AIC's 46th Annual Meeting

Contemporary artists such as Anish Kapoor, John McCracken and DeWain Valentine are known for their large-scale sculptures with industrial high-gloss finishes. The surfaces - made of polyester resin, acrylic glass, or automotive paint, for example - seem robust, but are in fact extremely delicate and prone to scratches. The slightest defect in these pristine, highly reflective surfaces can affect their visual continuity and compromise the integrity of the artwork. Contemporary art conservators are routinely confronted with the need to execute polishing treatments, of various scales, for sculptures made of plastic, as well as treat plastic elements that are integral part of face-mounted photographs, frames, and display cases. This workshop aims to address these concerns in two parts.

This workshop will provide insight into the various materials and making processes applied by artists, enumerate the most common causes of damage - including abrasions and imprints caused by packing material or inappropriate handling - and will illustrate damage patterns typical for high-gloss plastic surfaces. The workshop will include demonstrations of treatment methods for removing scratches and restoring the high-gloss appearance of plastic finishes, applicable both locally and to large-scale surfaces. Step-by-step instruction of various sanding and polishing techniques (both by hand and using machines) will be included. The instructors will also share insight on products and brands that have proven most effective, recommendations on how to control the procedure, and the physical and chemical limits of the treatment. Participants will have the opportunity to test products and methods on mock-ups.