Session 11: When Artworks Are Not Artworks: Caring for Artist Ephemera in the Archives

Abstract

Preserving and providing access to objects such as drawings, collage, and sculptures, often calls for techniques that are not part of traditional archives education programs. In this session, speakers will share their experiences caring for art objects in a variety of contexts. Nathan Avant will give a tour of two artist-ephemera collections at Glenstone Museum and discuss the value of developing cross-departmental consultation relationships. Cara Howe will discuss her approach to caring for Upstate Medical University's portrait collection and its positive impact on other parts of the Archives and Special Collections. Stephanie Crawford will discuss the challenges of processing artwork in two collections of artists papers held at the Miriam Schapiro Archives on Women Artists at Rutgers University and the Mattatuck Museum. Finally, Ben Blake will discuss the challenges of preserving and providing access to artifacts of labor and social justice protests such as hand painted signs, leaflets, and t-shirts.