Hi Bobby,
You have a received a lot of good advice. Note that the Ketra lamps, like the Soraa product, are retrofit lamps that can be replaced when they fail to perform as expected. Meanwhile, a quality track head fixture will lasts decades and decades. The Soraa lamps, which produce excellent white light in a fixed color temperature, have their own history of pre-mature failure. As Dennis reported, the Ketra system can be programmed to produce a color of light that can wonderfully enhance a painting. But color filters are a far less expensive alternative to the hi-tech solution of programmable light sources. The Ketra system certainly makes sense for a gallery whose contents change with some frequency. It is wonderfully convenient to whip out your mobile, fire up an app, and start painting with light!
Bernhard provides you with an excellent resource for quality museum lighting. Keep in mind that eliminating non-visual UV and IR radiation in your light sources is the low hanging fruit. Limiting the amount of visual light is also part of the equation to slowing the dreaded affect of artifact deterioration. May I also recommend another publication put forth by the IES-Illuminating Engineering Society Museum and Gallery Lighting Committee, RP-30. In this document, you will find an expansive amount of information, both aesthetic and technical.
One more thought on Ketra product--it is hard to get; supply chain challenges have really put a cramp on order fulfillment. Be sure to challenge your supplier to provide an accurate lead time.
The art and science of designing museum gallery lighting requires knowledge across a wide and diverse spectrum (no pun intended!) Wishing you all the best.
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Steven Rosen, FIALD
President and Creative Dir.
Available Light, Inc.
Boston MA
steven@availablelight.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2023 04:53 PM
From: Bobbi Hapgood
Subject: Ketra lighting - any intensity concerns on art?
Thank you so much for this. We have decided to install the Ketra system. Looking forward to the functionality.
Bobbi
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Bobbi Hapgood
President/CEO Ryobi Foundation
Powers Art Center
Carbondale CO
Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2023 02:42 PM
From: Dennis Callahan
Subject: Ketra lighting - any intensity concerns on art?
Bobbi,
We have installed the Ketra system and love it! In fact we are now expanding it throughout all of our viewing areas. It is ideal for lighting artwork which is why we chose it (although it is expensive). They are easy to control- not only the lumens falling on each individual work of art to achieve the required Museum Standards, but also the color temperature of each lamp which greatly enhances each individual artwork. Some artworks look better under warmer light and some look better under cooler light, depending on the artist's palette. They generate no heat on the art either. All in all there is no better lighting system out there for lighting art.
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Dennis Callahan
Callahan art & Associates
Chicago IL
[dennis@callahanartandassociates.comdennis@callahanartandassociates.comdennis@callahanartandassociates.comdennis@callahanartandassociates.com
Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2023 09:58 AM
From: Bobbi Hapgood
Subject: Ketra lighting - any intensity concerns on art?
Hello!
We are in the process of upgrading our lighting system to Lutron. We have the option of installing a Ketra system. Does anyone have information on the impact of the Ketra lighting on art? We are very conscious of the impact any light has on art and wondering if there has been any studies or experiences that we should consider before making the expensive decision.
Thank you for any guidance,
Bobbi Hapgood
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Bobbi Hapgood
President/CEO Ryobi Foundation
Powers Art Center
Carbondale CO
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