Page 30 - August 2016 Life In Naples Magazine
P. 30
599 NINTH STREET NORTH SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637
ASK THE ARTSPERTS STORING ART www.harmonmeek.com
by Juliana Meek and Kristine Meek
Dear Artsperts: of materials. Since a work of
art is composed of different
My husband and I have just moved into a materials such as the canvas,
home here in Naples. We haven’t yet agreed on the oil in the paint, the
where to hang a painting and we have it, along pigment, the metal frame,
with all of our memorabilia, genealogy records, and the wood stretcher, each
cut-glass collection, and past tax records, in our of these materials will swell
garage. We aren’t used to not having basements, and contract at a different
attics, or large closets and now we can’t even get rate. It is this expanding
our cars in the garage! Is the painting, an oil on and contracting that causes
canvas, we bought in Paris, okay in the garage? damage to the painting.
Signed, High humidity (of RH
70 percent or more) can
Stored in the Garage cause mold and fungi to
grow on the canvas of your painting. Effects of humidity can come in physical changes
Dear Stored, such as: warping, disjointing, splitting, fiber breakdown, delamination, and cracking;
and chemical changes such as corrosion of metals, fading of dyes, clouding of glass,
Welcome to Naples. You may have noticed crystallization, disintegration and yellowing of paper.
that along with our sunshine and Gulf breezes,
we have hot, humid days and afternoon It is best to store paintings, as well as other important or fine papers, textiles, glass, and
thunderstorms during the summer wet season. furniture in a controlled environment with a RH of 45 -55 percent and a temperature of
As they say, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best not to have the temperature vary much during a 24
And it’s the humidity, even more than the heat hour period and your garage is not protected from the changes in temperature during the
that causes issues for artwork.Relative Humidity day and night.
(RH) is a measure of the amount of moisture in
the air relative to the amount the air is capable of Your books and papers in your memorabilia, genealogy, and taxes are absorbing moisture
holding. RH is usually reported as a percentage. in your garage and likely growing mold. You may notice small brownish dots have appeared
on the paper, this is called “foxing” and is a result of mold growth.
Temperature can effect the RH and changes
in temperature, causing changes in RH is the Your canvas painting is expanding to absorb the moisture and it will do so at a different
greatest concern. Sharp changes in temperature rate than the wood stretcher will resulting in the canvas “sagging”. The sagging may also
and humidity will cause swelling and contraction cause the paint to crack and flake off the canvas.
It is best to store your painting, and other important items, in a cool, dry place. We
recommend you buy or rent an indoor, air conditioned storage unit at a warehouse
convenient for you.
Sincerely,
The Artsperts
BOTH PICTURES SHOW CRACKING OF PAINT DUE TO THE CANVAS STRETCHING
AND SHRINKING FROM DRASTIC CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY.
30 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2016
