Deep in the third storage vault at the Clark Library, we’ve recently installed art storage racks for the handful of artworks that call Clark Library home. Our collections are largely comprised of rare books and manuscripts but we’re also stewards of portraits, landscapes, and other artworks that were owned by Mr. Clark or were acquired long ago as part of other related collections. Before all the artworks are removed from their packing and hung on the wall, we wanted to have them professionally photographed.
As the inaugural Digital Collections Librarian, I am committed to seeking preservation quality images that we can access for a variety of purposes over time. However, our current digitization copystand is not large enough to capture these artworks. We reached out to our friends at the Systemwide Library Facility (SLF-South) at UCLA who have a much larger studio space who were able to accommodate these large scale objects. I had the privilege of chaperoning these artworks from Clark Library, to SLF-South and back home again to the library. Our materials are always invigilated on-site, so I invigilated the artworks through their photography journey.
First, the artworks needed to be professionally packed up to travel safely to SLF-South. Our art handlers, Edwin and Kevin, arrived on a Wednesday morning with all of their packing materials and experience in handling these fragile objects. We identified the 16 artworks with individual tags for inventory control during the movements. Then they got to work packing each object. Some of the objects with dimensional frames were placed in custom built shadow-box style packing. All the works were carefully placed into a crate that got loaded into their truck. The artworks were treated to a luxury staycation, spending the night in a secure climate controlled storage facility.
The next morning, the artworks were transported to SLF-South on the UCLA campus. Thanks to Digital Imaging Specialist Courtney Alston’s project management and scheduling we were able to book time in the larger studio. The digitization team at SLF-South is small but mighty and works on a variety of projects. When we arrived Digital Imaging Specialist Julian Calero had everything in the studio setup and ready for photography. He spent time with each piece adjusting staging, lighting, and focus as needed. One of the cool things about Julian’s setup is the live view and being able to see and make choices on different lighting techniques as he shoots. He captured both the recto (front) and verso (back) of each piece for our collection documentation. Some objects are in need of conservation, so this photography will serve as a baseline for their current condition.
During photography, Julian and I discussed some of the challenges and opportunities with library digitization workflows: striving for Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) compliant images, troubleshooting aging equipment, and shifting organizational priorities and budgets. At the end of the day it’s rewarding to work with diverse and interesting materials and we get to use our complex problem solving skills.
The art handlers moved each artwork to the stage and packed up each piece after it was photographed, making this an efficient team process. The artworks were then put back in their crate, back in the truck, and delivered home again to the Clark Library.
Big thanks to Nina Schnieder, Rare Books Librarian, for handling all the logistics on the Clark Library end and helping me confirm the identities of all the (new to me!) artworks. I generally spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen so it was a good change of scenery for me. I got to spend time with our collections and meet other imaging professionals at UCLA.