recovering collections & artifacts: workshops statewide

RECOVERING COLLECTIONS & ARTIFACTS
Workshops for Mississippi’s Residents and Cultural Institutions

A series of free workshops will be held throughout the state, from May through November 2006, focusing on the recovery of water-damaged objects from public, private and family collections. Each will be conducted by a team of conservators and conservation graduate students from the Winterthur Museum and the University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation who have been working with institutions on the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina. Through lecture, demonstration and hands-on exercises participants will learn how to safely handle, assess, dry and clean damaged objects. Participants also will begin to form a statewide core group to respond to future cultural collection emergencies. These workshops are sponsored by the Winterthur Museum, University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, with funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.


Workshops for Cultural Institutions
These one-day workshops are open to all individuals, paid employees and volunteers, responsible for the care of collections that are open to the public. These sessions will be held on the Jefferson Davis campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gulfport; they will include a morning of lecture and demonstration followed by an afternoon of hands-on exercises involving wet and dirty objects. Sessions will include relevant handouts and lists of resources and contacts. Pre-registration is required. Lunch will be available for purchase at the college.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Gulfport, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
May 18 Textiles and Costumes
June 21 Photographs
July 13 Books, Manuscripts and Art-on-Paper
September 21 Paintings and Painted Surfaces
October 12 Objects (Glass, Metal, Ceramic, Leather)
November 16 Furniture and Wooden Objects


Workshops for Mississippi Residents
These half-day workshops are open to all Mississippians with a private collection or family treasures already damaged or at risk for future storm related damage. Participants may bring a photograph of a damaged item, but do not damage your item further by bringing it to the workshop. Each session will deal generally with all types of objects but then focus on a particular category. Through lecture, demonstration, and question and answer, participants will learn how to respond promptly and effectively to stabilize damaged objects and then seek further help as necessary. Sessions will include relevant handouts and lists of resources and contacts.

Biloxi, Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Margaret S. Sherry Memorial Library
May 20 Textiles and Costumes
June 24 Photographs
October 14 Objects (Glass, Metal, Ceramic, Leather)
November 18 Furniture and Wooden Object

Jackson, Sundays, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Winter Building
May 21 Textiles and Costume
June 25 Photograph
September 24 Paintings and Painted Surface

Oxford, Saturday, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Oxford Depot
July 15 Books, Manuscripts and Art-on-Paper

Cleveland, Sunday, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Capps Archives and Museum Bldg, Delta State U.
July 16 Books, Manuscripts and Art-on-Paper

Laurel, Saturday, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
September 23 Paintings and Painted Surfaces

Columbus, Sunday, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Columbus/Lowndes Public Library
October 15 Objects (Glass, Metal, Ceramic, Leather)

Natchez, Sunday, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., Historic Natchez Foundation Commerce at Main
November 19 Furniture and Wooden Objects


Site Visits to Cultural Institutions
Site visits are available to any cultural institution including libraries, archives, museums, historical societies and historic houses open to the public. Members of the workshop team will advise staff on the protection and recovery of objects already damaged or at risk for damage by storms, leaks or other water related events. To minimize travel time, site visits will be clustered regionally. Dates for each region may be shifted depending upon requests from institutions. Use the space on the Cultural Institution Workshop registration form or contact Eleana Pope to request a site visit. PLEASE register early.

Coast & Southeast Region May 19, June 22, October 13, November 17

Central / West Region May 22, June 26, September 22, November 20

Central / East Region September 25

Northeast Region July 14, October 16

Northwest Region July 17


For More Information
Contact Eleana Pope 601-576-6850 or epope@mdah.state.ms.us