by Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

11/16/2023

CAMConservation , selvage , Art Deco , fabric , textile conservation

We’ve got it all! All the width of this 1920s embroidered voile (fine soft sheer fabric), that is.

by Nathaniel M. Stein, PhD, Curator of Photography

11/13/2023

Accra , London , James Barnor , Curatorial Blog , photography , Detroit Institute of Arts

In early October, I was delighted to participate in a scholars’ day at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). For those outside the museum biz, a scholars’ day is a convening of curators, academics, and sometimes expert collectors, artists, and gallerists, who gather to share a deep dive on an artist or movement featured in a special exhibition.

by Kelly Rectenwald, Objects Conservator

11/9/2023

CAMConservation , objects conservation , ancient egypt , scarab ring , bronze , bronze disease

Several small copper alloy objects, pieces of jewelry and articles of adornment, are all showing signs of bronze disease.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

11/2/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Thomas Gainsborough

These three portraits by 18th-century British artist Thomas Gainsborough are in the paintings conservation lab to be examined for the British catalog project.

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

10/12/2023

ancient egypt , ceramic jar , objects conservation , challenging repair , CAMConservation

In the Conservation Lab, we are working on this large ceramic jar from Dynasty I Egypt (3100–2900 BCE).

by Rose Milnes, Curatorial Assistant for South Asian Art, Islamic Art, and Antiquities

10/11/2023

Alexander the Great , gorgon , gorgoneion , Greek art , Ancient Mediterranean , Staff , CAM favorites , Curatorial Blog

As the new Curatorial Assistant for South Asian Art, Islamic Art, and Antiquities, finding “my favorite piece here at the museum is a serious task! The possibilities for finding “the one” are endless.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

10/5/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , panel paintings

This small round painting, attributed to the studio of the 17th century Dutch artist Frans Hals, was recently in the paintings conservation lab to have its discolored varnish removed.

by Anne Buening, Curatorial Assistant for European and American Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings

10/2/2023

indigenous art , collection , Curatorial Blog

This piece represents a fascinating mix of histories: local Indigenous culture before white settlement, nineteenth-century American archaeology, the donor Judge Joseph Cox, and the Cincinnati Art Museum’s early years.

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

9/28/2023

CAMConservation , Cincinnati Art Museum , collodion photograph , paperweight , archives

An interesting artifact has entered the museum Archives, courtesy of Archivist/Records Manager Geoff Edwards. This glass paperweight holds a small photograph of the museum and the Cincinnati Art Academy (now located downtown).

by Cynthia Amneus, Chief Curator | Curator of Fashion Arts and Textiles

9/22/2023

Woomin Kim , quilt , Shijang Project , Korean Market , Fashion Arts & Textiles , Curatorial Blog

We recently acquired a work by Woomin Kim, a young Korean-born artist who lives and works in Queens, New York.

by Obie Linn, Textile Conservator

9/21/2023

textile conservation , Elizabeth Hawes , Flag Dress , before and after , CAMConservation , textiles

There are few things more satisfying than seeing some really dramatic “before and after” photos when a conservation treatment is complete! Conservation of Elizabeth Hawes’ “flag dress” or Geographic (1940) has wrapped up, and now you can flip through a whole album of “before/after” pairs showing the transformations of many of the flags that cover the dress.

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

9/20/2023

Terrace Cafe , Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds , fall menu , local food , sustainability , vegetable gardening

When asked about his philosophy behind the Terrace Café’s new fall menu, Executive Chef Yajan (“Yaj”) Upadhyaya gave a straightforward answer.

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

9/14/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

If you’ve been following our Conservation blog posts, you may have seen several updates as we carried out treatment over the past two years.

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

8/31/2023

Raphael Soyer , prints , paper conservation , CAMConservation

In 2019 and 2020 the museum received three prints by American artist Raphael Soyer (1899–1987), the first of his prints to enter the museum’s collection.

by Peter Haffner, PhD, Assistant Professor at Centre College and Drew Morris, PhD, Assistant Professor at Centre College

8/24/2023

Centre College , art history , psychology , research , eye tracking , El Greco , Francisco Zurbarán , Giovan Battista Recco

This summer, Centre College conducted an interdisciplinary research project bringing together science and art at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

by Obie Linn, Associate Conservator of Textiles

8/24/2023

CAMConservation , textile conservation , historic childrenswear

The forecourt display case in the Conversations Gallery is fresh! A new rotation arrived last week, and it is practically aglow with summery white freshness. How does a 150-year-old child’s dress look this crisp and breezy?

