Packing Your Work
Packing work is a skill and requires some consideration. You need to be sure you have the right materials to protect the work, prevent breakage and preserve it if it is being stored for any length of time. The right box or crate is also critical in ensuring your work is not damaged in transit or storage.
When packing your work consider:
Will the work be stored for some time in this way? If so, ensure your materials are suitable for archiving and will not break down or cause damage to the work in its storage location.
How will the work be handled when it is being moved? You know how to handle your work carefully, but do others?
Is your packing material moisture resistent? It will need to protect your work from possible exposure to weather in transit.
Tegan Empson’s work get packed up after exhibition. Photograph David Campbell
Can it be repacked easily? If you have sent your work to an exhibition, include repacking instructions to ensure your work is returned just as you sent it.
Artlab Senior Objects Conservator Justin Gare leads our Packing Art Objects for Travel and Storage workshop. The workshop offers some excellent advice on how to assess what you’re packing and determine the best ways to protect it. To help you source the right materials for packing your work, Justin has provided the following list of suppliers.
Softlon
Sekisui Pilon Pty Ltd
Ph: 02 9525 9880
1-5 Parraweena Road, Taren Point, NSW 2229
Pine frames for light weight crates
Phoenix Society Ph: 8116 2102
PO Box 18, Melrose Park SA 5039
Ethafoam (hard foam that can be carved)
Metro Foam Products
Ph: 02 9748 8588
PO Box 6746, 15 Fariola St, Silverwater, NSW 2128
Coreflute (or mulflute)
Mulford Plastics
Ph: 8444 9666
750 Port Road, Beverley, SA 5009
Polyurethane foams
Dunlop foams
Ph: 08 8343 7555
101-103 Churchill Road, North Dry Creek, 5094
The following companies offer packing services or specialist packing/crating materials which may be useful in ensuring your work is protected and preserved well if it is being moved or stored for any length of time.
TED Fine Art
Pod services
Pack and send
Box Biz
Rebul
International Art Services
Keep an eye on our website for the next Packing Art Objects for Travel and Storage workshops for more great tips on packing your work.
Guildhouse financial members are able to obtain one on one professional development support about many areas of their practice. Contact us for more information.