Tuesday, February 5, 2013

crating artworks for tour

The last couple of weeks its all been about getting my art works together for Artslink Queensland 2013-14 Touring Exhibition Teasing The Domestic. (details in a previous post ) Special crating care is specified for art works to tour - museum quality crating, as the works will travel for two possibly three years so the art work really needs to be packed into strong firm boxes.  We were recommended  to use Rebul, I can highly recommend them too, if your ever in need of quality crating. Packaging can seem a little tedious at times but using this new crating system, I found it quiet an interesting process so much so I documented it to share it with you!

They come as flat pack.

 
Assembling was a breeze, each section slot into each other with pvc pipe, run along the hard cardboard tubular tracks, I also chose the option of internal foam lining.  The outer shell is covered with a thin sheet of MDF board with carry handles.

 
I considered several options for securing the artworks inside the crate, as it goes I had a chunk of foam left over from packaging another artwork and if fit snug as a bug, how awesome was that!!  I also bought another slab of foam to go on top, it ended up being the right internal height, even without prior measuring - the gods were on my side this time :-)
 
I opted to carve into the foam so the art works fit snug into the hole, first by outlining each art work and carving into the foam using an electric carving knife (images below), I learnt this trick from the foam supplies, the knife cuts into the foam like butter and a cool neat cut too, I wish I knew about this trick years ago!!!

 
 
I discovered too that cutting smaller lengths made it easier to pull out evenly - below:

 
My Domestic Duties Chp.2 art works with their fragile little movable bits; arms, legs and bases all safe and snug in the foam - atleast I can rest easy they will all travel safely inside the crates whilst in transit.


To date; Teasing The Domestic is booked for 2013 and fast filling for 2014.

10 comments:

  1. Hi K - an amazing amount of work to get your work on tour - I think I will just keep mine at home. Well done for persistence. B

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    1. Hi B, it was a lengthy process, oddly enjoyable !-) K

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  2. I must say I was fascinated by the whole thing Kim. I used to cut foam like that years ago to help support people with disabilities in wheelchairs etc. A different application for sure. Still those pieces looks snug and supported which is what you want. Bon voyage!

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    1. I thought it was very clever using the electric knife. That would have being very supportive and conforting from the foam.

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  3. Well done Kim. That packaging is awesome! Hope it's funded by the Govt.

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  4. Phew, packing can be exhausting! I also carve out the foam to fit my work into but had never thought of using an electric carving knife. Kicking myself for giving our carving knife away!

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    1. It actually was exhausting Robyn (to my suprise!) more so if the lady hadn't shared the ole electirc knife trick! Ditto, I ended up having to buy a new one, eeerrgh!

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  5. Wow! It was a long process, but I'm sure that those artworks are worth the effort. Artworks that have a lot of details, such as yours, really need some extra care in shipping. Good thing there's foam that protects your art from damages along the way. Thank you for sharing us your knowledge about the new crating system.

    Renea Luong @Legacy TSI

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    1. Hi Renea, yes it is well worth making the effort when transporting artworks. I have seen the works six months into the touring and they are still holding up really well, so the foam was also worth using as this work is touring for two possibily three years. My pleasure in sharing my method with the crating. Regards, Kim

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