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

8/23/2023

outdoor sculpture , Atman , Mark di Suvero

It’s hard to miss the monumental 3-D capital “A” welcoming visitors to CAM’s campus from Art Museum Drive. Painted a bright red—like the museum’s brand color—some suggest the giant steel beam structure stands for “Art.” But the artist’s intent was not so driven by marketing concerns!

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Curator

8/17/2023

Magic Mirror , CT scan , Ethnicon Endo-Surgery , Amida Buddha , CAMConservation

Last month we took our Magic Mirror to Ethicon Endo-Surgery for analysis to learn more about this ancient bronze object and the seemingly magical way it can project the image of the Amida Buddha under certain lighting conditions.

by Serena Deng, Photography Collection Research Intern

8/15/2023

photography , Franz Hanfstaengl , intern

In 1871, the Royal Historical Museum in Dresden (the present-day Green Vault) commissioned German photographer Franz Hanfstaengl to document the objects in its collection. Among the 160 photographs produced, lively prints of five found their way to the Cincinnati Art Museum.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

8/10/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Theodore Robinson , Impressionism , American Impressionism

We’ve had this painting by American Impressionist Theodore Robinson (1852–1896) listed for varnish removal for a while. That’s because curators and conservators know that Impressionist artists rarely varnished their paintings.

by Kay Horak, Paper Conservation Intern

8/3/2023

CAMConservation , paper conservation , cam intern , Léonard Gaultier

Over a couple of weeks, I examined, cleaned, and rehoused a series of sixteenth-century prints by Léonard Gaultier (circa 1561–circa 1630).

by Obie Linn, Associate Conservator of Textiles

7/27/2023

Ann Lowe , CAMConservation , 1930s fashion , textile conservation , Winterthur Museum

How would you like to travel in a custom “sleeping bag”? These three dresses designed by Ann Lowe (American, 1898–1981) are headed to the Winterthur Museum in Delaware for the exhibition Ann Lowe: American Couturier, snuggled in soft surrounds for a safe and comfortable trip.

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

7/26/2023

Pablo Picasso , Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds , exhibition design

When we think of spaces where modern art is exhibited, the minimalist aesthetic of white-walled galleries often comes to mind. But in Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds, CAM’s exhibition designers imagined—and created—a much different kind of experience.

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

7/13/2023

CAMConservation , ceramics , CAM collection

We are working on some tiny ceramics!

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

7/5/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , Thomas Barker , CAM British Painting catalog , CAM British Paintings

Another work recently conserved for the British catalog project, The Approaching Storm by English artist Thomas Barker (1769–1847), presented a challenge.

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

6/30/2023

CAMConservation , Toyohara Kunichika , ukiyo-e prints , kabuki actor prints , paper conservation

In 2005 the museum received a gift of Japanese art that includes ceramics, paintings, and prints. Now that our Curator of Prints Kristin Spangenberg has finished researching the 35 prints in this gift, I am reviewing their needs before moving them to their permanent storage locations.

by Obie Linn, Associate Conservator of Textiles

6/21/2023

CAMConservation , vintage chanel , vintage , textile conservation

What is one of the best things about being a textile conservator? To me, it’s that I sometimes have the chance to “converse” with my fashion design heroes through their work.

by Amy Burke, Director of Visitor Services and Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

6/20/2023

Green Committee , sustainability , Recycle , Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub , green team

The museum’s Green Team recently took a field trip to learn more about recycling opportunities in our region. With our individual recyclables in tow, we visited Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub (CRRH) and were wowed by this organization.

by Kristopher Reisser, Conservation Intern

6/8/2023

CAMConservation , paintings conservation , cam intern , mather brown , portrait , European Paintings

When I read the curatorial file for this painting, I discovered a remarkably expansive biography, not just of the painting itself, but also of the sitter and the artist. What is most interesting to me, though, is the sitter’s story.

by Cincinnati Art Museum

6/1/2023

Pride , LGBTQ+ , CAM collection

Enjoy these works in the museum’s collection by artists who identify as LGBTQ+ or address themes of LGBTQ+ representation and experience.