We’re joined by special guest host Patrick Whife, Icon’s Training & Development Manager, as we talk about the challenges facing the conservation and wider heritage world — and what we can do support the sector. We talk advocacy, unions, CPD and more! Also tune in for a review of ’Culture is Bad for You’ which gets Jenny all fired up.
01:08 What’s the current picture like?
07:02 What do we know of the impact on conservators?
11:52 Kloe’s justified anger
19:45 Hey, maybe join a union
26:57 What’s Icon doing right now?
31:26 What are other bodies doing?
33:46 Advocacy, jobs, and apprenticeships
40:26 Accreditation and CPD during a pandemic
45:35 Review: Culture is Bad for You
50:56 Patreon shout out
Huddle around the camp fire of your imagination with us as we trade ghost stories and creepy anecdotes with special guest host Aly Singh: it’s time for our first ever Halloween special! Also tune in for bewitching brew at the Benchwork Bar, and a review of ’Anatomica: The Exquisite and Unsettling Art of Human Anatomy’ for extra goosebumps!
01:19 Creepy collections and odd objects
11:23 Working in haunted places
39:50 What would WE haunt?
44:11 Conservation Halloween costumes
48:04 Benchwork Bar: Worker’s Comp
50:08 Review: ’Anatomica – The Exquisite and Unsettling Art of Human Anatomy’
Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, and Aly Singh.
Intro and outro music by DDmyzik used under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Additional sound effects from Audio Jungle, Sound Bible, and public domain sources.
Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.
We’re joined by special guest hosts Jeremy Uden and Marina de Alarcón from the Pitt Rivers Museum as we discuss the return of cultural objects. What are some of the attitudes we’ve encountered, and what is the role of the conservator in this? Kloe talks to Mark Furness about preparing objects for return, and Daniel Schwartz about how we can become better facilitators. Also tune in for a review of ’Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits’ by Chip Colwell.
00:00:52 Repatriation or restitution?
00:03:01 Attitudes in the sector
00:10:47 Where did we get these things to begin with?
00:13:38 Knowing what you’ve got
00:16:41 Role of conservators
00:24:32 Reactions and dialogue
00:28:19 Stewardship not ownership
00:31:23 Gains, not losses
00:37:35 Our place within restitution
00:44:06 Interview with Mark Furness
00:55:58 Interview with Daniel Schwartz
01:04:55 Review: ’Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits’
We’re joined by special guest host and material scientist Anna Ploszajski as we try to unpick how conservators approach the materials they use for treating objects: what do we look for and how do we use them? Kloe takes us through her thought process when she tries a new paint range and Jenny encourages people to share their low tech testing. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about whether or not conservators need to be artistic.
01:48 Getting to know your materials
03:50 Are specialisms a myth?
05:55 Trying new things
12:01 How do we find and test new materials?
18:44 Kloe’s experiments with Lascaux Sirius and textiles
44:56 The practical side of testing something new
48:36 Dear Jane
51:53 Patreon shout out
We’re joined by special guest host Fi White as we chat about filming in heritage settings: from bodice rippers and period dramas to music videos and news segments! Kloe interviews Wendy Somerville-Woodiwis about actors on trains, and Jenny talks to freelance filming conservator Kate Bertenshaw about the basics of film crew herding. Also tune in for a review of the film ’Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Another.’
04:11 Our experiences of filming
11:20 Set dressing and adapting the space
23:55 Why don’t we share filming experiences more?
30:07 Risks and rewards
36:43 Interview with Wendy Somerville-Woodiwis
49:10 Interview with Kate Bertenshaw
56:50 Review: ’Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Another’
We have a catch up and chat about returning to work after lockdown. We read out and listen to some contributions from people who either have gone back into work or are waiting to get the green light. Round off the season with a First Wave Back cocktail at the Benchwork Bar on your way out!
00:52 What’s our situation like?
08:52 Our Twitter poll
13:29 How museums are changing
15:53 Listener contributions (part 1)
30:21 Listener contributions (part 2)
48:52 How do we feel right now?
51:59 Benchwork Bar: First Wave Back
We zoom in on the topic of photography conservation and photos in collections with guest host Lorraine Finch. From positives to negatives, we build a picture of some common things look out for and discuss some ways of storing vintage photos. Also tune in for a review of ‘Twentieth-Century Color Photographs – Identification and Care’ and an Albumen cocktail (and mocktail) at the Benchwork Bar!
00:00:45 Do object conservators come across many old photos?
00:06:44 What sort of photos do we mostly encounter?
00:15:13 Book recommendations galore
00:16:23 Kloe frets about modern photography
00:20:53 Polaroid revival and instant photos
00:23:24 Common types of damage
00:31:56 Storage solutions
00:39:19 Treat it or lose it
00:47:25 Review: ‘Twentieth-Century Color Photographs – Identification and Care’
00:53:37 Benchwork Bar: Albumen
01:01:40 Patreon shout out
We squint at the topic of light in this illuminating episode: guest host Sarah Potter enlightens us while Jenny thinks about communication and Kloe reveals she has super eye sight. Christina interviews David Saunders and Jenny reviews his new book about museum lighting. Also tune in for a Dear Jane about dissertations, and a Fluorescent Bulb at the Benchwork Bar!
00:03:00 How we light our galleries
00:15:40 Light monitoring routines
00:20:13 Light levels and material types
00:21:41 Communicating about low light levels
00:28:13 Lights inside cases are basically the devil
00:31:54 Interview with David Saunders
00:59:37 Smart glass?!
01:01:40 Review: ‘Museum Lighting – A Guide for Conservators and Curators’
01:05:45 Dear Jane
01:10:50 Benchwork Bar: Fluorescent Bulb
01:13:53 Patreon shout out
We get philosophical about gap filling and loss compensation in various conservation disciplines: why do we do it and how far do we take it? Kloe interviews Ellie Sweetnam about disruptive conservation and boldly coloured fills, and Jenny reviews ’Pottery and Porcelain Restoration’ by Roger Hawkins. Also join us for a tipple at the Benchwork Bar, and an emotional Dear Jane with a guest contribution from Nerys Rudder.
00:01:14 So is it gap filling or loss compensation, guys?
00:11:34 Does emotion come into play?
00:15:20 Interview with Ellie Sweetnam
00:28:19 Visibility and ethics
00:34:58 Techniques and materials
00:39:51 Damage as something good
00:45:48 Can we enjoy repairs?
00:49:08 Review: ‘Pottery and Porcelain Restoration – A Practical Guide’
00:54:05 Dear Jane
01:05:31 Comments, questions, and corrections
01:06:03 Benchwork Bar: Pulp Fill
We’re joined by special guest host Erika Lewis as we talk about the role of technicians, and how conservators and techs work hand in hand (or glove in glove). How do we best work together and what might that look like in different situations? Also tune in for an Exhibit Opener with Amanda at the Benchwork Bar and a book review from Jenny.
00:54 What are technicians?
08:03 Where can we find them?
16:31 Qualifications and such
17:22 Communicating with employers
25:55 Sexism rears its ugly head
29:50 Nurturing your patience
37:02 The perks
39:23 Review: ’Sidney Nolan – The Artists’ Materials’
42:45 Benchwork Bar: The Exhibit Opener
45:38 Comments, questions, corrections – and an addendum!
