Art in L.A. is a study of materials and fabrication processes used by Los Angeles-based artists since the 1950s and the implications these materials and processes have for conservation. This research is being undertaken through discussions with artists (and/or their assistants or fabricators), through close examination and scientific analysis of works by these artists, and through archival research. The project, part of the Getty COnservation Institute's Modern and Contemporary Art Research Initiative, seeks to engage a wide mix of the Los Angeles art community—first and foremost artists, but also fabricators, conservators, and curators—in a creative dialogue about broader issues in the conservation of contemporary art and to disseminate this information through a variety of media.
The project consists of the following:
- Technical Studies; Studies into artists' materials and working methods
- Treatment Studies; Investigating treatment options for resin and plastic sculptures
- Artist Dialogues; Exploring artist's materials, techniques, and thoughts on conservation
- Exhibition: From Start to Finish: De Wain Valentine's Gray Column.
- Related materials: Materials including publications and articles.
Project website: