Our Conferences

45th Annual CAC Conference and Workshops

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dalhousie University

May 28 – June 1, 2019

Come join us in “Canada’s Ocean Playground” at our 45th Annual Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The conference will run May 30 to June 1, 2019 at Dalhousie University in the heart of downtown Halifax.

Nova Scotia ‘s varied cultural background makes for a unique setting where the influences and traditions of the Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Scotia and Gaelic are prevalent. Though the province is one of the smallest in Canada, it boasts 5 UNESCO sites, 3 Word Heritage Sites, 13 National Historic sites attractions and 28 provincial museums and interpretive centres.  

Halifax is a beautiful port city situated on the North Atlantic Ocean. The downtown waterfront boardwalk – one of longest boardwalks in the world- offers stunning views mixed with hundred of shops, restaurants and boutique shopping.

This year presentations and posters focus on all aspects of conservation relating to but not restricted to, artifacts, works of art, natural history specimens, archival materials, monuments, and conservation science. Papers with connections to the local and surrounding areas of Nova Scotia will also be included

Questions? Please direct all questions about the conference to conference@cac-accr.ca.

For more about Halifax, visit the official Halifax tourism site: https://discoverhalifaxns.com/

DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY RESIDENCES – RISLEY HALL

1233 LeMarchant Street, Halifax, NS

Monday, May 27 through to Saturday, June 1, 2019

60 Single Room Block Reservation

Regular rate per night: $45.50 + tax

Student rate per night: $30.00 + tax

To make a reservation visit:  stay.dal.ca.

Use the promo code: CAC19 to book accommodations in the conference block.

Students must present a valid student ID upon arrival in order to receive the discounted student rate.

If you require any assistance, please contact us by phone: 1 (888) 271-9222 or by email at: stay@dal.ca.

How to get to Dalhousie University Risley Hall: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/residence_housing/residence/halifax-campus/getting-here-halifax.html

Campus Map: https://www.dal.ca/campus-maps/maps.html

ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS (20 minute or less walk to Dalhousie University)

Hi Halifax, Heritage House

Atlantica Hotel Halifax

Garden South Park Inn

Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites

Worthing Place Botique Hotel & Suites

BREAKS & LUNCHES

Coffee breaks will be catered each day and the 90-minute lunch break will give delegates time to explore the area.

Registration Now Open!

Note: As places are limited for the workshops and some of the conference activities, we strongly recommend using the online form, which gives you the best change to reserve a place.  Payments can be made by cheque or credit card.  Payments by cheque must be received within 10 days of registration.

2019 PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

University of Dalhousie, Scotiabank Auditorium, Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building

6135 University Ave, Halifax, NS

GELLAN GUM:  THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29, 2018 – 9:00 am – 4:30 pm (each day)

Location: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia ▪ 1723 Hollis Street ▪ Halifax, NS

Limit of 16 participants

In the past several years the use of rigid polysaccharide hydro-gels has increased in paper conservation, and is expanding to other porous materials. Gellum gum is one of the least expensive hydrogels, and was initially tested by paper conservators at the ICPAL in Rome.  This workshop will introduce the chemistry, material properties and theory of gel use, augmented by case studies showing various aspects of the gel in action. After providing this theoretical grounding, the majority of the workshop will be spent exploring hands-on applications. Participants will be encouraged to bring didactic samples for experimentation. The two-day workshop will explore:

• Gel preparation:
  • The effects of variations of concentrations and film thicknesses for both the standard low-acyl gellan and the combined low- and high-acyl gellan gum
  • Methods for adding various reagents to the gels (chelators, enzymes, reducing agents and deacidification agents)
• Treatment applications:
  • Overall washing of paper-based objects
  • Local applications for controlled wetting (e.g. paper backing removals, removal of book spine linings, removal of paper labels off paintings or other artifacts)
  • Localized tideline or stain-reducing techniques
  • More complex washing treatments: paper objects with sensitive media, textiles, photographs, three-dimensional artifacts etc.  
  • Gel delivery of aqueous reagents

Though taught from the perspective of paper conservators, and building largely on case studies of the treatment of paper artifacts, participants from other conservation disciplines who are interested in controlled aqueous treatments are also welcome to attend.

