Protecting the Art - Bark Frameworks

Artists use a vast array of media on paper, many of which are known to stand up well to light, air pollution and other environmental threats, whereas others may be fragile and vulnerable. Often media are used in diverse combinations, and sometimes framers cannot be sure of the exact makeup of the materials being framed.

As soon as an artwork is released into the world it faces numerous threats. Some, such as light, especially daylight, and the air itself—its oxygen and the water that it air holds—are basic elements of our environment. Other threats, such as pollutant gases, are largely man-made.Given the inherent and external risks to works of art on paper, the frame must provide a protective envelope in order to, in effect, slow time. The framer must assess the hazards and choose the correct materials and procedures to minimize them. Art materials, the environment’s effect on them, and the preservation function of the frame for works of art on paper are the subjects of these notes.

Learn About Preserving Art

Conservators consider the primary function of framing to be protective.

--Margaret Holben Ellis, The Care of Prints and Drawings

Margaret Holben Ellis on Hinging

“The Most Critical Step in the Entire Framing Process” An excerpt from the interview: "On several occasions, I have encountered multiple sets of pressure-sensitive "archival" tape hinges left over from past reframing campaigns. I'm ...

Learn About Preserving Art

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