Engineering Design for Art ConservationMatthew Wettergreen, Ph.D.http://edaac.rice.edu

“ The basic aim of education is not to accumulate knowledge, but rather to learn to think creatively, teach oneself and seek answers to questions as yet unexplored”Jim Killian, former president, MITAdvantages of this course for solving new problems: Multi-disciplinary courseMarrying of aesthetics and decision processesUtilizes resources of world-renowned institutions

Course OverviewArt ConservationLearn the history of art conservation, current techniques and approaches Be able to critically discuss the challenges and ethical discussions that affect modern conservation practiceEngineering Design ProcessLearn the engineering design process as a framework for problem solvingBe able to apply the engineering design process to solve future problems in your engineering or humanities disciplineCreativityLearn creativity and brainstorming activities enhancing your ability to creatively address problem solvingLearn how to employ new web tools and a digital workflow for project managementBe able to produce blogs, podcasts and incorporate video and audio for documentation

Course ParticularsENGI/HUMA 240: Engineering and Design for Art ConservationMeets Tues/Thurs 9:25-10:40AM in Humanities 119No Prerequisites, no examsAttendance is mandatory, laptops in class are encouragedWeekly writing assignment based on readings and lecture1 midterm paper compiled from weekly assignments1 semester project worked on in student teams

Weekly Writing AssignmentsThis course will utilize a Web 2.0 digital workflowYou will set up your own blog and use online tools to complete your research and writing assignments (flickr, delicious, wiki)Up to two posts will be made per weekTeam project progress reportRecap of the week’s materialGoal of these writing assignmentsGet you to engage the course material criticallyWrite in a format that is accessible to readers while providing topical information relating to engineering and conservation.Give you an informal, creative outlet for your courseworkBecome active learners, rather than relying upon the instructor to present all relevant information

Team ProjectStudents will divide into multi-disciplinary teams of ~4Each team will select a work of art fromthe Museum of Fine Arts’ permanent collectionEach team will develop a custom storage solution for that artworkArt conservation information will be used as backgroundEngineering Design Process will be used as a decision-based framework to develop this productGoal of this team projectDeliver an innovative storage solution to the MFAHTransfer abstract concepts to concrete results Explore a decision based framework for real world problem solving

A Tour of Engineering for Art Conservation

Digital WorkflowThe new web is Web 2.0: transparent, open, distributed, collaborative, freeSet up and run your own blog for the semesterLearn how to use web 2.0 tools for project management and documentation

Differing Development PathwaysDecision and exploration based history of EngineeringThe role of war in the history of Art MuseumsCultural history of Houston and the MFAH

Preservation of Our Cultural Heritage“The measure of a society is not its technology but its art”The recent rise of modern conservation and “minimal intervention”

The Hidden MuseumThe museum you never knew existed: storage, conservation, registration, more storageThe role and function of the modern museumThe inner workings of the modern museum

Handling and Storing our Cultural HeritageThe concerns and rules of art handlingThe outdated procedures of art storageEnvironmental monitoring systems

Materials of ArtMaterials and properties of materials in artMaterials and properties of materials for art storage

Disaster Strikes!Damage, Destruction, DegradationPrevention of damageEthical considerations of conservation

Conservation in PracticePerspective from modern conservatorsInteraction with environment over the lifetime of an artwork“Artist Intent” in conservation considerations

Engineering Art ConservationNew techniques for art investigationNew techniques for art restoration

Case StudiesEach lecture will be capped with a case studyCase study will provide a transition between the art world and the engineering world

Solution StageDesign Analysis StageEngineering Design ProcessDevelop Solution OptionsClarify Team AssignmentEvaluate SolutionsUnderstand Problem and Context Identify why design is needed Identify current techniques used to solve problem Identify constraints on design- Identify user needs for designImplement SolutionTest/Evaluate Implemented SolutionDefine design goals or criteriaIterate: refine and improve based on evaluationPlan the process to stay on trackDocument/Communicate

Identify why design is needed

Identify current techniques

Identify constraints on design

Art for EngineeringEmploy creativity for new ways of conceptualizing informationUse brainstorming for developing new ideas

Quantifying Quality / Qualifying QuantityPugh Analysis to assign value to qualitative informationIllustration to add aesthetics to technical data

Maker Week!!Design evaluation for superior products Iterative prototyping

Lighting the WayThe future of the museum and conservationPerspectives from Bell Labs E.A.T.

