Santa Barbara New Press Radio KZSB 1290 AM interviewed me this morning with veteran host and art appraiser Elizabeth Stewart on the “Art and Antiques Radio Program”
Given the abundance of very destructive disasters in our area recently (two wildfires and the Montecito mudslide since last December) the focus of the program was preparing for disasters. Not a very sexy subject but it is compelling when you think about the items in a household that tell the family’s history and there are collectibles that could be worth more than the house.
Of course, none of the discussion was canned advice from a website. Personal stories were abundant, and it was a lively and fun interview, not drab or philosophical at all as you might expect with Elizabeth who is really fun in real life.
Fine Art Conservation Laboratories has a division of its services that focuses on disaster response. Since the Thomas fire last December, we have prepared about 60 insurance proposals for clients. Of course, each client has a property full of smoked or muddy items and in all, we estimate that we’re talking about the clean-up of about 7,000 – 8,000 art related objects. We’ve been working with Service Master and ServPro, mostly in the Santa Barbara area. We also work with Rainbow International.
The question always arises whether an item is “worth” the money and effort to bring it back into “pre-accident” or “pre-existing” condition. That question is more easily answered when it’s a collectible that you buy in a store, auction or gallery. But what about the items that can’t be scheduled on an insurance policy that tell the family’s story to later generations and the “things” remind us of those memories? In effect, the items we pass down contain our memories to retell the stories and pass on the heritage of our families.
There are ways to be prepared for a disaster with family treasured documents and heirlooms and we discussed and told stories about personal examples.
Elizabeth also interviewed Luke Swetland and Caroline Grange after my interview. He is the President and CEO of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. He came to Santa Barbara after a long and distinguished career at the Japanese American National Museum (for whom we are the painting conservator), the Autry Museum (for who we have done painting conservation), the Getty Conservation Center (for whom we have done special projects and research for).
To hear the radio program, search for August 3 2018 on this webpage: click here
For more media information for Scott M. Haskins, Head of Conservation, at Fine Art Conservation Laboratories, click here
For art conservation/restoration questions call Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators 805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com
Facebook page: http://www.Facebook.com/bestartdoc
YouTube Channel” http://www.YouTube.com/bestartdoc
For a quick video tour of Fine Art Conservation Lab: http://www.FineArtConservationLab.com
Fine Art Conservation Laboratories provides professional art conservation services throughout the Santa Barbara-Ventura areas, Los Angeles area, Orange County and even into San Diego, Monterey-Carmel area, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City area. We provide pick up and delivery in these areas. FACL also provides mural conservation services nationwide and even internationally.
