5
AIC NEWS
, May 2012
BPG DISCUSSION GROUPS
•
AIC NEWS
In response, the BPG executive council has drafted a proposal
for the addition of an Art on Paper Discussion Group (APDG).
The proposal was sent out in the BPG spring mailing and will
be discussed both on the BPG listserv and at the BPG business
meeting in Albuquerque on May 9. The full proposal is available
at the BPG website.
The document includes a statement of purpose for the discus-
sion groups: to encourage lively exchange of ideas and practices
within the community through open dialogue, practical hands-on
experience, and round-table discussion. The APDG proposal
represents an opportunity to reinvigorate the discussion groups
with informality and creativity.
Readers may wonder how BPG can fit session papers as well
as discussion, “tips” sessions, or workshops all into two busy days
of programming. There are a number of proposals that would
allow BPG to continue to deliver traditional presentations while
keeping the discussion groups vital. This includes having two of
the three discussion groups present annually, with each group
taking a year off in rotation.
If BPG moves forward with APDG, there is a topic ready
for the 2013 Annual Meeting. The theme of standardizing
descriptive terminology of materials used in creating works on
paper, summarized in the adjacent box (on page 4), would serve
as a perfect introductory discussion and is a topic well worth
addressing in any event.
Looking Forward
The rich history of AIC’s largest specialty group, the BPG, is
made evident by the efforts and dedication of the many people
who built and led discussion groups to meet the particular needs
and interests of BPG members. As we consider broadening our
program by adding another discussion group to provide informa-
tive and relevant programming to our many members, it seems an
appropriate moment to consider the past as we create a path for the
future. Where might we be in another next twenty-plus years? Will
other AIC specialty groups adopt a similar model? We continue
to explore the most effective ways to present information and
encourage exchange with our many colleagues, while maintaining
the strong sense of community that is so important to the AIC.
The following people assisted with this article. Thank you to Linda
Blaser, Meg Brown, Maria Grandinette, Jamye Jamison, Hilary
Kaplan, Marieka Kaye, Kathy Ludwig, Laura O’Brien-Miller, Olivia
Primanis, Alan Puglia, Randy Silverman, Stephanie Watkins, and
Shannon Zachary.
Penley Knipe, Penley_Knipe [at] harvard __ edu
Nancy Ash, Nash [at] philamuseum __ org
Scott Homolka, shomolka [at] philamuseum __ org
Stephanie Lussier, stephaniemlussier [at] gmail __ com
Sarah Reidell, sarahreidell [at] nypl __ org
Kristen St. John, kstjohn [at] library.ucla __ edu
*Note: The name of the ACDG discussion group has changed over the
years. It was initially identified as the Archives Conservators Discussion
Group (ACDG), became Archives Conservators Group (ACG), next
Archives Discussion Group (ADG) to its current Archives Conservation
Discussion Group (ACDG). For the purposes of this paper, the group
will be referred to as ACDG.
AIC News
Introducing: the AIC Collection Care Network
Created in November 2011, the Collection Care Network
(CCN) ties together preservation knowledge and skills of AIC
members and links them with institutions seeking best practices
for preservation. The CCN will be both a reference source and
a forum in support of the preservation work of conservators and
other collection care practitioners. For those who do not have a
professional organization of their own, the CCN can serve as that
home. The CCN acknowledges that both preservation and stew-
ardship rests on the talents and skills of numerous professionals
and volunteers. The CCN works to serve those professionals and
volunteers, who are archaeologists, architects, archives staff, art
handlers, collection care specialists, collection managers, conserva-
tors, curators, engineers, entomologists, exhibit designers, facilities
staff, historic house museum staff, library staff, mount makers,
preparators, preventive conservation materials vendors, registrars,
and technicians as well as many others who aid in preserving our
cultural heritage.
On January 31, 2012 the first meeting of the Collection Care
Network (CCN) was held in Winterthur, Delaware, funded by
a generous grant from Tru Vue. (See “Why is CCN a Network?”
in AIC News, March 2012, p. 5.) The purpose of the meeting
was to formally accept the AIC Board charge (to review the full
charge see ‘AIC Collection Care Network Charge’ at http://
www.conservators-converse.org/2012/01/aic-collection-care-
network-charge), share visions and set goals for responding to it,
fill leadership positions, and begin planning for the role of the
CCN. In attendance were the CCN’s organizing committee (see
page 6), as well as AIC Board President Meg Craft, AIC Executive
Director Eryl Wentworth, and Debbie Hess Norris, Chair of the
Art Conservation Program, Winterthur/University of Delaware
Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC). Also participating
were Crista Pack, Emily Schuetz, and Elena Torak, three students
from the Additional Concentration in Preventive Conservation in
the WUDPAC program.
The implementation of preventive care relies upon effective
communication and synchronization of the talents of many allied
professionals. CCN members will have access to a variety of
networking methods. A webpage is under development with the
Don’t Miss the Members Business Meeting
Join us for breakfast on Friday, May 11, in Albuquerque between
7:30 and 9:30 a.m. to:
• Be the first to learn who received the most votes to serve
on the AIC Board of Directors
• Vote for the newest member of the Nominating
Committee
• Learn of the financial health of AIC and its Foundation
• Hear and comment on current activities of AIC and FAIC
• Help AIC and FAIC leadership create a vision for AIC and
its Foundation—at age 50!