1996-1997
Calls for papers went out in the July and September "AIC Newsletter" with a deadline for abstracts on October 1. As members attending AIC in Norfolk had expressed and interest in a day and a half BPG program, the session of presentation of papers at the San Diego meeting was scheduled for all day Friday and Saturday morning.
In an effort to ensure that enough papers would be submitted to fill a day and a half, (approximately 16-18 papers), the Program Chair and Assistant Program Chair began in September to contact 20 or more conservators each in their respective paper and books / archives specialty areas. By the original deadline only one abstract had been received with nine promises of papers to be submitted. The deadline was extended to October 31, and more personal telephone, FAX and email contacts were made. By October 31, mostly at the very last minute, 28 abstracts had been submitted.
After review by the Program Chair and the Assistant Program Chair, 18 abstracts were selected which divided into three coherent half day segments: treatment of art on paper, books and library materials, and study of artists' materials. A half hour "tips" session was planned but only two short presentations came forward. Registered BPG attendance at these papers was 252. In general, with some minor projector issues, the room facilities and audio-visual services were adequate on the first day, but on the second day the room was too small with not enough seats for those attending.
A BPG box lunch was held on Friday featuring a one hour slide lecture by Roy Perkinson, "Drawn to Blue: Investigations of the History of Artists' Blue Papers". Additional chairs were provided so that any BPG members who chose not to purchase lunch could also hear the lecture. Attendance was 184, exceeding the anticipated 125 and requiring relocation to a larger room. The lunch relocation was at some distance to walk from the location of the talks and there were some small problems with projection equipment that required trouble-shooting in advance by the speaker.
The BPG business meeting was held Saturday morning, before the papers, with 137 attending. The long and narrow room configuration was not the most comfortable in which to conduct a meeting.
Organized by Hilary Kaplan, the Archives Discussion Sub-Group held a two hour meeting Thursday evening as an open carousel exchange on surface cleaning. The Library Collection Conservation Discussion Sub-Group held a four hour workshop Saturday afternoon organized by Kate Murray and Don Swanson. Topics presented included treatment and housing specifications for oversized bound materials, treatment of spiral bindings, and treatment specifications for spine repairs and board reattachments.
A Lovely Saturday evening reception at the Mingei Museum of International Folk Art in Balboa Park was organized by the Assistant Program Chair, with help from the Local Arrangements Committee. The Museum required a larger use fee than past reception venues, but the location and catering were excellent. The museum galleries were open to members during the reception. Two buses were hired to transport members the 20 minute drive from the hotel to the museum. Attendance was 140 including some walk-in ticket purchases.
Throughout the year assistance from the AIC Officers, especially Beth Kline, was very good. A notebook was compiled to help make all aspects of future program organization run smoothly, and to keep a history of BPG programs which can be updated and passed on to successive officers from year to year.
My special thanks to Eleanore Stewart for her hard work and positive assistance, and to Treasurer Elizabeth Morse for her invaluable help in tracking AIC and BPG logistics.
Betty Fiske