Shipping Photos and Artwork

[HADave]

Does anyone have any good advise on the best protection for photos and prints and paintings ( not neccessarilly exspensive).

We are concerned about the possibilties of improper packaging. We expect these things to remain in the shipping container for a long time 1 year possible.
heat moisture bugs , We are thinking just pack them in plastic containers or bags then placed in cardboard stacking boxes.

Also should those in frames undewr glas be removed, concerned about sticking to the glass. Any coments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Aloha HADave

S. China / Kurtistown

[janeadams]

Hi Dave,

When we moved to Maui from the mainland, our artwork was packed in Mirror/Glass Packs. The moving company did an excellent job of wrapping each piece in several layers of the newsprint, packing several into a mirror box, and then padding it. They were stored in those boxes for 6 months in storage, and then moved to the garage of the house, where it took another couple months to get them unpacked. No damage at all. Moving from Maui to BI was much the same timeline, but did lose one piece of glass, but it didn't harm the painting. In both cases, we chose to have the company do that packing professionally, and were happy with the results.

HOWEVER!!!!! Realize that you are moving to a very damp environment for artwork. The mats warp over time, bugs actually get inside the glass, and you've got to clean them periodically. Those that handle the environment best are those that are totally packed into their frames with the foam backerboard -- not just the little clips to hold them in place -- all is held securely in place because its a tight fit. This is not a kind environment on paintings, but some protection upfront can be helpful. If you can, consult with a good framing shop, and get the pros to pack your artwork.

Watch out when opening boxes that come from months in storage! We ended up with an infestation of the large cockroaches that came in via the storage building. Of course, they were all over outside as well ;-)

That said, it's always the best part of moving into a new place when the artwork is on the walls. It really makes it feel like home. We're no experts; just have artist friends and appreciate good stuff, both prints, posters and originals. Overall in both moves, we lost one piece of glass, two wineglasses, two bowls, and the bezel around the place on the washer you put the detergent and stuff in. We did all the packing for household goods sans artwork for the Maui - BI move, as well as the California to Maui more. Bought the glass packs and china packs from U-Haul for that stuff, and they did really well.

Sorryfor the lengthy post, but its always good to have your important stuff arrive in good shape.

Jane and Pete Adams

[Scott_S]

Dave, if you keep it up you and Peg are going to beat us to the acres. Good luck.

Scott

[HADave]

Hi Jane thanks for your input on the artwork side of things I gues for the larger prints we are going to wrap in bubble wrap and enclosed in cardboard then either pack toward the center of the load or insulate the box with styrofoam..Hope for the best.; )

Your right you know your home once the pictures are on the walls...

Our other concern is the many photos we have and some date back.... well over 50 years.

Hey Scott Not to worry we are free flying at the moment I'm sure in a couple of weeks some windshield will cross our path. thanks though luck to you also.....

Aloha HADave

S. China / Kurtistown

[janeadams]

Hi Dave,

About the photos... again, this is not a kind environment for them. I ended up leaving the family photo albums with my brother in San Jose, and glad I did -- they are irreplaceable. Of my own, the ones that have done the best are in the kind of albums that have little pockets on plastic pages. The ones that were mounted on standard albums (paper pages) stuck together after awhile, and I lost a number of them. Learning point is to never let them go face-to-face. Personally, I'd take the old ones to a scanning service and digitize them for preservation.

Also, if you have camcorder tapes or vcr tapes of value, you might look into a humidity-proof box for them. They mold!!!

Thanks heavens for digital photography!

Jane

[HADave]

Thanks Jane, plastic pockets it will be in loose leaf binders stored in a dry room...

Aloha HADave

S. China / Kurtistown

[Kelena]

Along these same lines, when I come over I intend to sell or give away most of the artwork I have acquired over the years. As for the family photos and my genalogical materials (the gay uncle is the genealogist in the family), I will give those to a nephew. I like the idea of digitizing photos, and will probably do that.

The more I think about it, the more I feel like I would not like to be burdened by "things" when I come over. I know I will bring no furniture. I doubt I will bring very much at all.

I would like to bring a piano, but I think I know how that would go.

[PunaLeigh]

If you can seal photos and negatives/slides etc inside heavy plastic bags and add silica gels in with them before tightly sealing the bags, they will really help keep damaging humidity from your photos.

I am a photographer and use silica gels with photos and camera equipment. When I didn't I had serious growth-webbing on my slides and INSIDE my camera lens-- cost big bucks to clean!

The best gels I found are 'hydrosorbent 40-gram Silica Gel' that I buy at Lighthaus (yes that's how they spell it Camera in Kona. I think they are about $7 each and they will mail them if needed.