Open Forum

Hi all,

My museum just acquired several large pieces of art that are actually made of many smaller ones pieced together on a wooden screen. As part of the agreement in the gift, we are breaking this down into its smaller components. The problem is that the artist glued all the pieces to both sides of the display screen and I'm at a loss as to how I should go about removing the components. These are 1/16" thick boards with designs created with hot glue and acrylic paint.  Would anyone have a suggestion as to how I can safely remove the artworks? 

Thanks!

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Zoe Quinn
Collections Manager
Armenian Museum of America
Watertown MA
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​Hi,

I would suggest speaking to a conservator. Knowing the material is hot glue maybe you could create your own board with hot glue and acrylics and test different methods of paint/ glue removal before actually working on the original art. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

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Bonnie Lawrence-Smith
Draper Natural History Museum
Curatorial Assistant
Center of the West
Cody Wyoming
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Hello Ms. Quinn,
If the individual artworks are not assembled with hot glue, you can use a heat gun or high-wattage hair dryer to soften the hot glue enough to get them loose. Tape a few layers of cardboard over the artworks to shield them from the heat.

If they are assembled with hot glue, your best option is immobilizing the large screen, then gently working very sharp chisels under the artworks, erring on the side of the screen. Use a mallet to get the best control of the cut. You may not be able to get all of the hot glue off the mounting surface of the artworks, but you at least should be able to free them from the screen, depending on how large they are and how much glue the artist used. Naturally, if they are bigger than the length of your longest chisel to the center, you may have to improvise a tool.

Good luck!

Cordially,

Paul Pallansch

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Paul N. Pallansch
Dot-Connector,
Up-Close Realism
Silver Spring MD
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I would suggest you ask a conservator before you try anything yourself.   The American Institute of Conservation has a great resource on their website - Find A Conservator, that will help you find someone in your area.    Most conservators are willing to give a limited amount of advice over the phone or email, so you might also check with the staff of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston to see if they can help.

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Janice Klein
Executive Director
Museum Association of Arizona
Tempe AZ
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Hello, 

Depending on the precision required to separate the pieces, you may find a "hot knife" (not a hot knife) useful. I find a good one of these, light pressure, and a well ventilated room often works well separating all kinds of materials, though I have never used it on artwork exceeding $50 in value.

Google "hot knife" or "heated exacto knife" to see what I mean. 

+1 for testing and consultation.

Patrick

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Patrick Arkins
Senior Business Analyst
The Franklin Institute
Philadelphia PA
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