I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up for a two and a half hour workshop at the museum demonstrating techniques of conservation. It was free, no ticket required, so I wasn’t sure how well attended the program would be. It turned out there were 4 women from the community (including me) who were there the entire afternoon and a whole parade of museum staff who dropped in for varying lengths of time, just to see Danny work his magic.Our very knowledgeable guide has worked behind the scenes at the museum for 39 years. You might say he has been at the heart of VMFA conservation since it has truly become a science as well as an art. He demonstrated all the steps in creating museum-quality framing and showed us all the most advanced materials. He demonstrated how to cut matting and how to place a paper work properly without using any kind of glue. He also regaled us with tales of serving as a courier to foreign museums to insure that priceless works are kept safe. We learned so much, I will never view an exhibit the same way again. Not only will I admire the work of art, but also how the work is placed on the wall and what materials were used in the framing process. Every part of the process is carefully determined to both educate the viewer and protect the art. Thanks to the VMFA for educating this viewer for sure!
I had two places I'd thought I'd work (before life took me on an entirely different path). One was in a library and the other doing this kind of work in a museum. I would have loved to be at this!
@eudora Between the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and its next door neighbor, The Virginia Museum of History and Culture, there is something special going on all the time. I feel blessed to live so close to them.
