Getty Conservation Institute

The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI), located in Los Angeles, California, is a program of the J. Paul Getty Trust. It is headquartered at the Getty Center but also has facilities at the Getty Villa, and commenced operation in 1985J. Paul Getty Trust. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/institute/ About the Conservation Institute.] Retrieved August 24, 2008.] . It "serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, model field projects, and the dissemination of the results of both its own work and the work of others in the field" and "adheres to the principles that guide the work of the Getty Trust: service, philanthropy, teaching, and access". GCI has activities in both art conservation and architectural conservationAdams, Eric. The Getty's conservation mission. "Architecture", December 1997, vol. 86, issue 12.] .

Scientific projects

GCI scientists study the deterioration of objects and buildings, and how to prevent or stop such deteriorationGetty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/science/about/ About GCI Science.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] . One of many projects in this area involved the effect of outdoor and indoor air pollutants on museum collections [Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/science/pollutants/index.html Pollutants in the museum environment (1985-1998).] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] . Another project analyzed the cause of deterioration of the sandstone in the National Capitol Columns at the United States National Arboretum.

In addition, GCI "conducts scientific research on materials' composition". For example, Getty scientists once examined the world's first photograph from nature by Nicéphore Niépce [Lyden, Jacki, and Dusan Stulik. [http://www.npr.org/programs/watc/features/2002/mar/photograph/ Analyzing the world's first photograph. Precious image studied at Getty Institute in Los Angeles.] National Public Radio, April 7, 2002. Retrieved August 26, 2008.] . Using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and other techniques during the 2002-2003 project, they found (for example) that bitumen of Judea was present in the imageHarry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. [http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/wfp/conservation.html The first photograph: conservation and preservation.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] .

Education and training

Training of interested parties around the world is important for the sustainability of GCI's work. For example, GCI collaborated with other organizations to create a course "to assist museum personnel in safeguarding their collections from the effects of natural and human-made emergencies" [Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/education/teamwork/ Teamwork for Integrated Emergency Management.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] . Besides courses and workshops, GCI has also been involved with long-term education programs, such as establishing a Master's degree program in Archaeological and Ethnographic Conservation in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles [A.M.H.S. New conservation program. "Archaeology", May/June 1999, vol. 52, issue 3.] [Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. [http://www.ioa.ucla.edu/conservation/ The UCLA/Getty Conservation Program.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] .

Field projects

GCI's field projects are "selected based on how they fit the institute's goals of raising public awareness, contributing new, broadly applicable information to the field, and supporting cultural heritage" and "must be executed in collaboration with partners... who must be serious about their efforts... so that projects are assured of continuing after the Getty's involvement ceases". Among other completed GCI field projects were efforts to preserve the Mogao Caves and Yungang Grottoes in China (announced in 1989) [Wilson, David S. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE2D7133FF933A15752C0A96F948260 Getty Trust and Chinese.] "New York Times", January 20, 1989. Retrieved August 24, 2008.] ; to restore prehistoric rock paintings of Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California Sur (1994) [Archeology: Getty to fund work on Mexican art site. "Los Angeles Times", July 14, 1994.] [Getty Conservation Institute. [http://getty.edu/conservation/field_projects/baja/index.html Rock art of Baja California (1994-1996).] Retrieved August 24, 2008.] ; and to protect ancient buildings and archaeological sites in Iraq following the start of the Iraq war (2004) [Sisario, Ben. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE1DB1631F935A25750C0A9629C8B63 Arts briefing.] "New York Times", March 16, 2004. Retrieved August 26, 2008.] .

Dissemination of information

It has been stated that "perhaps the institute's most profound contribution to conservation is the dissemination of information and methods learned in the field". Methods of information dissemination include conferences; lectures; books; and online publications, newsletters, video, and audio [Getty Conservation Institute. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/ Publications and Videos.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] .

Here are selected books published by GCI:
* Ward, Philip R. "The nature of conservation: a race against time". Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1986. ISBN 0941103005
* "The conservation of tapestries and embroideries: proceedings of meetings at the Institut royal du patrimoine artistique, Brussels, Belgium, September 21-24, 1987". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1989. ISBN 0892361549
* Cather, Sharon. "The conservation of wall paintings: proceedings of a symposium organized by the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute, London, July 13-16, 1987". Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1991. ISBN 089236162X
* Beley, Ennis, and Jeffrey Levin. "Picture LA: landmarks of a new generation". Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, 1994. ISBN 0892363053
* Klein, Kathryn. "The unbroken thread: conserving the textile traditions of Oaxaca". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1997. ISBN 0892363800
* Corzo, Miguel Angel. "Mortality immortality?: the legacy of 20th-century art". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1999. ISBN 0892365285
* Dorge, Valerie, and Sharon L. Jones. "Building an emergency plan: a guide for museums and other cultural institutions". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 1999. ISBN 0892365293"
* Lavédrine, Bertrand, Jean-Paul Gandolfo, and Sibylle Monod. "A guide to the preventive conservation of photograph collections". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2003. ISBN 0892367016
* Schweidler, Max, and Roy L Perkinson. "The restoration of engravings, drawings, books, and other works on paper". Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2006. ISBN 0892368357

Directors

Since GCI was established, it has had three directors [J. Paul Getty Trust. [http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/newsletters/14_2/gcinews07.html Sebastian moves to Getty Trust.] GCI Newsletter 14.2 (Summer 1999). Retrieved August 24, 2008.] :
* 1985-90 Luis Monreal
* 1990-98 Miguel Angel Corzo
* 1998- Timothy Whalen

Senior staff

Besides the director, the GCI senior staff includes:
* Associate Director, Programs: Jeanne Marie Teutonico
* Assistant Director, Administration: Kathleen Gaines
* Assistant Director, Communications and Information Resources: Jemima Rellie
* Chief Scientist: Giacomo Chiari
* Head of Education: Kathleen Dardes
* Head of Field Projects: Susan Macdonald

Getty conservation activities outside GCI

In addition to the work of the GCI, the J. Paul Getty Trust contributes to the conservation field through the J. Paul Getty Museum conservation departments, the conservation collection located in the library at the Getty Research Institute, and conservation grants provided by the Getty Foundation [Getty Conservation Institute. [http://getty.edu/conservation/institute/broch_backpg.html Conservation at the Getty.] Retrieved August 26, 2008.] .

References

See also

* Getty Center
* Getty Foundation
* Getty Research Institute
* Getty Villa
* J. Paul Getty Museum
* J. Paul Getty Trust