Rehousing Ethnographic Art Objects and Works on Paper at the University Art Museum

FAIN: PG-51177-11

Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO 80521-2807)
Linda G. Frickman (Project Director: May 2010 to August 2012)

The hiring of two consultants to offer workshops in art rehousing methods to museum staff and student assistants at the University Art Museum, participation by museum staff in collection management training at two regional centers, and purchase of storage supplies for the rehousing of ethnographic textiles and art objects, many from West Africa and dating to the 19th and 20th centuries, and a collection of works of art on paper, including prints, drawings, lithographs, and photographs.

The University Art Museum (UAM) requests a grant to support preservation training for staff members, consultation with conservators, and purchase of preservation supplies in order to complete the re-housing phase for native arts objects and works on paper. The UAM's humanities collections consist of approximately 3,500 fine arts and ethnographic artifacts in a variety of media. The project focuses on two areas: 1) native arts objects (751), primarily of African art, and 2) works on paper (2,519), which include Japanese prints, Daumier lithographs, and a variety of modern and contemporary drawings, prints, and photographs. Over half of the ethnographic arts objects have been re-housed in archival mounts, yet many are still in need of re-housing and proper labeling. This project will also re-house the remaining 22% (543 pieces) of works on paper. The collections are used in exhibitions, museum-studies courses, in support of curriculum throughout the University, and for K-12 initiatives.