The Bowes Museum Blog

This week and the next is filled with installing the new Gerald Scarfe exhibition ‘Milk Snatcher, The Thatcher Drawings’.

With over 100 original hand-drawn works to be hung there is a lot of work to be done.

It all starts with the design, for this a scale model of the room is needed.  After the very tedious task of cutting out all 117 works to scale and a lot of deliberation from the exhibition curator, Greville Worthington, the cut outs were placed on the walls. This is a very important step in planning the exhibition as it helps us visualise the space before the works go up on the walls.

Curator, Greville Worthington placing cut outs

The plan was to get all of the works framed or re-framed; this way we will have consistency in the exhibitions space.  For the works that came to us already framed, Vin (our Exhibitions Technician) and I had the task of de-framing the images.

Once the pictures were out of the frames, Catherine and I could begin to condition check the works. We had training in how to condition check these works by Conservation Manager Jon Old. We were looking to see if there were any tears, creases, markings on the paper and the condition of the ink or paint. A few of them had tape holding them together so therefore very delicate bearing in mind that the tape would be at least 30 years old.

Catherine (left) and I (right) condition checking Scarfe Works

The next step was to get the framer in to measure up all the work, and then it was just a case of sending the works off to be framed.

Once framed pictures started coming back the hanging fixtures could be attached to the back of the frames. When that was done we could then place the works against each assigned wall.

Works stacked ready to be hung

Measuring up the space where the works are to hang

All to do now is to set the work in the right place, add captions and prepare for the opening on Saturday 14^th March 2015.

We hope to see you there.

By Charlotte Thresher, Cultural Apprentice