Picture ReferencesSlide 1 http://www.twickenham.co.uk/images/engineering_R2R_Tooling.jpghttp://www.shafe.co.uk/crystal/images/lshafe/David_Marat_at_his_Last_Breath_1793.jpghttp://www.nga.gov/education/classroom/self_portraits/img/img_warhol_self-portrait_lg.jpghttp://www.artcons.udel.edu/uploads/index/dc332f73291c0f36e31b6471702057d0.gifhttp://www.motoria.net/Images/Development_process.gifSlide 8http://zerostrategist.com/wp-content/uploads/web20map.pnghttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/591163479_d35f7b50d7.jpghttp://organismos.chubut.gov.ar/gobiernodigital/files/2009/07/23-wordpress_logo.pnghttp://www-sop.inria.fr/members/Sylvain.Pion/images/delicious_logo.jpghttp://www.iesgrancapitan.org/blog05/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/600px-wikipedia-logo.pnghttp://www.kynonprofits.org/Portals/18/Flickr-logo.jpgSlide 9http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/350524422_f5df7077aa.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Kepler-solar-system-2.gifhttp://www.creativescreenwriting.com/csdaily/csdart/images/2004-06-June/Monty%20Python%20Holy%20Grail%20-%20Clip%20clop%20(300w).jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/169067160_b43e976e12.jpg?v=0http://www.bigwoodvise.com/whats_new/Archimedes_Stamp.jpg

Picture ReferencesSlide 10http://www.preview-art.com/Conservators/02-2008/oddytest.jpghttp://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/97/Conservation_at_the_Church_of_Sucevi%C5%A3a.jpg/300px-Conservation_at_the_Church_of_Sucevi%C5%A3a.jpghttp://english.chinamil.com.cn/site2/images/2009-06/14/xin_150606140725828181247.jpghttp://artforprofits.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/restoreart.jpgSlide 12http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3682137885_4b14d2259e.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/3682148527_344536c7cb.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2216/3682150407_0bf8efeeec.jpgSlide 13http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/images/marble1seta.jpghttp://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/photofiles/list/406/775paintbrushes.jpghttp://www.metaledgeinc.com/ME_images/volara39a1.jpghttp://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/uploaded_images/VirtualBubbleWrap-759347.pnghttp://www.deviantart.com/download/75033810/Old_paper_41_stock_by_ofruin_stock.jpg

Picture ReferencesSlide 14http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/images/italia/news/2007/0331h.jpghttp://www.drweb.de/textures/rust-0673.jpghttp://jazba.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/earthquake-gallery-3.jpgSlide 15http://artforprofits.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/picasso-pitcher.jpghttp://www.life123.com/bm.pix/perfume-bottle.s600x600.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/5/7496201_21ce7f59f4.jpg?v=0Slide 16http://www.rob.cs.tu-bs.de/content/03-research/01-projects/35-3dscanner/david_3d_laser_scanner.jpghttp://www.howardmodels.com/frank-lloyd-wright/guggenheim-museum-model/guggenheim-museum1.jpghttp://www.vedicsciences.net/design/bacteria5.jpgSlide 17http://fthats.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/1_edible_estates.jpghttp://www.media.rice.edu/images/media/2005RiceNews/1208_front.jpghttp://www.vaticanotours.com/g/sistine_chapel.jpgSlide 19http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/99/maya/tech/pic/brainstorm.gifhttp://www.benheck.com/Games/VCS_projects/Vagabonds/BarNapkin.jpg

Picture ReferencesSlide 20http://www.sigmazone.com/images/Pugh%20Tail%20Rotor.gifhttp://www.grohe.com.sg/lib/18/catalogue_p1/masszeichnungen/Z38519001.jpgSlide 21http://www.holkoconsulting.com/images/mechanical_test_ladder3.jpghttp://www.sigmak.ltd.uk/sitepix/images/cast-Iron-valve.jpghttp://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e380/ShrikeArghast/DSCN0015.jpghttp://www.sspa.se/sites/www.sspa.se/files/Model_and_prototyping_.jpghttp://jra-technologies.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Cirris_Hi-Pot_Testing.120161712_std.jpgSlide 22http://graememitchell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/galerie-lelong-andy-goldsworthy.jpghttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1309/1478181275_adf98f96d0.jpghttp://citynoise.org/cache/preview/18795.jpghttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/380893945_b6949e8ee8.jpg?v=0