An upcoming exhibit at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum will provide a glimpse of fragile, rarely displayed artwork, and a window into daily preservation practices at the museum.
The exhibit, titled “Condition Report: Preserving our Community’s Collection,” will open on Saturday, March 19. It will run through Saturday, Aug. 13. Ten pieces will be displayed at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s art museum. Among them are:
- a botanical drawing by Harriet Joor from the early 20th century;
- a Thomas Sully portrait from 1812; and,
- a recently restored painting by John McCrady.
Laura Blereau, the museum’s curatorial consultant, said that by exhibiting works with minor flaws, the aim is to illustrate some common problems associated with long-term storage of artwork, including damage caused by pests, mold, or light. “Professional conservators often play a part in remedying these situations before an artwork goes on view,” Blereau explained.
The exhibit will be displayed on the museum’s second floor, in a space with windows that were recently modified to help protect art from sunlight. Film filters that block ultraviolet rays were installed after the museum received a $25,000 conservation grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Such filters protect against issues such as fading and fiber damage in galleries with natural light.
Installation of the filters has created a new place for displaying certain works on paper from the University Art Museum’s permanent collection. The refurbished space also will serve as a resource for education about conservation practices.
The museum will launch its “Adopt a Work of Art” Program in conjunction with the upcoming exhibit. It seeks donations from museum patrons and supporters that will help with the cleaning and conservation of many pieces in the collection.
Hilliard University Art Museum features 11,000 square feet of gallery space and is the largest exhibition space between Houston and New Orleans. It houses a collection of 18th- through 21st-century European, Asian and American art. In addition to its permanent collection, it offers changing exhibitions of regional, national and international art.
Museum hours are: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Sundays and Mondays.
The museum is at 710 E. St. Mary Blvd., on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus.
Admission to Hilliard University Art Museum is $5 for adults, $4 for adults over age 62, $3 for students between the ages of 5 and 17, and free for children younger than 5 years old. UL Lafayette students, and faculty and staff members can visit the museum for free by showing their University ID card.
Learn more about the museum, exhibits, and programs, at hilliardmuseum.org or by calling (337) 482-2278.
Image: Harriet Joor, "Larkspur, May; Oxalis, May", no date (c. 1900), Pencil and watercolor on paper.