B.
List, lists & more lists
Behind the scenes
Last time I wrote we were busy making space and getting ready to move the collections back into storage. Since then we've been busy! While the team were installing the Shane Cotton: Baseland exhibition last week, I took stock of what we've done and what's still to do.
For those who like numbers, in May we moved 5,020 works of art (77% of the collection)!
Moving Solander boxes back into the works on paper store
Full shelves in the small objects store
While the numbers are encouraging, this was the small and easy stuff. There are often multiple works on paper (watercolours, drawings, prints) stored in one box or drawer, so to return 1,000 works to storage in a day is not quite the mean feat it may seem. In actual fact, it was more like 220 boxes and 70 drawers of works on paper, 450 framed works on paper, 430 boxes of small objects, and 30 medium sized crates.
1,200 down, 1,500-ish to go...
However, the remaining works are not all packed neatly in little boxes. Some will require quite a few people, and some careful handling to move. For instance, this work...
Miranda Parkes Slumper 2006. Acrylic on canvas. Reproduced courtesy of the artist
Or this...
Steve Carr A Shot in the Dark (Bear Rug) 2008. Kauri, stain, acrylic paint. Reproduced courtesy of the artist
For every item moved there is a location to be updated on Vernon, the Gallery's collection management system. It is the Registrar's job to keep track of the collection and maintain the database so we can always search for an object and find its exact location. When the whole collection is on the move, that's a big job. For the move out, the registration team diligently created lists of all the works in each new temporary location. These are proving invaluable for the move back in. Technology helps too. Vernon enables us to return all works in a temporary bin to their Usual Locations on the system at the touch of a button. With the storage reorganisation, there is quite a bit of reshuffling going on as well. Giving works new homes takes a bit more time, but there are some good tricks in the system to make updating these more efficient.
Lists of the 5000+ objects we've checked off and moved so far!
So, in making these lists, and checking them twice, we're effectively doing a double inventory of the collection. While we're at it we're checking if works need new labels, a new box or crate made, or other storage improvements, so ultimately the works will be more safely stored, clearly identified and readily located when needed.
For now, onwards and upwards, to the big stuff.