from node
The Node Explorer v.2
go to web-page
An nifty device which combines a portable hand-held computer (designed for outdoor rugged use) coupled with wireless technology. The idea is to provide interactive content for users of historic trails and parks. This is already in place in city of Bristol in the UK and there is a web-based demonstration with some documented case studies of the technology at the above web-page.
from The Guardian
Vatican wants £2m to restore Michelangelo's last frescos
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This latest story about the effort to restore a significant fresco of Michelangelo raises an interesting issue. That of the balance between the preservation of a historically significant masterpiece as a public interest issue (even if carried out with private sponsorship) and the private ownership and exclusive enjoyment of the artwork. And if as conservators, we do not take such issues into full consideration, we might run the risk of blind-siding ourselves. Even as we adopt the stance of maintaining professional ethics by insisting that artefacts are conserved irrespective of their (real or perceived) value, we need to take pause and consider the deeper implications of such an approach in the context of finite resources. As much as we wish to treat all artefacts as equivalent, this happens only in the realm of the ideal. In the rough and tumble world of the "everyday", what gives?
Vatican wants £2m to restore Michelangelo's last frescos
go to article
This latest story about the effort to restore a significant fresco of Michelangelo raises an interesting issue. That of the balance between the preservation of a historically significant masterpiece as a public interest issue (even if carried out with private sponsorship) and the private ownership and exclusive enjoyment of the artwork. And if as conservators, we do not take such issues into full consideration, we might run the risk of blind-siding ourselves. Even as we adopt the stance of maintaining professional ethics by insisting that artefacts are conserved irrespective of their (real or perceived) value, we need to take pause and consider the deeper implications of such an approach in the context of finite resources. As much as we wish to treat all artefacts as equivalent, this happens only in the realm of the ideal. In the rough and tumble world of the "everyday", what gives?
from BBC Radio 4
Restoring the Cutty Sark
go to programme web-page
also
from BBC news
Landmark ship 'faces collapse'
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The latest from BBC Radio 4 Material World explores the thinking and preparation which goes into the conservation of the historic ship, Cutty Sark, currently dry-docked in Greenwich, UK. The conservation plan behind the full-size ship involves complex computer-modeling for physical movements and changes as the ship is being treated using electrolysis to extract sodium salts from its iron hull. It is also interesting to note that the 2 key personnel being interviewed on the BCC Radio 4 programme are not conservators - perhaps, a sign of things to come as conservation projects no longer remain the sole domain of the "conservation" profession, but more as a cross-disciplinary enterprise?
Restoring the Cutty Sark
go to programme web-page
also
from BBC news
Landmark ship 'faces collapse'
go to article
The latest from BBC Radio 4 Material World explores the thinking and preparation which goes into the conservation of the historic ship, Cutty Sark, currently dry-docked in Greenwich, UK. The conservation plan behind the full-size ship involves complex computer-modeling for physical movements and changes as the ship is being treated using electrolysis to extract sodium salts from its iron hull. It is also interesting to note that the 2 key personnel being interviewed on the BCC Radio 4 programme are not conservators - perhaps, a sign of things to come as conservation projects no longer remain the sole domain of the "conservation" profession, but more as a cross-disciplinary enterprise?
from Modern Art Notes
Museum Ethics
go to Part 1
go to Part 2
go to Part 3
In a climate of increasing pressure on museums in securing funding avenues, it could lead to actions which might tether in between that grey area of unconventional idea and outright unethical.
The particular instance being highlighted involve a set of "popular" paintings - 21 Impressionist paintings by Claude Monet belonging to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts - which went on loan (or "rental", as some would see it) to a private gallery in Las Vegas in return for a purported fee of US$ 1 million.
As the private gallery was not an accredited museum or gallery, concerns were raised when there was a subsequent city-wide power failure lasting for up to 3-days. The display conditions became less than optimal and risk of damage was significantly increased. In spite of assurances being put out by the private gallery and the museum on the condition of the artworks, questions remained on the wisdom and even professional ethics behind such a loan, which appeared to be motivated by commercial gains to a large extent.
