Page 50 - LIN.NOVEMBER17WEB

599 NINTH STREET NORTH SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637
ASK THE ARTSPERTS PROTECTING ART www.harmonmeek.com

by Juliana Meek and Kristine Meek in rolls of various sizes. A good scissor or razor
Dear Artsperts: blade will cut the plastic down to size and then
you can wrap the painting just like you would
In the hours before Hurricane Irma struck Naples I began to worry that maybe a present and seal with tape. This should keep
I should have done more to protect my art. Do you have advice on what I should do moisture out. If you can put the works in a
before the next hurricane blows this way? cardboard box that should help protect the work
Signed, from puncture.
Weathering the Storm Often the real problem occurs after the
storm has passed when standing water, open
Dear Storm, homes, and loss of electricity become the
Art can be impacted a number of ways during a hurricane like the one we just primary issues of concern. Unwrap the works
experienced this past September with Irma. Hurricane Harvey impacted Houston in wrapped in plastic to let them breathe. If works
a vastly different manner than Irma and Irma had different effects on Marco Island can be moved to a facility with air conditioning
and Naples versus Jacksonville. then that would be the ideal solution, assuming
Whether high winds or high water, both you can retrieve them at all. Remember
usually result in loss of electricity and thus loss that artists created paintings long before air
of humidity and temperature control. High conditioning so they are not that fragile. It is
humidity and rapidly fluctuating temperatures long exposure to humidity, water damage and
are the two factors beyond wind and water puncture that are of most concern. Paintings on
which are of concern to the safety of artworks. canvas will loosen with humidity and should be
Today many homes and businesses are brought back to their normal taut state slowly
equipped with impact glass and generators when the power returns.
which help, but not everyone has or can afford You should also be cautious about art newly
those precautionary items. Plus even hurricane available to the art market that may have been
windows can leak if not sealed properly and damaged by a storm. Just like with used cars,
generators depend on a constant source of fuel after a storm some unscrupulous individuals
which may run out. may try to sell their damaged art work. Be
You should first consider the option careful when buying art at auction especially if
of getting the artwork out of the storm’s you cannot physically examine the art yourself.
forecasted path. If you have an offsite storage Be sure to examine the backs of canvas and
facility to move works of art and antiques the back of works to ensure no water damage
to away from coastal or flood regions, preferably above the first floor, that is a or recent reframing. Look for signs of mold,
good option. If you are evacuating by car and have the space, wrap very valuable or mildew or fungus.
sentimentally valuable objects - even just in thick towels or blankets - and bring In the end protection of life is of greater
them with you. concern than that of material objects, but we can
Newer homes with impact glass and built-up from the street level can protect understand your interest in wanting to save your
artwork without much concern; perhaps consider hiding easily movable works of art art as well.
of high value to inner rooms away from windows and elevated off the ground. High-
rise condominiums with impact glass or hurricane shutters are fairly safe as well as Sincerely,
long as they have been installed correctly and are properly sealed. The Artsperts
If works have to be left at home then again removing them to an interior room
and elevating is still a good option and very valuable or sentimentally valuable objects
can be sealed in plastic sheeting with plastic tape and even boxed in cardboard. The
SOME PEOPLE HID SOME OF THEIR ARTWORK IN
plastic sheeting can be found in hardware stores often in the paint section and comes AN INTERIOR BATHROOM DURING THE STORM.

50 Life in Naples | November 2017