Instructor Biographies:

Crystal Maitland joined the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) in 2015 as their Works of Art on Paper Conservator, having returned to Canada after a seven-year stint as the Paper Conservator for the Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries and Museums in Baltimore, MD. Crystal received both her Masters of Art Conservation (MAC) in paper conservation and her Honour Bachelors of Chemistry from Queen’s University. In addition to using gellan gum in treatments, Crystal has experimented with gellan gum applications and is interested in exploring the boundaries of the gel preparation methods for applications both inside and outside the paper lab.

Greg Hill is Senior Conservator of Archival and Photographic Materials at the Canadian Conservation Institute where he conducts treatments, contributes to a range of research projects and presents workshops for the archival and fine art community across Canada. Prior to CCI, Greg worked at Library and Archives Canada in a variety of capacities including Head of Prints and Drawings Conservation and Photograph Conservation, preservation advisor for the former Portrait Gallery of Canada and technical advisor for the new nitrate film storage vault building project. He has spoken and written on a range of subjects related to the conservation and preservation of archival and photographic materials.

SHIBOIRI + INDIGO DYE WORKSHOP 

Wednesday, May 29, 2019 – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Centre for Craft Nova Scotia  ▪ 1061 (Suite 140) and 1096 Marginal Road  ▪ Halifax, NS

Limit of 10 participants

Indigo dye is breathtaking – experience the magic as the fabric changes from lime green to indigo blue before your eyes. Shibori is the ancient Japanese form of dyeing that revolves around different ways of binding and folding fabric to create different patterns and is most commonly practiced with indigo. We will make a variety of shibori samples exploring both Nui (stitched) and itajime (bound and resist) designs. The fabric samples are large enough to be used as Furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth) which are both beautiful and functional. They can be used for a lunch bag alternative, a eco-wrapping technique, or scarf or garment.

Instructor Biography:

Kate Ward is an interdisciplinary artist and educator whose research driven practice investigates the relationship between art, ritual spaces and cultural meaning. Her practice engages with issues of public space and social engagement in contemporary cultures, drawing references from the geolithic, neolithic, through to modern neuroscience technologies.

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia  www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/

Thursday May 30, 2019, 3:10pm – 5:30pm

Tour Cost: $10.00 (includes transportation to the tour site from Dalhousie University)

Behind-the-scenes tour of collections and conservation spaces, explaining what staff do, the gallery’s focus (preventative/active conservation, current storage, and related projects), and how the gallery utilizes and functions in a renovated historic building continually updated by the province. Tour members will explore vault storage as well as walk through the exhibition spaces.

Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History  https://naturalhistory.novascotia.ca/ 

Thursday May 30, 2019, 3:10pm – 5:30pm

Tour Cost: $10.00 (includes transportation to the tour site from Dalhousie University)

Behind-the-scenes tour of collection storage areas, which will include a discussion about the unique issues involved in accessioning, storage, handling and conservation.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic  https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/

Thursday May 30, 2019, 3:10pm – 5:30pm

Tour Cost: $10.00 (includes transportation to the tour site from Dalhousie University)

Behind-the-scenes tour led by Roger Marsters, Curator of Marine History, and Amber Laurie, Assistant Curator/Registrar of Marine History; both part of the Nova Scotia Museum Collections Unit. Tour members will see multiple artifact storage areas and then be able to walk through the exhibition spaces.

Government House  https://lt.gov.ns.ca/government-house

Thursday May 30, 2019, 3:10pm – 5:30pm

Tour Cost: $10.00 (includes transportation to the tour site from Dalhousie University)

A tour of Government House will include viewing the Main Foyer, Grand Staircase, Ballroom, Morning Room, Drawing Room, and Dining Room. There will also be a discussion on the treatment and display of four WWI Colours with Ann Shaftel.