Artists Documentation Program
Carol Mancusi-Ungaro interviewing Ed Ruscha in front of Large Trademark with Eight Spotlights (1962). Photograph by Heather Cox
Conservators of contemporary art face unique challenges. Contemporary works of art are often materially ephemeral, time-based, interactive, or conceptual. In preserving these works, conservators rely heavily on documentation of an artist’s materials, techniques, and intent, frequently needing to consult the artist directly. When an artist is no longer living, the available information can become quite scarce.
To address this problem, conservator Carol Mancusi-Ungaro, conceived of the Artists Documentation Program (ADP), in which conservators interview artists in the presence of their artworks, in order to understand their materials and techniques. With Brad Epley, co-Director, Artists Documentation Program and Chief Conservator, The Menil Collection, the ADP creates a lasting record of an artist’s attitudes toward restoration and exhibition of their works—a “living will” for their work.