AIC's 53rd Annual Meeting

Construction at Ernest Horn Elementary school in Iowa city necessitated the moving of a little-known mural by Keith Haring.  This mural as the result of a long-time friendship between artist Keith Haring and art teacher Colleen Ernst.  In 1989 months before his death Haring traveled to Iowa City and completed the mural in the school library in front of crowd of children and teachers.  
What appeared to be as simple project, taking a large, framed artwork from a cinder block wall, developed into a complex and costly construction project involving multiple parties.  Not only was the mural firmly attached to the wall, but the clients for the project were a city school district and a state university.  Neither large organization had the personnel of the bandwidth to devote the necessary attention to detail to manage a project of this scale.
Few conservators have formal training in project management, but the daily problem-solving skills necessary to navigate treating works of art are similarto project management.  Flexibility and the nimble approach the conservators bring to the table make them excellent planners.  Familiarity with working within the limits of material objects leads to compatibility with construction trades.
This paper will outline how following the protocol of conservation treatments served to organize a multi-faceted project with many challenges and personalities.