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Hiya all-

I'm teaching in Brooklyn again this January for a long weekend

Thursday, Jan 22 evening is the opening lecture for the "short course" and the "conservator and conservation/museum studies student course".

The "short course" continues on Friday and Saturday.

The "conservator and conservation/museum studies student course" is conducted on Sunday. This course covers working without a workshop and how to work with mountmakers. We will touch on insurance and contracting.

I'm happy to answer any questions that you have about these offerings.

Hi all,

I have a time sensitive question about insurance, and any advice is appreciated!

I’m just starting out in mountmaking, and I’ve taken a few freelance jobs doing acrylic book cradles. I was covered by the last place I worked, but now I’m getting more requests from private clients (which is awesome!) but I don’t really make enough yet to justify a yearly insurance policy of ~$600.

I have some requests for jobs in the next few months, so I need to get coverage fairly quickly.

Does anyone know of a project-based insurance solution for this? I know other types of jobs have event insurance, but obviously mountmaking requires a level of coverage and it’s super specific.

(Right now I’m only doing acrylic, and only working on site, not at my home/studio, so at least that’s not an issue)

The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks a qualified Senior Mountmaker to join the Department of Decorative Arts and Sculpture Conservation located at the Getty Center. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in museum mountmaking and exhibition installation with experience in designing mounts for a diverse collection ranging in scale from small jewelry to monumental sculptures. Preference will be given to applicants who are proficient in seismic mountmaking and have an interest in advancing knowledge and practices in this field.

For more information and to apply please refer to the following link: Senior Mountmaker, Decorative Arts and Sculpture Conservation in Los Angeles, California | Careers at Getty

Lately in conversations with colleagues as well as new mountmakers a familiar subject comes up. As older master mountmakers are beginning to retire and step away from institutions and independent businesses, who is replacing them? Does this new generation have access to real and meaningful training to become master mountmakers?

This was also a problem for me coming up 20 years ago. Seeking out classes or books in a relative void. Benchmark would have a class every 4-5 years it seemed. Literature was laughably sparce, or 30 years outdated. I've even experienced my fair share of gatekeeping. Gross.

When talking to beginners the last few weeks, I hear the same complaints that I had 20 years ago. Recent searches for a master mountmaker that can do independent traveling gigs has bore such little fruit I'm officially being proactive about this gulf.

Before I begin to solidify fixes, I REALLY want…

Hi all, long time lurker here. Forever grateful that this safe space exists for all us wayward mount makers scattered around the world. IMF has kept me in touch, informed and motivated whenever toiling away in my dark, little corner of the museum.

My question, is there any update to the Who/What/Where the next IMF Conference will be?

Aloha

Jason

Is there anyone out there that can build mounts on an as needed basis?

Hello-

The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum is looking to engage a contract mount maker to support mount making for an exhibition currently slated to open in February (date likely to change once the government re-opens). The RFQ and Statement of Work are attached to this note. Feel free to email me at baracks@si.edu with questions.

Thank you,

Sarah Barack

Head of Conservation, Senior Objects Conservator

Hi Everyone-

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IMF Team

Scott Newell (NHMLA➡️LMNA) turned me on to these beauties. Milled down to perfection for the repairing of saxophones I believe.

So many tight bends, so little time. J'adore! Thanks Scott!