from The New York Times
Preserve Performance Art? Can You Preserve the Wind?
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Towards the end of the article, the writer attempts - in a throw-away manner - to link "conservatism" to efforts in the conservation of contemporary art - such as performance, conceptual, and ephemeral art - which are created specifically to negate the notion of direct material significance and preservation (in a museum). Even if we allow for that comment - which must be said to be uncritical and unsubstantiated - it should still give us, who are in the field of art and heritage conservation, pause for thought. Perhaps, such throw-away remarks arise because we have missed opportunities in articulating what is it that drives our work - not some broad empty label of "conservatism" or even "preservation", but a more nuanced and considered understanding of materials, significance and interventions. There is surely a need to enter into an introspection of what is it that we assume that we do.

from The San Francisco Examiner
Public art debate
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A classic case of how a good idea can easily spiral down the path of apathy - becoming more of a burden than anything else - when there is a lack of community support. When publicly sited art is mandated rather than springing forth from a deep-seated desire of the larger community, then its negligence is all the more likely. Indeed, preservation work must begin with the community, rather than with materials.

from The Times of Malta
Heritage Malta defends language museum project
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An interesting idea to have a language museum, which exemplifies how cultural identity can be forged through a concerted effort in preserving the intangible heritage of a community. It would also be helpful to bear in mind that tangible materials and resources are needed in showcasing and recording the otherwise intangible aspects of heritage. Hence, to draw a rigid distinction between tangible and intangible heritage might not be terribly helpful in the larger picture of preservation.

from PhysicsWeb
Spiders get a grip
go to press releases here and here
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An intriguing adaptation of the natural ability of the spider to "stick" to walls and ceilings without dropping off for use in the design of adhesives. If such an adhesive is eventually developed, it might see uses in conservation treatments, such as the application of temporary facings, adhesives or supports, which would be totally reversible.

from EurekaAlert!
From top quarks to the blues
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This must surely qualify as a worthy and ingenious use of imaging research which normally is employed in the study of sub-atomic physics. By using a non-contact method of mapping the surface typography of a mechanically recorded surface - such as a vinyl record or even those very early sound cylinders - no damage will be done to these fragile objects in the process of extracting sound from these old recording media. Subsequently, software algorithms are then applied to these surface mappings to digitally decode and translate them into actual sounds, which can then be recorded digitally in order to be preserved.

from Slate
Reversing Vandalism
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A remarkable effort in transforming vandalised books that were damaged beyond reasonable repair into captivating works of art. It is one example of how meaning and significance can transcend material form and evolve with subsequent interventions.

Keynote address by Dr Pisit Charoenwongsa, Director, SEAMEO SPAFA
Conservation and its Aftermath - The Wise Use of Heritage Resources
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link to SEAMEO-SPAFA web-site

As the flow of financial and economic resources into heritage conservation efforts become restricted or erratic, the need to examine the issue of long-term sustainbility in the field of heritage conservation becomes all the more pressing. One viable solution, proposed by Dr Pisit, is to build community relevance and engagement:

"Community-based management, which involves a wide range of stakeholders, is perhaps the only key to achieve success in the hardly-popular effort of "conservation," which to most people denotes unfortunately something that is static or resistant to change. It is imperative to expand the stage of conservation that now seemed to have assumed a specific timeframe of commencement-action-cessation. To do this, the practice of conservation must be sustained beyond the 'project' to become entrenched as a philosophy, a cultural habit and a way of life."

This shift in outlook and mindset is also necessary in moderating the sometime over-zealous tendency of heritage conservation work to over-emphasise issues of "ethics" and "what-should-be-done" -- resulting in the mistaken view of such efforts as being moralising and somewhat parochial. Seeking an in-depth understanding of the wider societal context and community needs will surely translate heritage conservation efforts into real benefits for all concern.

from The Scientist
Biohistory guidelines urged
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When the examination of historical evidence involves exhuming and removing human remains, it becomes all the more pertinent that a strong code of ethics must be put in place and closely observed by all - much more so than for inanimate material objects.

from BBC News
Paper DVDs on the horizon
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A curious convergence in the preservation of data - no longer will it solely be analogue (paper) versus digital, but a heady combination of both!

from The New York Times
Titanic Scientist Begins Effort to Save 'Museum of the Deep'
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An incredible effort to try and preserve the actively disintegrating segments of shipwrecks, and of the Titanic in particular.

"The world's oceans are the museums of the deep," said the team's leader, Dr. Robert D. Ballard. "It is in the interest of all peoples to protect and conserve both wrecks of recent history as well as submerged sites of antiquity."

However, it presuppose that actual preservation of the physical material and evidence of the shipwreck would serve as the best means of preservation. Putting aside the question of cost-effectiveness, would having the entire shipwreck in a well-preserved state be the most appropriate way of "keeping" the memory of its history? We may have a visual and physical imprint of the actual artefact, but without active and sustained scholarship, that imprint may well end up serving as mere eye-candy - and a very expensive one at that.