Opportunities in conservation: Conservator (Sculpture/Variable Media) at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Application Deadline: September 1, 2014 The Collection Care and Management Department within Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is in search of a full-time permanent Variable Media Conservator. The Collection Care and Management Department is responsible for the care, preservation, and management of the Museums collection of modern and contemporary art and for artwork on loan to the Museum. The conservator would report to the Director of Collection Care and Management/Chief Conservator. Major Duties: The conservator will be responsible for the examination, technical analysis, treatment, and long-term preservation of permanent collection and loaned works of art, including three dimensional sculpture, installation art, and variable media such as film, video, audio, computer, or other time-based artworks. The incumbent will also manage the Museums Artist Interview Program. The successful candidate will participate in Museum project teams responsible for the long-term preservation and exhibition of contemporary artworks in the permanent collection of the Museum. The conservator will use the information gathered through examination of objects, technical analysis of materials, art historical research, and artist interviews to perform treatments on art works and will devise safe and appropriate treatment and long-term preservation methods and strategies that take into account the condition, structure, materials; and, in the case of time-based art, the behavior of that medium. Responsibilities also include managing the Museums Artist Interview Program to address many of the challenges of preserving modern and contemporary art, including documenting artists attitudes toward the aging of their works, future obsolescence of components, and the physical characteristics that affect the meaning of their works. The conservator will be encouraged to disseminate research through published articles and at professional meetings and conferences. The conservator may train and supervise interns and fellows and will occasionally serve as a courier for works of art in transit. Minimum qualifications: Masters Degree in conservation from an accredited institution is highly desired. Previous experience in treating contemporary art and media artworks and knowledge of their preservation challenges is required. Additional recommended experience Experience in conducting artist interviews and applying the information retrieved to the preservation of artwork. Experience in using instrumental analytical techniques necessary to identify materials and construction and to assess their condition and mechanisms of degradation and change. Experience with digital asset management systems (DAMS) as a tool to manage workflow and archive conservation reports and images. Variable media artworks include video, audio, software-based, electronic, installation, performance and other types of artworks that have unique preservation needs. cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/2014/0819.html
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 11:38:10 +0000