PROFESSIONAL ART HANDLING
by Chris Maravich, General Manager
Terry Dowd, Inc.
Striving to ensure a perfect transfer, for
one piece of art or for an entire collection;
this has been a goal at Terry Dowd, Inc.
since 1978. Whether we’re transporting,
installing or storing the artwork, an absolute sensitivity is maintained for each
and every piece. In the world of art
transportation one would hope this is
commonplace; caveat emptor - buyer
beware.
Artwork, artifacts and antiques are all
precious by nature and many are simply
irreplaceable. When entertaining the
thought of using somebody else to handle
your valuables, you need to make sure
you’ve done your homework.
How long has the firm been in
existence? Experience is a key. You
want to make sure it’s not a fly by night
operation and that they’ve had success in
handling the type of job you’re looking to
accomplish. The last thing you want to do
is hand your precious objects over to
someone who doesn’t know how to handle
them.
Does the firm have a packing strategy? Informed packing decisions
depend on multiple factors: the object
structure, the risks to be mitigated, the
type of shipping method employed or the
length of storage. Should crating be
required, the crate should be designed
from the inside out, starting with support
required for fragile media and forms,
followed by cushioning dictated by the
object itself. Crating effectively is a
science of its own and the firm you
choose should understand its
importance.
Does the firm use museum quality,
archival packing materials? In many
cases, the packing will only be as good
as the materials used. It’s extremely
important to pack an object with the
correct type of packing materials, but if
lower grade materials are being used,
abrasion could defeat the purpose of a
nicely packed piece.
Does the firm instill confidence?
Your contact at the company should be
knowledgeable, reassuring and caring.
Project management is the real
difference in a job going smoothly or not
and it all starts with the initial
conversation. You should be asked
many questions as to the parameters of
the job: piece description, piece
dimensions, piece count, working
conditions, wall surfaces, shipping
destinations, building requirements
and of course your major concerns.
A good company will ask to set up
a site visit for more complex jobs and
scenarios.
You never want to leave moving your
valuables to chance; informed decisions
are the basis for any success. Terry
Dowd, Inc. has established itself as the
standard in fine art service by providing
all the experience, knowledge and
confidence to get the job done. Terry
Dowd, Inc. is proud to be the official art
handler for the members of Conservation
& Design International.
Chris Maravich
© 2011 Conservation
& Design International. All rights reserved