Behind the Scenes of "The Serial Impulse": Conserving Works of Art on Paper

Michelle Facini, paper conservator, National Gallery of Art. The Serial Impulse at Gemini G.E.L. showcases 17 serial projects created over the past five decades by many prominent artists in collaboration with the renowned Los Angeles print workshop and publisher Gemini G.E.L. The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Gemini, and is on view from October 4, 2015 to February 7, 2016. In this talk recorded on September 22, 2015, the conservation division invites you behind the scenes with paper conservator Michelle Facini for a glimpse into the fascinating world of art conservation and its role in this exhibition. Technically challenging and bold in scale, the majority of artworks selected for this exhibition are oversized, requiring many hours of coordination among staff members specializing in this type of collections care. Facini discusses the treatment of Michael Heizer’s Scrap Metal Drypoint #6 and the technical challenges of bathing a work of art on paper that is 7 feet long!