Chloe Lucas Conservation offers the following services:
• Photograph conservation and restoration
• Emergency response and preparedness
• Advice for artists and photographers
Photograph conservation and restoration
Photographs are made of inherently fragile materials that deteriorate over time. Some damage is irreversible (such as fading, color change, and yellowing) and cannot be improved through physical conservation or restoration treatments. Other damage can be treated, for instance mechanical deteriorations (tears, creases, image layer flaking, etc.), surface soiling, and accretions.
Every conservation treatment starts with the examination of the photograph to assess and diagnose its condition. This data is gathered in a conservation report that is given to you once the treatment is completed. Based on this information I can propose a custom conservation and restoration treatment. Indeed, every photograph is different, and the treatment is adapted to each individual photograph in order to best preserve it.
We offer high-quality conservation and restoration treatments following the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Association for Conservation of cultural property.
Our services:
- Photographic process identification, condition reports and diagnosis.
- Conservation treatment of fine art and historical photographs:
- Surface cleaning,
- Removal of old repairs and tape,
- Repairs and consolidations,
- Consolidation of flaking image layers,
- Flattening of undulated prints,
- Compensation for losses,
- In-painting of losses.
- Mounting.
- Rehousing.
Contact us to schedule an appointment or send us images of your photographs.
Preventive conservation
The environment in which the photograph is preserved, and the materials in contact with your photograph, can actively damage it. Preventive conservation encompasses all actions taken on the photograph’s environment to prevent further damage.
Our services:
- Assessment of a collection’s condition and environment.
- Recommendations for storage, housing and handling.
- Staff training on handling and rehousing.
- Integrated pest management.
- Recommendations for exhibition conditions.
- Recommendations for mounting, matting and framing.
Contact us to discuss how I can help you improve the environment in which your photograph is preserved.
Emergency response and preparedness
Natural disasters, for instance floods, tornados, wild fires, etc., can induce irreversible loss and damage to photographic collections, from family treasures to heritage collections. We cannot control when the disaster happen; however, we can mitigate the risks, plan the response and recover the collection after a disaster.
Our services:
- Risk assessment.
- Creation of a disaster response plan.
- Emergency response and recovery.
Contact us to discuss how I can help you prepare or respond to an emergency.
Advice for contemporary photographers
Materials used to create and print your work have a huge influence on its long-term preservation. Indeed, some contemporary materials are more stable than others. For instance, inkjet printing papers are not all made the same, and the different ink and paper combinations have various stabilities over time. Proper choices at the creation and printing stages can prevent damage linked to inherently unstable materials.
The environment in which the photograph is preserved, and the materials in contact with your photograph, can actively damage it. Thus, carefully mounting, matting, framing and exhibiting your work is important for its long-term preservation.
Our services:
- Recommendations on the long-term preservation of artist’s materials
- Recommendations for exhibition conditions
- Recommendations for mounting, matting and framing
Contact us to discuss how I can help you preserve your artwork for the future.