A: Cummer staff has been busy this summer working with our friends at Elkins Constructors on a water intrusion project at the Museum. As you may know, The Cummer is celebrating our 50th Anniversary in 2011. Unfortunately, it meant that all the windows in the original museum building were celebrating their 50th Anniversary too.  Over the years, technology has certainly improved, so there are windows made now with better impact ratings to counteract hurricane damage, with better seals to prevent leaks, and with high energy efficiency glass. In recent years, the seals around the original windows were starting to show their age, and in some of our behind the scenes spaces we were experiencing some water intrusion due to these failing seals. We decided this year to upgrade the windows, fix the seals, and repair some of the plaster damage all at the same time. Careful observers may recall that the old windows had an operable pane at the bottom, necessitating a metal bar about one-quarter of the way up from the bottom. These had not been operable in a number of years, so the decision was made to replace the windows with a single pane of glass.

Cummer staff installing a Robert Henri painting in the Lane Gallery

Q:  There have been a lot of changes to the permanent collection galleries in the past few years. What’s going on?

A: In the past few years, The Cummer has had the opportunity to renovate all of the permanent collection galleries. Sometimes, the galleries kept the same period or theme after renovation, while others, like the Schultz and Haskell Galleries, received a new focus.

Preparator Mark Warren installs the Cummer portraits in the Tudor Room

The Cummer is fortunate to own  many more works of art than gallery space allows us to show! Therefore, every so often, staff likes to ‘rotate’ works in the permanent collection, taking some works off display to ‘rest’ and putting new pieces on display.

When we change the works of art in the permanent galleries, or even just move them around in the same space, we are often told that visitors “see” something for the first time, even if they’ve seen it a hundred times. It is amazing what a new location or a new wall color can do for your eye.

Meissen porcelain being moved during the Lovett Gallery Renovation

Although we understand some visitor favorites are removed on occassion, we hope our visitors will be introduced to new favorites after a renovation.

Come see us in early August as we unveil the renovations to the Semmes and Stein Galleries!

A: Conservation and restoration of art and objects is such a specialized field. Professional conservators spend years in school and in training programs learning how to assess damage and treat it accordingly without causing additional stress on the artwork. Only the largest of museums have a team of conservators located on-site as part of their museum facility.

To locate a specialized conservator, we recommend that you contact:

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

1156 15^th Street NW Suite 320

Washington, DC 20005

202/452 – 9545.

Via Peat Bakke http://bit.ly/hMq8kD

“I found a painting in my grandmother’s attic. Can someone at The Cummer tell me how much it is worth?”

You might be surprised how often we receive a call like this. Unfortunately, staff at The Cummer are unable to provide appraisals or valuations of works of art. Although the museum would seem to be a logical place to discover that sort of information, appraisals and valuations are highly specialized areas that require extensive education and certification for their practitioners.

Appraisers often  participate in rigorous training programs, and many are then subject to the professional standards of different organizations. One such organization is the American Society of Appraisers, which only accredits members after they complete a testing and evaluation process that requires years of study, training and peer review.

If you need an appraisal, valuation, or authentication of any work of art, please contact one of the following organizations that will help you locate a specialist in your area:

American Society of Appraisers

International Society of Appraisers

Appraisers Association of America

Once you have determined the basic facts about the artwork in question, you are welcome to make an appointment with one of The Cummer’s volunteer librarians, who will help you find additional information about the artist, style, or subject matter.

A: One of the main missions of any museum is to preserve its collections in perpetuity. There are several ways museums do this. First, it is critical to maintain constant temperature and humidity levels in the galleries and in storage. At The Cummer, we keep our spaces at 70 degrees and 50% humidity. These are standard levels set forth by experts in conservation and preservation, and help to mitigate deterioration, mold growth, pests, and other destructive conditions. Second, only experienced art handlers are permitted to move the art, and we only move art when it is truly necessary. We wear gloves so the oils and dirt from our skin do not damage the art. This is why guests aren’t allowed to touch! And finally, bright lights and UV rays are among some of the most destructive elements, so museums keep their lights at low levels to prevent further damage.

Now, think about what you have always wanted to ask about The Cummer. Post your questions in the comments section below and Holly will take her favorites and respond in future blog postings.

Hope McMath, Executive Director at The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

Now that we are only days away from launching our 50th Anniversary Year, we are spending some time celebrating our past and creating a buzz about our future.

Hope McMath, Director of The Cummer, is busy overseeing an intense schedule of exhibitions, educational programs, exciting events and new marketing initiatives. Hope’s style is highly interactive and as a result we are launching a monthly feature on our blog called Ask the Director…Anything.

So, today we are starting the series by asking you to think about what you have always wanted to ask about The Cummer, its inner workings, our programs…anything. Post your questions in the comments section below and Hope will take her favorites and respond in future blog postings.