Art Consulting: Neat as a Pin
Recently I was asked by a client if we would be "cleaning up after ourselves" when we completed an installation. The answer seemed so obvious to me, but I realized it might be worth covering here on our blog. As art consultants, cleaning becomes so ingrained in your work that it hardly feels worth talking about, but as the resident "clean freak" here in our office, I'd love to tackle the topic.
After doing a little research on the idioms attached to cleaning, I was pleased to learn that "neat as a pin" and "spick and span" are believed to be derived from the Dutch word-- spikspeldernieuw, which refers to newly made ships. To which I say, DeGroot Fine Art aims to run a tight ship and leave things shipshape.
Jaime cleaning plexiglass during an installation for one of our clients.
Knowing the Ropes
Keeping artwork clean seems like common sense, but there is a lot that goes into the archival efforts of art consultants. We do our best to arrive on any scene with the proper solutions, towels, and brushes to intercept dirt on a myriad of surfaces. We pack an entire tool bag of cleaning-specific items intended to address anything from using canned air to get some hard to reach dust on a sculpture to delicately tweezing a piece of lint off a vintage textile. Typically we don't use most of the cleaning supplies in our kit, but we insist on carrying it to every job in the hopes of being ever-ready. For those rare instances when we don't have what we need to do the job; we find it.
Don’t Just Barge In
Before every job, we go through our kit of cleaning supplies and tools to ensure that everything is accounted for on our checklist and anything we might newly require is thought of. We break down our installs step by intricate step in our minds, trying our best to foresee what sorts of supplies might be helpful. We make sure there is the correct cleaning solution for Plexiglass, microfiber cloths for Museum Glass, Magic Erasers for those inevitable tiny marks we encounter on walls. Not only do we intend to leave no trace left behind, we want to leave a scene in better condition than it was found. It is these small rectified details that hardly go noticed, but leave our clients feeling refreshed in their spaces.
Our team putting the finishing touches on two framed photographs for a conference room.
Something Old
Keeping things for many years is par for the course when it comes to art collecting, and often we are being brought in to assess collections with some history to them. Whether installed or in storage, we do our best to get things perked up. Using the knowledge that comes from experience and some elbow grease, we get pieces looking their finest again. At times we encounter scenarios that need special attention, in which case, we would recommend an assessment by our conservation specialists.
Something New
Starting with a fresh palette always seems ideal, to minimize any threats to artwork. That said, newly constructed buildings hold many hidden opportunities for threats to artwork and dirt. Construction dust is the enemy of Plexiglass and despite doing a once-over cleaning after a project, we find that the HVAC systems will continue to circulate that dust after we are gone. We leave our clients with a cleaning kit that contains easy-to-read instructions and sample size cleaners to help them get on the good foot with cleaning.
Keeping Up With The Collections
Often times less is more when it comes to cleaning. It also never hurts to leave it to the professionals, and we are always happy to come and mindfully refresh a space for you. However, if you want to keep tidy internally, we offer cleaning kits and the promise to always be ready by phone or email if you have any questions. We want nothing more than to have our clients feel supported after we have set sail.
I realize this post includes every cliché possible, but it just felt right for a post about good old-fashioned cleanliness! It is back to all hands on deck now and I wish you luck working spikspeldernieuw into your next dinner conversation.
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