Conservation of Photographs from a 1957 Exhibition Designed by 20th-Century Japanese Landscape Architect Mirei Shigemori

FAIN: PG-252857-17

University of Oregon (Eugene, OR 97403-5219)
Jill Hartz (Project Director: May 2016 to December 2019)
John Weber (Project Director: December 2019 to March 2021)

Hiring of a professional photograph conservator to design treatment protocol and train staff on appropriate conservation techniques for 187 photographs and text on panels in the collection of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Originally created for the 1957 Japanese Gardens exhibition, the panels showcase garden designs from Japanese landscape architect Mirei Shigemori (1896-1975), and represent an early foray into contemporary Asian topics in the Pacific Northwest. The applicant would document this formerly hidden collection and remove the original photographs from Masonite panels, reducing the storage space requirement and improving accessibility.

The proposed grant will fund conservation of 141 photographs on panels and 46 un-accessioned photographs and text on panels that were the subject of a 1957 exhibition, Japanese Gardens, at the Univ. of Oregon Museum of Art (now Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art). Designed by notable 20th Century Japanese landscape architect Mirei Shigemori (1896-1975) – a friend and mentor of renowned American sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904 -1988), the works feature many of Shigemori’s projects. The collection is significant to the humanities because it offers unique insight into the creative processes of both Shigemori’s landscape and garden designs and his creation of an exhibition from photographs of his own work. A wealth of personal communication dated 1955-1958 between then museum director, Dr. Wallace Baldinger, and Shigemori, adds even greater depth and value to the collection. Grant funds would be used for conservator fees, travel, and per diem, and conservation and rehousing supplies.