Conservation or Preservation?

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ArtLady

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Oct 13, 1999
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Lawrenceville, Georgia
Recently I was told by the PPFA that they are shifting from the term Conservation to Preservation framing with the idea that conservationism should be left to the conservators. What terms are everyone using these days?

If conservation is left to the conservators, do we still need to use conservation techniques? If we abandon those techniques and use less expensive "Gallery Framing" how do we know that a particular piece of artwork won't increase in value and that the alternative is not in the best interest of the customer?

Isn't this confusing for the customer who is just getting used to the idea that conservation framing is important?

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the cat.

[This message has been edited by ArtLady (edited 03-25-2000).]
 
Hi ArtLady

The answer to you last question is, "Yes" - but it is confusiong not only to customers, but to framers and conservators alike.

This is a Can-Of-Worms.
PPFA and FACTS messed around with this last Fall? They looked at "archival", "museum", "preservation", and "conservation", and perhaps one or two other bits of terminology.

The proponents of "preservation" postulated that a term should be selected that did not generate confusion with the work done by Big C Conservators. However, if my memory serves me correctly, the Conservators whom I polled (both American and Canadian) didn't really care, because most of them understood what they did for a living, were not confused (yet), and described their work as Conservators as being that which preserved artifacts - which means, if we extend the logic used, that we poor framers should not use the term "preservation" either, because we might confuse ourselves even more! Are you confused yet?

I believe PPFA/FACTS adopted the term "preservation" unilaterally, and voila! you have less? more? confusion.

To answer your first question, I do not use "archival" because it means simply "storage" and I am not in the storage business (you will get a different response from my good wife about the stuff in our garage). I do not use the term "museum" because I do not run a museum (you will get a different response from my good wife about the stuff in the basement).

I use the term "Conservation/Preservation" (CP) even though I am not a Conservator, to describe some of my framing because I want to be sure that I do not confuse myself about what I do for a living, which is framing, I think . . . or is it preserving? or conserving? . . . or is it preserving conserves? . . let's see, I do that in the summer so that means . . .

Orton
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>Recently I was told by the PPFA that they are shifting from the term Conservation </BLOCKQUOTE>

This is not new. Going back to the Revision of the book &quot;PPFA&reg; Guidelines to Framing Works of Art On Paper&quot; in 1996, references to Conservation Framing were changed to Preservation framing. The same is also true with the CERTIFIED PICTURE FRAMER<SUP><FONT SIZE="-2">CM</FONT></SUP> Exam.

Merrill
 
Dictionary definitions don't help much to clarify the proper usages of these terms. However, context gives us some clues.

"Conservation" usually means to use less of something; it usually involves action of some kind (or less action).

Preservation is usually thought to be passive. "Pre" means "before"; as in taking care before harm happens.

The conservators I have talked to aren't the least bit confused about these terms. They have all said that conservators do conservation. Framers do not, and conservators would be very pleased if we framers would stop claiming that we do.

Conservators use action -- various treatments to repair or restore -- to reverse the effects of harm and thereby conserve (prolong) the useful life of the item. Framers preserve by preventing harm, which is passive. Indeed, the first rule of preservation framing is that the framing must not change the condition of the item.

"Archival" and "Museum" are misleading terms appropriated by sellers of products as well as framers, to lend credence to their products and themselves.

Conservators conserve. Framers preserve. If we would all use the terms in this context, there would be no more confusion.

Unfortunaely, some framers and merchants are happy to foster the confusion, because that's their veil of credibility.

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James Miller,PPFA-CPF; PPFA Certification Board Member; FACTS/GAFP Committee Member
 
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