DISPATCH - NOV 4, 2012 (10:44 a.m.)
NEW YORK CITY, NY
It's no news that impact from Superstorm Sandy is being keenly felt in the Chelsea art gallery district. After some galleries and artworks were washed in water, the recovery efforts still continue. Installations and sculpture may have received the brunt of the damage, according to media reporting. It's probable there are other galleries, art collectors, artists and cultural institutions that fell within Sandy's path that may also be grappling with restoring damaged artworks.
Today, the Museum of Modern Art is holding a workshop providing information on how art can be restored and the steps to take. They've also published "Collection Emergency Response" and posted it on their website.
MoMA is holding a workshop today from noon to 2 p.m. The "Consortium on Conserving Works of Art Damaged by Flooding " will be held in Theater 3 (The Celeste Bartos Theater) at the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building at 4 West 54 Street, New York. The workshop is free.
It will be led by MoMA's conversation staff and speakers from the American Institute for Conservation Emergency Response Team, according to a letter issued by MoMA's director Glenn D. Lowry. Topics expected are ways to handle damaged paintings, drawings, books, sculpture and other artistic and cultural materials, according to a museum release.
The museum's "Collection Emergency Response" includes advice for water-damaged prints, drawings, photographs, books and archival materials. Recovery from mold damage information is included in the document. Immediate steps and drying methods that can minimize damage are listed. A chart itemizing immediate responses to stabilize heavily water-damaged materials is also part of the document. It includes actions to take and the appropriate professional to call for restoration.
Information on the workshop and downloading a free copy of "Collections Emergency Response" can be found at www.moma.org.
The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is offering free emergency response assistance to cultural organizations, according to MoMA's website. For 24-hour assistance, call 202-661-8068 for advice by phone. To arrange for onsite help with damage assessment or salvage organizations, cultural organizations can call 202-661-8068.
They have also have online guides for disaster response and recovery plus conservation information. See www.conservation-us.org.
ADDITIONAL: Stories chronically the damage and recovery by Chelsea art galleries are being told by multiple publications, including The New York Times, Gallerist NY, ArtInfo, Hyperallergic and others. Here's a few links:
New York Times: "Where Creations Faced Destruction" by Allan Kozinn. Published Oct 31, 2012.
Gallerist NY: "Chelsea Galleries Begin Recovery Work" by Andrew Russeth. Published Nov 1, 2012.
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Timely article, Pat. Thanks for putting it together for us!