Dr Philip Klausmeyer of the Worcester Art Museum served as Associate Editor for three of the five papers in this issue. Since he passed away shortly before this issue went to press, it is fitting that the issue be dedicated to his memory. He served the IIC as a dedicated and careful member of the editorial board until his illness made that service too difficult. Philip always showed great respect for the authors of the papers he handled, and worked with professionalism, integrity, and courtesy. His scientific background combined with his training and experience as a practicing conservator made him a very valuable member of the Studies in Conservation team.
Philip received a bachelor's degree in Art History and Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Master's degree in Art Conservation from the University of Delaware/Winterthur program, and a PhD from Clark University. He spent the past 20 years working as a conservation scientist and paintings conservation at the Worcester Art Museum. His many presentations and publications impacted the field, and usually involved productive collaboration; some of these papers appeared in recent volumes of Studies in Conservation. Philip was also well known for his painting talent, his ties to his local community, and his dedication to his family. He was a pleasure to have on the Studies in Conservation editorial board, and he will be greatly missed.
The first paper in this issue, by Henderson and Waller, falls under the category of ‘Critical Assessment/Perspective'. It focuses on effective preservation decision strategies, examining how decisions about preservation issues are made both deliberately and unconsciously. The goal of the paper is to provide a framework to help conservators examine, describe, and reflect on decision-making as a springboard to improving processes and outcomes. This type of paper is very welcome as a component of Studies in Conservation, and should help the conservation profession mature and grow through critical thinking and philosophical reflection.
The next three papers are all original research or treatment papers. Krzemień et al. examine the mechanism of craquelure pattern formation on panel paintings. Of key significance is their demonstration that craquelure patterns mimicking historical ones can be realistically produced in laboratory conditions. Their study provides useful information for preparing specimens simulating historic panel paintings and may also aid current efforts on automatic, computer-aided classifications of crack formations on paintings. Stenger et al. next present two papers that highlight recent research on Mark Rothko's Harvard Murals. The first paper focuses on an investigation into the creative process, materials, and technique used by Rothko to execute the murals. Their second paper concentrates on a novel treatment proposal for the murals using ‘inpainting' via projected light. The paintings have changed color due to the presence of a fugitive red pigment and past exposure to natural light. The original color was first determined by digital restoration of contemporary photographs, and then a camera system projects a compensation image over the paintings to restore the original color appearance.
The final paper of this issue is a technical note by Paolo Cremonesi on a practical method for cleaning water-sensitive painted surfaces using Agar gel in a grated form. Included is a general discussion on strategies to consider when water is required to clean a water-sensitive soiled surface. A representative case study is illustrated using the grated Agar gel procedure.
Taken together, the papers in this issue of Studies in Conservation highlight some of the very creative and innovative thinking, research, and treatment ideas that are a hallmark of modern conservation science and practice.