This document discusses best practices for storing and transporting art objects. It describes condition reports, guidelines for various storage methods like shelving, racks and cabinets, and considerations for transportation both within and outside of museums. Optimal storage provides physical security and environmental protection while allowing access. Transportation requires cushioning objects from vibration, shock and damage. The goal is to preserve the condition of art objects over their lifetime using appropriate handling and storage.

1. Storage and Transportation of Art Objects ENGI/HUMA 240 Matthew Wettergreen, PhD

2. Lifetime of the Art Object Condition Report Transportation (inside museum) Transportation (outside museum) Accession Storage

3. Accession / Condition Report

4. Condition Report Falls under the Registrar Report of the condition of the art object Includes drawing of the object with noted abnormalities Written description of damage or aging Often includes imaging data

5. Transportation (inside museum)

6. Transportation (inside museum) Uses art handling best practices “Low” risk Applies individual museum’s standard guidelines

7. Storage

8. Storage “The basic principle of art storage is to keep the object in a physically secure environment but yet permit ready access for inspection” Why is this needed? Museum collections grow ~1.5% per year Less than 10% of most collections are shown

9. What does Storage do for your Museum? Organizes space efficiently Facilitates access to collections Provides physical support Provides environmental protection Encourages logical organization Reinforces good handling practices

10. Issues with Non-Dedicated Storage Crowded hallways Carelessness Environmental issues Accidents Heavy traffic Empty packing crates

11. Storage Planning Begins with organizational requirements Dependent upon size, value, composition, physical needs of art objects Factors in size and nature of storage space Requires decision of nature and frequency of collection usage Dependent upon institution’s budget 1985, per year cost per object was $65 Optimally separate from normal traffic

12. Guidelines for Storage Selection Avoid false economies Stable, non-reactive materials Focus on modularity Object requirements dictate storage choice Elevate objects Segregation of storage from normal usage Weight, size, sensitivity

13. Types of Storage Open Storage Closed Storage Shelving Vertical racks Dollies Pallets Lockers Cabinets

14. Open Storage Designed for objects too heavy for cabinets Designed for objects too large for cabinets Objects are highly visible and accessible Offers zero environmental control Materials Wood: pallets Steel: shelving Aluminum: Racks

15. Shelving Designed for objects to large or heavy for cabinets Coverings Covered with plastic Placed behind waterproof/dustproof curtains Design Uprights and horizontals Baked on enamel Constructed of nuts and bolts Can be cantilevered Advantages Flexible construction Varied widths

16. Vertical Racks Traditionally for paintings Pull out racks Space efficient Design rigid metal frame supporting a grill objects are suspended on the grill Advantages high visibility mobile racks are space efficient Disadvantages weight support for heavy objects improper securing can result in warped objects

17. Pallets /Dollies Perfect for large objects Boats, skulls Minerals, fossils Design Wood or metal May include casters Advantages cushioning from shock, vibration, abrasion may be covered with a tarp Disadvantages Space inefficient

18. Closed Storage Designed for smaller objects Offers environmental protection Offers additional accident protection Greater degree of control

19. Cabinets Provide the greatest protection from all manners of risks Solidly constructed, gasketed, metal case lockable = high security solid doors = light exclusion Solid construction = minimize water leaks and flooding Well sealed = buffers contents humidity temperature pests particulates gaseous pollutants Design steel with 11-16 gauge frame with 18-20 gauge skin powder coated steel white coating is best for temperature and display of dust available in multiple sizes, depths and drawer heights

20. Cabinets (continued) Versatile options: rollout shelves, drawers, flat trays, screens, slide-out surfaces, desiccant drawers, metal rods for tubes, bars for hanging may be configured for entomology or botany Gasket Design poly(dymethylsiloxane), PDMS poly(diphenylsiloxane), PDPS ethylene vinyl acetate (closed cell), EVA ethylene propylene diene monomer, EPDM

21. Mobile Storage Combination of open/closed Augments existing storage solution Highest space efficiency Requires weight calculations for floor limits

22. Compactors Banks mounted on platforms moving along tracks think of as “moving shelves” Requires weight calculations of floor capacity Propelling system manual assisted manual electrical Cabinets and shelving systems can be mounted onto mobile compactors Lockable = added security

23. Transportation (outside museum)

24. Issues with Transportation Vibration Shock Impact Human error Different facilities Accidents

25. Transportation (outside museum) High risk Involves the use of crates Uses a principle of “most cushioning” Assumes the object will experience vibration, shock, damage Packed for unknown conditions and unknown handlers

26. Crates Wood frame Individually constructed Built from stock wood and fasteners Inner support structure Sometimes wood Foam Wrapper surrounding object

27. Crate Design

28. Anatomy of a Crate

29. Anatomy of a Crate (2)

30. Crate Design (3)

31. Your Semester project:create your own storage system

32. Picture References Slide 2 http://texasarchitect.blogspot.com/2009/07/tsa-2009-cornerstone-award-john-and.html http://www.fineartship.com/2009/04/the-condition-report-quick-start-rules/ http://www.logar.co.at/e/nonpublicspaces.htm http://www.fineartship.com/images/crating_C.jpg Slide 5 http://www.fineartship.com/2009/04/the-condition-report-quick-start-rules/ Slide 7 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2098729951_2dcaf7260b.jpg http://photos.jpgmag.com/1379494_204492_3fefc2693e_p.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hsTuDxtqI7c/Sa8ca293zII/AAAAAAAAJN4/bO-xc1X-CwQ/s400/8.jpg Slide 14 http://www.meyermat.com/Images/n-dolly(umnrg2).jpg http://www.montel.com/images/img_products/art-rack_movable-panels/141_1.jpg http://www.ifurn.com/pics/8/studio-designs/flat-file-storage-cabinet.RTA607A.1.800.jpg Slide 16 http://filesdown.esecure.co.uk/museumID/GlasgowOpenStorage.jpg_17072009-1327-26.jpg Slide 17 http://museum.spacesaver.com/DefaultFilePile/Public/Museum/MuseumContent/art_01.jpg http://www.hdfiles.com/images/Art%20Rack/Art%20Rack%20Sliding%20Shelving%20System.JPG http://www.hdfiles.com/images/Art%20Rack/Art%20Rack%20Shelving%20Storage%20Systems.jpg

33. Picture References Slide 20 http://montel.com Slide 23 http://www.hdfiles.com/images/Art%20Rack/Art%20Rack%20Storage%20That%20Condenses%20Art%20Storage.JPG Slide 25 http://artransintl.com/images/crate_symbols.png Slide 27, 28 http://www.flickr.com/photos/39016610@N06/ Slide 29 http://www.fineartship.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/img_69083.jpg Slide 30 http://www.flickr.com/photos/39016610@N06/ Slide 31 http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2386729423_00a06df1b8.jpg http://rebul.com.au/media/images/sculpture-from-below.jpg