Are you a Scientist or an Artist?

It has only been since I have taken on the responsibility of the AOR. Association of Restorers that I have been challenged with what "should" be done. (Others opinions) This has created within me, the desire to search out what causes this void in communication between the "practical" restorer and the conservator.

I am choosing to address this topic because of all the great restorers that are out there, both in the "practical" and the "preservation" world of restoration. I see a great need for all restorers, no matter what level, to assist each other. The whole field will benefit once we start communicating openly. We need each other!

I have been pondering the words restorer, conservator, conservator/restorer, and restorer/conservator, for over two years. Who does what and why?

It was not until my visit to Williamsburg, while scouting out the area for the convention that it became clear to me. After my personal guided tour of the conservation labs, I gained insight into understanding the world of conservation.

Simply stated:

1. The conservator is approaching restoration from a preservation point of view; it is science! Those working on projects in a labs are SCIENTISTS!

2 the "practical" restorer is approaching restoration from an aesthetic point of view, to make an item sound and to appear undamaged. Those working on these projects are ARTISTS! One operates from learned knowledge the other from given talent.

(These are opinions of mine and as I stated are worded in a very simple form to make a point. There are many areas where both the Scientist’s and the Artist’s information and procedures cross over.)

To illustrate this, I will tell you about my experience at a Conservation labs. I was introduced to three furniture conservators who were analyzing whether a tabletop was originally pegged or nailed. They were reproducing the exact table for a replication of a period. Everything had to be exactly performed to the precise original construction.

As I involved myself into their conversation I realized an in-depth study was taking place about the table; was it pegged or was it nailed." I recognized this conversation had been going on long before I entered the picture. I then recognized it would continue until they had exhausted all avenues to determine what was the order of sequence. A case, where time is a tool!

My Point: Only a scientist has the availability (luxury) of time. And with this time comes the equipment. There is a special room for every application. The labs are similar to those of a hospital lab. Everything is in pristine condition. Every thinkable tool is at their need. Individual portable fume hoses, down draft tables, perfect lighting, magnifying glasses, and correct atmospheric conditions are the surroundings in which they work. In one room I viewed large tanks. I did not know what they were for; so large and so many. I assumed they housed different types of compressed gasses, but for what? In answer to my question; "the tanks contain different gases that are used to identify the compositions of an item." They were hooked up to oven size boxes where items could be placed. There was no one available to demonstrate how they worked, but I assume this is a process of dating an item or finding out what its composition is.

I had a chat with an object art conservator. A study was being made on a salt glaze jar. It was approximately 10" tall. They were putting it through tests to identify it as an authentic period piece. The way it was painted suggested that possibly at some time additional design had been added to it or it was a reproduction. Due to the studies it was determined to be an original.

Along with research comes documentation. This can be a time consuming process, but once it is completed for all history we will have records and exact information on these intense research findings and their applications. So in the large picture of preservation/conservation, restoration techniques need to be exemplified to the nth degree. This information is also useful in case further restoration needs to be performed at a later date. These records become an important ingredient of the piece because now it and the restoration becomes part of its history.

Now there are the "practical" restoring artists who exist in the not so perfect surroundings. Time is a rarity, equipment is limited, (tools are purchased from the local hardware store), documentation is that of an invoice, and we are greeted by the customer’s words "how much and can I have it by tomorrow."

Is the picture becoming clearer? I know it has for me.

For years the artist, who has mostly learned by trial and error, has held tightly to their secrets. After all there was no one that shared information with him or her. I even know of a situation where an employee was withholding technical information from his employer for fear he would not be needed anymore. He would not perform his "Magic" in the presence of the owner. We need to think big, step out of our boxes, and share with others. What we share will come back, only greater. I have seen this over and over since the beginning of the AOR. We need to open up the channels of communication so the knowledge between the Scientist and the Artist will flow. With the creation of the AOR, Association of Restorers, others are coming forward and writing articles, conservators are taking the time to disseminate the technical terms so the artist restorer can comprehend them. Over the last two years I have seen the object art field and the wood restoration explode with information. Choices of applications and techniques are being shared throughout the industry. We all need the information from both the artist and scientist to give an item the best direction.

I would like to see more insight into the world of conservation through the scientist’s eyes that is openly shared with the Artist. I would like to see the Artist share their skills with the scientists so it can be woven into their application of preservation. The Artist needs to gain knowledge of the long-term effects of an application to make the best choice. There is no other way to do this than through communication. Communication will fill this void. WE NEED EACH OTHER!