The seventh mini-conference, hosted by the Ho-Chunk Nation, took place on November 7 & 8, 2013 at the Wisconsin Dells. Participants toured historical sites, ate a delicious feast prepared by the Funmaker family, and played traditional Ho-Chunk games. Participants learned about cleaning feathers, preserving photographs, and salvaging items after a disaster during full-day, hands-on workshops taught by staff from the Midwest Arts Conservation Center.
Thursday evening’s activities included:
- Tours of the Historic Indian Agency House in Portage and the H.H. Bennett Studio.
- Meal provided by Rhonda Funmaker at the Ho-Chunk Nation Wellness Center.
- Social that included traditional Ho-Chunk games, including the moccasin game and Kasu (a dice game).
Friday activities included presentations and workshops by:
- Sam Olbekson: “Facility Planning Group Discussion” Sam Olbekson, an architect with the Cunningham Group, engaged participants in a discussion about Native design. He asserted the importance of thinking beyond a stereotypical Native design and consider what Native architecture in the 21st century really looks like.
- Elisa Redman – “After a Disaster: Salvage of Collection Materials and Artifacts” Elisa Redman, Director of Preservation Services, covered the basic concepts of salvaging collection materials from a water-based disaster. Through a presentation and a hands-on recovery exercise, participants learned about: implementing a salvage operation; prioritizing salvageable artifacts; methods of drying various types of artifacts; simple cleaning procedures that staff may carry out; types of damages that require a professional conservator; and the impact of salvaging collections on other museum operations.
- Nicole Grabow – “Cleaning Feathers” Nicole Grabow taught a hands-on introduction to cleaning feathers. The workshop included a brief discussion on conservation ethics and basic anatomy of the feather, as well as a cleaning demonstration. Participants then practiced with their own feathers, or feathers provided. The participants ended the workshop with a discussion comparing the results of different techniques.
- Dianna Clise – “Care of Photographs” This workshop discussed how early photographic prints on paper were made and how they typically deteriorate in response to poor storage, handling, and exhibition practices. Participants were able to practice identifying various types of photographs and discussed practical ways to improve preservation.
All photos taken by Della Nohl