Animals Project Management | In Time Textiles

Conservation Project Management
for Selections: Animals

Awyn's largest project during their third-year internship was overseeing conservation project management for an exhibit of 33 animal themed objects from the Textile Museum's permanent collection. The exhibit includes variety of textiles ranging from archaeological clothing to contemporary fabric sculpture.

Awyn's work was supported by Associate Conservator Cathleen Zaret with additional assistance from Associate Conservator Gennifer Majors and conservation intern Alex Boelhouwer. The project involved close collaboration with curators, the exhibition production team, collections management and other museum staff.

Stages of Awyn's contributions are described below, following the project from initial object assessments through mounting and installation. The exhibit opened to the public on July 8, 2023 and will be on display through Spring of 2024.

Conservation Assessments

The first phase of this project involved moving items selected for exhibition from the collections storage area to the conservation lab, then conducting condition assessments. Each assessment aimed to determine an object's suitability for display, estimate any necessary conservation treatments, and evaluate mounting options.

Awyn moving items from collections storage to the conservation lab for initial examination.

Awyn examining contemporary fabric sculptures by the artist Mulyana.

Awyn and Maria Fusco consulting on an examination.

Awyn using task lighting and magnification to examine an object closely.

1/1

Awyn consulting with curator Lee Talbot.

To coordinate with all exhibition team members, Awyn created a spreadsheet on a shared drive.

1/1

Consulting & Coordinating

Once initial assessments were complete, Awyn worked closely with conservators, curators, and exhibit production team members to progress exhibition tasks. Conversations with curators were crucial in developing appropriate treatments and determining goals for display. Object dimensions, treatments, and mounting details were tracked on a shared drive, allowing all members of the exhibit planning team to keep up-to-date on conservation progress.

Treatments & Reports

Among the 33 objects selected for exhibition, 19 objects required conservation treatments. Treatments included surface cleaning, humidification and flattening, stitch stabilizations, and custom-dying treatment materials. Condition reports were created for all 33 objects, and treatment reports were created for each of the 19 treatments.

Textile Museum

Treatment Reports

Awyn treating an early 20th century kimono, stabilizing loose metal threads using couching stitches.

Awyn on a ladder, taking post-treatment photography of the kimono.

1/1

Small items were packed in stacked passive mats or in custom trays with padding and security ties.

Flat textiles were rolled when possible, using archival tubes, muslin wrappers, and a tyvek cover.

Larger textiles with layered structures were folded with padding and wrapped in a muslin envelope.

Packed items were wrapped in plastic, properly labelled, and placed back in collections storage.

1/1

Rehousing & Transport

Once treatments were complete, objects were prepared for transportation from the Avenir Center in Ashburn, VA, to the museum in Washington, DC. This involved rolling textiles onto tubes, padding folded textiles, wrapping textiles with muslin envelopes, and packing items into boxes with archival foam bumpers and twill security ties where necessary. Prepared items were then wrapped in plastic, labelled, and returned to collections storage to await transport. Awyn collaborated closely with the collections management team, who arranged for an external art shipper to transport the objects.

Mounting & Display

A wide range of mounts were employed to provide physical support to textiles for the duration of their display. Where possible, pin mounts were employed on vertical or slanted padded boards. Heavier, flat textiles were attached to padded boards with velcro attachments or with stitched-on fabric leaders. Padded boards and acrylic vitrines were prepared by the exhibition production team. Other details, including padded inserts, special hanging mechanisms, and stitched-on attachments were prepared by Awyn with assistance from the conservation team.

Mounting solutions included:

- 12 pin mounts (vertical or slanted)

- 5 velcro attachments

- 5 horizontal/ flat mounts

- 4 hanging mechanisms (including 38 parts suspended w/ monofilament)

- 4 textiles with components stitched to boards (e.g. to hold fringe)

- 3 custom-shaped padded inserts

- 1 "T" stand, padded along the top with paper support for a collar

- 1 padded crossbar fixed to a slanted padded board