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  • 1.  Collections care in galleries

    Posted 04-09-2022 08:47
    Hi all!
    Our exhibit designer asked me two questions this morning and I wanted to get some input from our collective perspectives!

    1. What product are your exhibits departments using for text labels inside exhibit cases for long-term exhibits?
     
    For our special exhibits where labels are going on walls we're using printed vinyl, but we know not to use that inside our new nicely sealed glass cases. She's considering going "back in time" to the old standard of dry mounting paper onto foam core and then mounting that with wax. Just wondering what other options might be out there for bigger sizes and something more "modern"?

    2. Our education department would like to have an activity station in one of our permanent galleries with pencils and pages for drawing/coloring. They are wondering about whether colored pencils are better or worse than standard graphite pencils?

    Thanks for your feedback on either or both questions!
    TGIF!
    Angela

    Angela J. Linn  
    she/her

    Senior Collections Manager, Ethnology & History


  • 2.  RE: Collections care in galleries

    Posted 04-11-2022 11:34
    Hello Angela,

    Thank you for connecting with the community. Our exhibits department has used 4-ply museum board as the support for in-case labels, but only for shorter-term exhibits (2-years max). I look forward to hearing what experiences the community has had regarding the use of colored pencils over graphite at an activity station.

    Additionally, the AIC Wiki's How Do I Choose What To Use & Materials Testing Results pages can be referenced for the suitability of materials used in exhibitions.

    ------------------------------
    Sharon Fickeissen
    Library Conservation Technician
    Hagley Museum & Library
    Wilmington DE
    (302) 658-2400
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Collections care in galleries

    Posted 04-11-2022 11:34
    Hello Angela,

    I hope you are doing well.

    For your first question, for long term exhibits, we go the route of printing on paper, dry mounting it on thick museum board, and adhering it with double sided tape. For labels on walls, we usually print the large labels, dry mount it on foam core and then adhere it with double sided tape. We use vinyl to call attention to specific things, such as a quote by the artist or as an introduction. 

    And for your second question, I would suggest only standard graphite pencils that are pre sharpened, and to have someone specific go in and be sure that the pencils are always sharpened. (We've had an education space that was quite successful at the start, but as the pencils dulled down, there were plenty of complaints. This seems to be an issue, such as running out of paper and not restocking) My reasoning for suggesting graphite over colored pencils is that kids tend to remove items from the education space, could write on walls/pedestals, etc. and its much more difficult to remove.

    Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.

    Sincerely,

    Allison

    ------------------------------
    Allison Valdivia
    Registrar/Exhibits Tech
    San Antonio Museum of Art
    San Antonio TX
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    Original Message


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