http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/ is the place to find out the latest about the Bloch Building, Nelson-Atkins Building and the Kansas City Sculpture Park. Sound off here about your experiences and be inspired for your next visit. en Copyright 2011 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:42:43 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Platter with Kufic Inscription. Garland noted that the platter appeared to have many fills as well as several areas where overpainting was done by a 20th-century restorer to conceal old breaks. The platter was cleaned with acetone solvent to remove as much of the dirt and overpaint as was safely possible. As she slowly cleaned, using a wooden stick and cotton tip soaked in the acetone, Garland pointed to areas around the platter’s edges where restorers added paint over the original glaze. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/03/treatment_of_persian_platter.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/03/treatment_of_persian_platter.html Conservation Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:42:43 -0600 survey, repair on a vase, and careful cleaning of an inkwell. A recent project for Kress Fellow Conservation Intern Jiafang Liang has been on the late 12th-early 13th century Persian bowl pictured below. It is composed of earthenware with a lead glaze and depicts a scene of a courtier and attendants, hence its descriptive title: Bowl with Scene of Courtier and Attendants. During her examination, Jiafang found evidence of previous restoration. She pointed out areas where that work is more obvious, including cracks in artificially painted glaze as well as differences in enamel paints, design and texture. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/03/looking_closely_at_a_persian_bowl.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/03/looking_closely_at_a_persian_bowl.html Conservation Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:05:53 -0600 Dear friends, I am certain that, like me, you have been following the events unfolding in Egypt with vivid interest. Just a little while ago Mubarak officially transferred the powers to the military, and all of Egypt is celebrating what is sure to be a historic moment: a major bloodless revolution powered by the connectivity that technology brings to all of us. The assertiveness of the young Facebook generation and the daring of many contributed greatly to this change. Of course, the next days and months are critical in reinventing a nation with the democratic values that have been so strongly heralded by the people. These same tools are ones that have brought the world closer together and today, as they celebrate, I feel particularly close to the Egyptian people. Early in my career I had the opportunity to work in Egypt and immediately developed a love for the country and the rich variety of cultures that have emerged from Pharaonic times to the present. Many of my meetings were at the Cairo Museum, and I would stay at a nearby hotel, all around Tahir Square, which now will be known for these peaceful transformative events. In watching this, my emotions rose and I was reminded of 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. I had the privilege of flying into Berlin to witness those events first hand and was joined by my maternal grandmother who, in her youth, had to flee that same city. Chipping a part of that wall with her remains one of the highlights of my life. We are living incredible times, and I couldn’t refrain from sharing these thoughts with you. Best, Julian http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/02/a_note_from_our_directoregypts.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/02/a_note_from_our_directoregypts.html Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:20:13 -0600 If you visit the minimalism and conceptual art galleries over the month of February, you may see someone touching the art. Rose Daly, objects conservation graduate intern, will be assessing the condition and treating the sculpture End of Day: Nightscape IV. This is a unique opportunity to see art conservation in action, which is almost exclusively done behind the scenes in the Museum. Art conservation is the department concerned with the preservation and restoration of the art collection. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/02/louise_nevelsons_end_of_day_se.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/02/louise_nevelsons_end_of_day_se.html Conservation Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:55:54 -0600 The exhibition may have ended, but the Cups remain Forever. British artist Clare Twomey's installation of 1,345 Cups was an investigation into the ideas of permanence, responsibility and the perceived value of works of art. Twomey was inspired by a gift of 1,345 pieces of British ceramics by Harriet and Frank Burnap in 1941. The Burnaps stated repeatedly in the Deed of Gift that the collection be held by the Museum "in trust forever." ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/01/cups_of_plenty.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/01/cups_of_plenty.html Exhibitions Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:25:34 -0600 The treatment of Henry Moore’s Large Torso:Arch has begun! An earlier post highlighted the de-installation of this large bronze sculpture, when it was moved from the Kansas City Sculpture Park to the Objects Conservation Lab. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/01/treatment_begins_henry_moores.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2011/01/treatment_begins_henry_moores.html Conservation Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:30:13 -0600 Most people step outside their offices to get some air. At the Museum, we step outside to get art. I love walking through the Kansas City Sculpture Park most of the time. Typically, winter is not one of those times. However, since the temp has crept up into the 40s, I decided to venture out yesterday afternoon. I was delighted to find a good number of folks walking around the Sculpture Park. The sun was starting to set so the trees and sculptures were casting long shadows. Even with a good number of people milling about, the Park seemed more quiet and peaceful than usual. I found a new vantage point to view the East Sculpture Terrace. The Bloch Building is known for its magical nighttime glow, but the sun can make is shine like a diamond. The southeast corner of the Park is called the bowl. Henry Moore’s Reclining Connected Forms sits in a secluded area right off the busy street at the corner of Rockhill Road and Cleaver Blvd. During construction of the Bloch Building, many of the trees on the east side had to be removed. The trees in this section were saved, and they are some of my favorites, including the one that is growing sideways across the path. It looks like it has some extra support these days. I’ll leave you with a view of what I call “the granddaddy tree” that stands alone on the south end near Moore’s Sheep Piece. The temperature is supposed to be mild this week. The Sculpture Park is open during daylight hours. