the Japanese fleet during WW2. In the quiet of dawn on Anzac Day 2015, a group of kayakers from the River Canoe of Club, NSW left the boat ramp at Brooklyn to paddle to Refuge Bay on the Hawkesbury River, where navy servicemen had trained in preparation for the operation and from which members of “Z” special unit were chosen. As the sun rose on Anzac Day, backlighting the clouds with a lemon yellow glow, we paddled six kilometres to Refuge Bay, nowhere as far as the naval paddlers who had paddled from the west coast of Borneo across the Java Sea into Singapore harbour a century before. The current was swirling and soupy with debris following the recent heavy rain, but not as strong as the currents that had deterred the first attempt of the naval paddlers. As we paddled into the bay, a number of small vessels had sought refuge from the open flow of the Hawkesbury River in a similar way to which the Japanese navy had sought refuge in Singapore harbour and reminiscent of the refuge the bay offered to navy personnel before enduring the tide of war. We found the plaque signifying the place where naval personnel had trained in preparation for Operation Jaywick. Their rudimentary campsite was located above the beach near the waterfall flowing from Cowan Creek. Gazing beyond the cliff toward the campsite I can visualise the men climbing up and down a rope to access the beach where the canoes were concealed. After laying sprigs of rosemary on the plaque and reflecting on our own family connections in times of war, we paddled back to Brooklyn. On my drive back to Sydney, I listened with a greater understanding to the radio reports of the ANZAC commemorations of the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915; to the selflessness of servicemen and women in times of war and peace; and for the suffering of families who have lost children, siblings and partners. Thank you to Andy Singh for organising this memorable trip to Refuge Bay on behalf of the RCCNSW.
read moreContexts in Conservation: The Future Conservator
“Peak Conservation: Is there an inevitable end to the institutional conservation department?”. David Thurrowgood from the National gallery of Victoria in his paper delivered at the AICCM National Conference (2013) convened at the Science Exchange in Adelaide, drew on the philosophy of Shakespeare to question the role of future conservators:
“Contexts for Conservation” Review
In 2013, the AICCM National Conference was held at the Science Exchange in Adelaide. The conference papers presented at the conference entitled “Contexts for Change” touched on several main themes including:
- Ethics, values and prioritising treatments
- Occupational health, safe conservation practice and solutions
- International standards for environmental monitoring
- Audio visual and digital media conservation
- 3-D scanning, conservation technology and techniques
- Conservation salvage: materials and techniques
- Analytical techniques, surveys and treatments
- The future of conservation
- Ghosts of the past
Contact Details
Postal address:
Conservation Solutions
PO Box 3179
Marrickville Metro, Sydney
NSW 2204
Email:
julie@conservationsolutions.com.au
Social Links:
| Linkedin: |  |
| Twitter: |  |