Adventures in Art History – pt 6
The Art of Preserving Art
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Library and Archives Canada Preservation Centre in Gatineau. It was a class trip for my Topics in Canadian Art course and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I kept wondering, what exactly is being preserved? Which is a silly question considering it was for an art history course. The answer, if you’re still wondering, is art. Art is being preserved there.
(Image via gatineau.ca)
Anyway, I assumed it was simply a large storage facility with vaults full of art (that we collectively own as a nation). The Library and Archives – an institution of the federal government – is responsible for collecting and maintaining archives such as paper records, books, and film, as well as art ranging from historical to contemporary. Upon arriving, I was impressed by the sheer magnitude of the building. It is an almost entirely glass structure with industrial-looking metal supports and large air ducts snaking through the space, resembling a sort of factory. Inside, we were shuttled up to the second floor in a sleek glass elevator that appeared to be supported by nothing at all, allowing us a view of the massive open space interrupted only by the criss-crossing structural beams. Already in awe of the place, we stepped out of the elevator and into a genuinely magical scene. Before us was what appeared to be a hybrid between a shiny space town and a miniature prairie village. In fact, as our tour guide explained, this prairie vibe was quite intentional – the Winnipeg architect, Ron Keenberg, drew literal inspiration from the built forms of the Canadian prairies such as barns, grain elevators, silos, greenhouses, and quonsets. What was even more exciting was the colour-coding of the place – everything was in the primary hues of yellow, red, and blue, with touches of green here and there.
(Image via ikoy.ca)
(Image via ikoy.ca)
But what was the most fascinating about the visit was learning about the restoration of art. A career in restoration was something I had never given much thought – it just didn’t appeal to me. Why would I spend time fixing art when I could be curating an exhibition? While I still am not considering a career in restoration and conservation, understanding the processes of keeping art in good shape really opened my mind. Seeing the various miniature greenhouse-looking laboratories in the facility – each with a different function, whether it is for restoring books and prints, film, photographs, or paintings – allowed for me to appreciate the importance of this practice. For, without those dedicated individuals who have the skills to restore art and to make sure it stays in good condition, the curatorial practice – and most other arts-related professions – would be futile.