Rebecca Perry, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Proposal Type
Panel
Seeking
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking Specific Expertise
Related Topics
- Digital
- Preservation
Abstract
Digital 3D scanning and 3D printing are two of the digital technologies that are entering the museum as tools for capturing and reconstructing individual physical artifacts – or even capturing entire physical locations and creating digital models. How do these and other technologies change our thinking about repair and preservation? What new kinds of expertise are needed? How can new technologies of repair shift the dynamics between departments and impact conversations within the museum, or between the museum and outside groups connected to collections, as with cultural heritage projects? This panel will present examples of projects and discussions surrounding the use of digital tools.
Description
This panel is seeking participants who can present projects that have used new technologies, including 3D scanning and printing, for repair or preservation. The panelists will describe how the tools were adopted or adapted for particular situations, and will discuss the impact the tools had on the repair/preservation process. Questions the panel might address include, what new kinds of expertise or tools were brought into the museum, or was the expertise developed in-house? How were the projects managed, how were the end results displayed? What were the challenges and how did new technologies open up new ways of thinking about artifacts and localities?
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Rebecca Perry, [email protected].
All feedback and offers of assistance should be submitted by July 1, 2018. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Hi Rebecca, are you aware of this proposal that is looking for creative ways to repair? http://ncph.org/phc/2019-annual-meeting-topic-proposals/repair-reuse-recycle-exhibition-construction-and-repair-on-a-budget/#comment-3598
Thanks for pointing me to the proposal! Some of these technologies are very new, rapidly evolving and probably not the most budget-friendly options, but they do offer new ways of thinking of repair. Thanks!
This is great, and definitely raises the kinds of questions we were thinking of with this conference theme. I hope you’ll have a look at the proposal for the Digital Humanities Lab (née THATCamp NCPH) – I can see your proposal working well as a session, but it also seems like it could be a strong workshop and/or a component of the lab. One of the things that seems particularly promising here is the possibility of combining some reflection on these tools with some hands-on learning, as a way to repair the rift in so many of our disciplines between talking and doing!
Perhaps inviting a presenter from one of the regional conservation centers might offer an interesting perspective? The Northeast Document Conservation Center is in Andover, MA. Another option would be someone from the Williamstown Conservation Center, http://www.williamstownart.org/index.html
I wonder if there is anyone doing anything neat with this kind of technology for historic preservation work?
This topic is very important to visually impaired users of 3D reproduced artifacts and art work. Discussion on repair and conservation is a very important topic for the blind, because the visually impaired museum visitor can relax, a bit, while looking at an object with their hands. Hopefully repair from damage would not be needed very often. I hope there will be an informative discussion included in the panel’s presentation of 3D technology repair and conservation about blind users of 3D technology.
I love this idea and, like Cathy mentioned above, think it would make an excellent break-out session during the Digital Humanities Lab workshop (http://ncph.org/phc/2019-annual-meeting-topic-proposals/digital-humanities-lab/). If you are interested in combining forces to bring the session into a more hands-on format during the workshop, let me know!
Love this! I just used 3d technology with my museums class to create an exhibit with our local museum to be more accessible to people with a variety of disabilities, plus universal design, and also to preserve and highlight their collections. Happy to help if I can!