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/a_walk_in_the_park.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/a_walk_in_the_park.html Kansas City Sculpture Park Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:54:49 -0600 Conservation department has made significant progress restoring several 11-14th-century Islamic ceramic objects—some of which is highlighted in earlier entries (here and here). These ceramics have not been the sole focus, however, as a variety of objects are in the Islamic collection, including metal works. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/the_conservation_department_ha.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/the_conservation_department_ha.html Conservation Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:38:38 -0600 On October 6, acclaimed British artist Clare Twomey took time out of a busy week of preparation for the opening of Forever to talk with me about the ideas and background of the exhibition. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Twomey worked in close collaboration with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and, in particular, curator Catherine Futter. As part of her exploration of the history and processes of British ceramics, she was drawn to the Museum’s renowned Burnap Collection of English Pottery. The physical journey from Gallery P12, where the historic collection is displayed, to the contemporary spaces of the Bloch Building served as a catalyst for her project. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/conversation_with_clare_twomey.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/conversation_with_clare_twomey.html Exhibitions Thu, 09 Dec 2010 02:26:49 -0600 earlier blog post highlighted survey work on Islamic ceramics being conducted Nelson-Atkins Kress Fellow conservation intern, Jiafang Liang. Now, we’ll take a look at a conservation project influenced by information collected in that survey. Senior Conservator Kate Garland has been working to restore a 13th-14th-century Islamic ceramic vase. It is an archeological piece, like most of the Islamic pieces in the Museum’s collection. Most were found with varying degrees of breakage—this vase, in particular, had broken into 50 pieces. But why bother restoring a vase in such condition? ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/repairing_disfiguring_old_repa.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/12/repairing_disfiguring_old_repa.html Conservation Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:48:03 -0600 For an intimate exhibition of 30 works on paper, Romancing the West: Alfred Jacob Miller in the Bank of America Collection has a richness and depth one would expect from a much larger installation. Visitors are invited to “Take a Closer Look” with magnifying glasses, but even without the visual aid, you can clearly see the passion, action and emotion of Miller’s compositions. Three images in particular made me stop and take a much closer look. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/11/a_closer_look_at_romancing_the.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/11/a_closer_look_at_romancing_the.html Exhibitions Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:31:54 -0600 South & Southeast Asian art curator Kim Masteller and conservation staff are in the process of evaluating these objects—most of which have not been on display since their acquisition in the 1930s. Nelson-Atkins Kress Fellow conservation intern, Jiafang Liang, has been busy conducting a survey of the Islamic ceramics (shown to the left is a view of the workspace). The survey’s purpose is to provide details about the composition, authenticity, and condition of each object, determine treatment, and estimate time needed for labor to make an object display-ready. When the survey is complete, conservators and curator will prioritize the objects and their needs. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/11/uncovering_details_conservatio.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/11/uncovering_details_conservatio.html Conservation Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:09:09 -0600 A brisk fall morning was a good time to move Henry Moore’s sculpture, Large Torso: Arch. The movement of large sculptures in the Kansas City Sculpture Park requires rigging, large equipment and an understanding of the physics of heavy lifting. Rigging refers to a system of moving objects by using straps and pulleys, and rigging is commonly used in theater production and the movement of large museum objects. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/10/henry_moores_large_torso_arch.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/10/henry_moores_large_torso_arch.html Conservation Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:37:50 -0600 classes, open to students ages 3-17, is offered each session in the Ford Learning Center. Some of these studio art class options have been featured in earlier blog posts. However, the classes are not always affordable for all students and families. The Nelson-Atkins recognizes this fact and reaches out to Kansas City youth and families through community programs and partnerships, as well as through The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Scholarship Program for Studio Art Classes. How Does it Work? Who Benefits? • The Scholarship Program provides opportunities for children to participate in art classes regardless of their financial circumstances. • Scholarship students participate in classes free of charge. • Partial scholarship students pay only 50% of class fees. • Annually, 10-15% of students enrolled in Museum studio art classes receive scholarships. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/10/expanding_opportunities_schola.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/10/expanding_opportunities_schola.html Studio Classes Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:24:26 -0600 has taken that dialogue to new levels—one that engages the Museum’s audiences and asks them not only to consider the role of art in their lives but also to participate in the exhibition Forever. When Clare visited the Nelson-Atkins three years ago, the British artist was fascinated by the Burnap Collection, especially the breadth and depth of its 1,345 objects. Although she found the teapots and figurines compelling, the work that really spoke to her was a two-handled vessel for caudle (a wine, milk and spice drink). We call it the Sandbach Cup, because it is inscribed “Mrs Mary Sandbach her Cup Anno Dom 1720”. The Cup has a special place in the history of British ceramics—one that might seem a little esoteric to some people, but was tremendously important in the history of ceramic technology in Britain. ]]> http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/10/how_long_is_forever.html http://www.nelson-atkins.org/blog/2010/10/how_long_is_forever.html Exhibitions Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:13:05 -0600