Newsletter February 2011

  1. International Symposium April 2011
  2. Online courses in English in 2011
  3. Online courses in German in 2011
  4. New electronic publications for conservators
  5. Specialized Wiki on “Salt-based Damages”
  6. Announcement of two New Books
  7. HiTAC - A New EU-Project with universities in Finland, the Netherlands and Hungary

Dear newsletter recipients,

in this newsletter, we would like to put a special focus on our further education online-courses, new books and international symposia:

1) International Symposium April 2011 on wall paintings
The Hornemann Institute organizes the International Conference “Wall paintings exposed to outdoor weathering - A conservation challenge at the World Heritage Site Constantine Basilica”, Trier, 7 April 2011 - 9 April 2011
Conference language: German (with translated abstracts)

At the beginning, using the example of the Constantine Basilica in Trier, the conference presents current research results in order to compile the various difficulties in preserving outdoor wall paintings. This will be followed by presentations of other significant case studies and possible conservation solutions. On the second day, the major focus will be on future methods of in-situ conservation and the conveying of contents, while taking into consideration potentially conflicting interests of tourism, monument conservation and art historical research.
For further information see:
www.hornemann-institut.de/english/conference_wall_paintings_Trier.php

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2) Online Courses in English
The courses facilitate individual studying with regard to time management, learning speed and the depth of knowledge you wish to achieve. You can check your personal progress with the help of tests. While solving test problems, you can use your acquired skills.
Tutors will assist you whenever you encounter technical or content-related difficulties.
Distant students will be granted a Hornemann Institute certificate upon successful completion of the program and passing a final on-line examination.

14 March to 5 June 2011
Restoration Theories and Methods from 1945 until today
Prof. Dr. Ursula Schädler-Saub
The course focuses on the history of restoration as explained through the different restoration theories and their practical application in Italy and elsewhere since the late 1940s

5 September to 6 November 2011
The Examination of Transparent Coatings on Furniture and Wooden Objects
by Prof. Dr. Gerdi Maierbacher-Legl, Julia Schultz M.A. and Merle Strätling M.A.
This course will focus on a practical approach to coatings examination, from overall inspection techniques to spot analysis.

19 September to 13 November 2011
Microbic Infestation of Objects of Art and Cultural Heritage
by Prof. Dr. Karin Petersen and Barbara Hentschel M.A.
The focal point of this course is presenting different methods of detecting and analysing microorganisms encountered in objects of cultural heritage.

Autumn 2011
Conservation of Globes
by Dr. Patricia Engel and Michael Höjlund Rasmussen
The main chapters deal with specific suggestions for conservators concerning concrete practical conservation requests including the preparation of some materials and the techniques of surface cleaning on globes.

For further information see: www.hornemann-institut.de/english/continuing_training.php/1215.php

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3) Online Courses in German

28 February to 22 May 2011
Damages to Cultural Heritage from Salt (Schädigung von Kulturgut durch Salze)
Dr. Hans-Jürgen Schwarz
These two courses will help to understand damage processes and the relationship between salt, moisture and environment.

11 April to 21 May 2011
Oak from a restorer’s point of view. Growth - use - damage - examination methods
(Eiche aus restauratorischer Sicht. Wachstum – Verwendung – Schäden – Untersuchungsmethoden)
Dipl.-Rest. Christina Duhme M.A., Dipl.-Rest. Mirja Harms M.A. and Prof. Dr. Gerdi Maierbacher-Legl
The course is based on recent research of the Department of Furniture Conservation at the Faculty of Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the HAWK Hildesheim. The learning content is explained with the help of many case studies from practice.

28 March to 22 May 2011
Conservation of Wax Moulages (Erhaltung von Wachsmoulagen)
Dipl.-Rest Johanna Lang, Dipl.-Rest. Ute Hack, Dr. Sandra Mühlenberend and Dipl.-Rest. Luise Kober
In this interdisciplinary course, principles of conservation are exemplified with a special look onto the conflict between the use of moulages as an exhibit or teaching media on the one side and the standards of conservation on the other side.

26 September to 20 November 2011 
Documentary Photography (Dokumentations-Fotografie)
Barbara Hentschel M.A., Dipl.-Des. Clemens Kappen
This course will teach the essentials of professional photo-documentation for restorers-conservators.

For further information see: www.hornemann-institut.de/german/fortbildung.php

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4)  New electronic publications for conservators

Recommendations for the preservation of wax moulages
The Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden (DHMD) in cooperation with other renowned institutions developed these general standards and guidelines for the conservation and restoration of wax moulages.

University papers
Furthermore, you will find on our website a constantly growing collection of abstracts of universities papers that can be viewed at no charge. The majority of the 1400 abstracts are illustrated and are accessible both in German and in English. 45 of these papers are available for complete download.


5) Specialized Wiki on the Subject of “Salt-based Damage”
In the last two years the Hornemann Institute developed a specialized Wiki on the Subject of “Salt-based Damages” in close collaboration with a research joint venture. The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) sponsored the project.
The Wiki will contribute to making the present specialist knowledge available to all free of charge. The English version will be published within the next three months.
Everyone doing research or working in this field is welcome to join this research joint venture and to collaborate by contributing to the specialist Wiki.
http://www.salzwiki.de/


6) Announcement of New Books:

Theories and Practice in Conservation of Modern Art.
In view of the enormous interest shown in the HAWK's international symposium Theories and Practice in Conservation of Modern Art. Reflections on the Roots and on the Perspectives”, we published the papers as the 12th volume on the Hornemann Institute Series. The symposium focuses on the question: On what theoretical basis can we rely for the conservation and preservation of modern and contemporary art? To what extent are the "classical" conservation theories of the past century still valid and can they be adapted and developed further? Or should the concepts, principles and criteria of preservation for this new artistic concepts be defined very differently.

Thomas Brachert published addenda to his lexicon
Volume 13 of the series of the Hornemann Institute presents additions and corrections to the "Lexikon historischer Maltechniken".
Rarely a scientist or a scholar succeeds in writing a book that becomes a standard work within a few years: Thomas Brachert managed this with his lexicon of historical painting techniques. With the now published addendum to the renowned "Lexikon historischer Maltechniken”, the author published the long-awaited appendix of his extensive collection of materials on the history of art techniques of 2001. He was able to include additional written historic sources as well as new research.

Both books can be ordered at: www.hornemann-institut.de/english/books.php

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7) HiTAC - A New EU-Project with universities in Finland, the Netherlands and Hungary
The objective of the new EU funded Project is the Documentation of Historical Techniques in Arts and Crafts (HiTAC). Luckily today there are some craftsmen or workers left that learned their profession before the industrial development changed all fields of production.
The theme of the proposed IP gives an excellent possibility to document the momentarily still available knowledge. Experimental reconstruction of techniques, together with the last practitioners, will be documented in detail by the video camera and by interviews. The resulting material shall serve as a basis for teaching conservators and can be used by the open-air museum.
The material will be made available at the Internet through the Hornemann Institute.
For further information see: www.hornemann-institut.de/english/historical_techniques.php
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Best regards,
the team of the Hornemann Institute
Birgit Gecius, Dipl.-Rest. Barbara Hentschel M.A., Dipl.-Ing. Gunnar Werner, Dr. Hans-Jürgen Schwarz, Dr. Angela Weyer