University of Akron and the Conservation Center to collaborate in developing improved canvas lining adhesives

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AKRON, OH — The Institute of Fine Arts' Conservation Center and the University of Akron's School of Polymer Science and Engineering have teamed up on a significant research initiative to find better lining adhesives for conserving canvas paintings authored by old masters, modern and contemporary painters.

The research collaboration tackles a crucial requirement to find a suitable substitute for Beva 371, the industry standard for lining adhesion for painting conservation that is no longer supported by materials in the market.

Conservators and scientists will collaborate to fine-tune and maximize adhesion performance and adapt the strength of new lining adhesive products to reduce dangers to a variety of paintings on canvas.

During the grant period, Professor Michele D. Marincola, Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of Conservation and Chair of the Conservation Center, and Christopher McGlinchey, Senior Research Scholar at the Conservation Center and Project Director for this exciting initiative will oversee this multi-institutional, cross-disciplinary project.

The Getty Foundation has funded the research as part of its Conserving Canvas program, aiming to improve understanding and skills in the structural conservation of paintings on canvas.

Following a gathering of the international paintings conservation community in 2019, the Conserving Canvas Symposium, organized by the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage at Yale University and made possible with Getty support, the project was developed in response to recommendations from leading experts in the field.

The two-year project will see the addition of two postgraduate fellows: a Getty Conserving Canvas Research Fellow based at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts and a Getty Conserving Canvas Science Fellow based at The University of Akron.

Professor Marincola, McGlinchey, NYU Clinical Professor Dianne Modestini, Ali Dhinojwala, Interim Director of the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, and Professor Abraham Joy, The University of Akron, will supervise the fellows.

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