Museum Ethics
go to Part 1
go to Part 2
go to Part 3
In a climate of increasing pressure on museums in securing funding avenues, it could lead to actions which might tether in between that grey area of unconventional idea and outright unethical.
The particular instance being highlighted involve a set of "popular" paintings - 21 Impressionist paintings by Claude Monet belonging to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts - which went on loan (or "rental", as some would see it) to a private gallery in Las Vegas in return for a purported fee of US$ 1 million.
As the private gallery was not an accredited museum or gallery, concerns were raised when there was a subsequent city-wide power failure lasting for up to 3-days. The display conditions became less than optimal and risk of damage was significantly increased. In spite of assurances being put out by the private gallery and the museum on the condition of the artworks, questions remained on the wisdom and even professional ethics behind such a loan, which appeared to be motivated by commercial gains to a large extent.
from The Guardian
Hidden Picasso goes on show
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An example of investigative work on paintings using X-radiography, which in this case helped to reveal and visualise a painting under an existing one that would impact on the study of art history.
Hidden Picasso goes on show
go to article
An example of investigative work on paintings using X-radiography, which in this case helped to reveal and visualise a painting under an existing one that would impact on the study of art history.
from Chrisitan Science Monitor
Preservationists raid the pantry
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A timely reminder that the selection of appropriate conservation materials begin from the basic principle of understanding material science and behaviour, instead of relying on an unquestioning acceptance that specially formulated materials must somehow always be the "best"!
Preservationists raid the pantry
go to article
A timely reminder that the selection of appropriate conservation materials begin from the basic principle of understanding material science and behaviour, instead of relying on an unquestioning acceptance that specially formulated materials must somehow always be the "best"!
from Metropolis Magazine
Tending a Legacy
go to article (PDF format)
Preserving an architect's legacy entails the conservation of actual buildings and structures. What if it is the legacy of a landscape architect, where creative output takes the form of growing fauna and the ambience of a specific place?
Tending a Legacy
go to article (PDF format)
Preserving an architect's legacy entails the conservation of actual buildings and structures. What if it is the legacy of a landscape architect, where creative output takes the form of growing fauna and the ambience of a specific place?
Labels:
architecture conservation
from The Straits Times
Cleaning walls? No sweat - just add sunlight and rain
go to article (PDF format)
This is an interesting development in Singapore for a coating technology which self-cleans by taking advantage of the chemical reaction on organic grime activated by ultra-violet radiation in sunlight and titanium dioxide. It might not be long before we actually see outdoor sculptures which require minimal maintenance here!
Cleaning walls? No sweat - just add sunlight and rain
go to article (PDF format)
This is an interesting development in Singapore for a coating technology which self-cleans by taking advantage of the chemical reaction on organic grime activated by ultra-violet radiation in sunlight and titanium dioxide. It might not be long before we actually see outdoor sculptures which require minimal maintenance here!
from The New York Times
A Building Is an Eyesore and Must Go? Grade it X
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An interesting idea which seeks to identify buildings so hated and vilified that they must be destroyed, in order to preserve the urban fabric from aesthetic ruin. These buildings will be accorded a Grade X to differentiate them from those listed for preservation.
A Building Is an Eyesore and Must Go? Grade it X
go to article
An interesting idea which seeks to identify buildings so hated and vilified that they must be destroyed, in order to preserve the urban fabric from aesthetic ruin. These buildings will be accorded a Grade X to differentiate them from those listed for preservation.
"What makes [the] proposal timely is that it also offers food for thought to cities, above all in Asia, that are engaged in wild construction booms, accompanied at times by the destruction of traditional neighborhoods. The skyline of the future is being drawn now. So will skyscrapers heralded today deserve an X rating tomorrow? Will today's daring designs look dated tomorrow?"What's laudable in such a proposal is that it puts the issue of preservation squarely back into the value-ridden realm of selection and meaning-making, instead of an exercise which claim to operate outside the sphere of subjective values.
Labels:
architecture conservation
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