Cleaning Up After the Kids

Because children are allowed to handle much of the exhibition of “Made in California: NOW,” maintenance poses its own special challenges, says LACMALab director Robert L. Sain.

“If it were a room full of Rothkos, nobody would be calling with the question,” he said when asked about safety of the works, in view of the hands-on nature of the show. “If we are successful, the price will be that keeping up the art will call upon all the resources of the institution.”

Allan Kaprow and Bram Crane-Kaprow’s room full of white pillows could get dirty pretty quickly, particularly as the intention is for kids to roughhouse in the work. But Sain says plans already are in place to replace or repair parts as needed.

“No question, it’s high-maintenance, and it needs to be kept up to museum standards,” Sain says. In anticipation, the museum found a source where identical replacement pillows can be purchased for just $2.60 each.

Likewise, buckets of white paint were built into the budget of Jim Isermann’s lounge, so scuff marks can be removed from the furniture, and new decals are at the ready to repair circles and squares of his murals as needed.

One of the most interesting discussions came over the care of a set of child-sized rubber boots that are key to a sculptural installation by Eleanor Antin.

“The museum’s conservation department was a good partner in this,” Sain says. “There was a long discussion of: If something happens to Eleanor’s boots, do you call in conservation? Or do you just get out the 409?” The decision was made in favor of the latter. “At the end of the day, we just need to clean the boots,” Sain says. “When most exhibitions are open, they’re done. But we’ve just begun. We have to remember the name of this place is LACMALab.”