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Laysan Island Cyclorama Restoration Project

The project will bring two expert conservators to the Museum to assess the condition of the Laysan Island Cyclorama, recommend a treatment plan to restore the exhibit to its original condition and propose conservation measures to mitigate future deterioration. The proposal follows the recommendations of a 2001 Conservation Assessment, performed by natural history conservator Catharine Hawks and architectural conservator David Arbogast who visited the UIMNH July 12-13, 2001 under the auspices of the Heritage Preservation Conservation Assessment Program.

What did the conservators observe in 2001? The colors of the birds and the mural have faded significantly since the Cyclorama was finished in 1914. And despite the tight seals, dust has infiltrated through minute cracks and now coats every surface. Eventually the dust will attract moisture and encourage the growth of bacteria, mold and insects. A thorough cleaning of every surface is essential to prevent damage.

The conservators--Joan Gorman, Senior Paintings Conservator from the Upper Midwest Conservation Association, an expert in murals, and Catharine Hawks, Collections Care Internship Coordinator in the office of Museum Studies, George Washington University, an expert inthe conservation of natural history objects, will recommend the appropriate treatment. They will also assess the possibility of using trained students and volunteers to accomplish much of the routine and repetitive restoration effort and doing the work in place where the public can observe the process, behind glass.