Art Bio Matters is a cross-disciplinary hub for biological materials research in cultural heritage. Welcome to ABM A Cross-Disciplinary Hub for Biological Materials Research in Cultural Heritage About ABM Education Community Meetings Resources Members Opportunities MISSION STATEMENT ART BIO MATTERS (ABM) provides a stimulating forum in which to explore current and new directions in the study of biological materials found in cultural heritage collections. Communication and partnerships are facilitated by a robust website, dedicated Slack channel, and interactive Art Bio Matters Meetings. While the core disciplines of ABM are science, curatorial/cultural history, and conservation, ABM welcomes other stakeholders involved in cultural heritage studies. A key aspect of the forum is the opportunity to discuss research at any stage of completion among a balanced community of experts in a format designed to promote collegial dialogue and debate. Read more about ABM ONSITE EVENT ABM 2023 ABM 2023 was an in-person meeting in NYC, continuing as a platform for open dialogue and debate between specialists interested in biological materials investigations of cultural heritage. Meetings EXPLORE ABM Projects Discover projects from the ABM community Explore Opportunities Explore opportunities for education, professional development, employment, funding, and more. Show more Events Stay connected to the most recent events with bimonthly ABM virtual presentations by ABM Members and other events of interest. Show more Join us and become a part of the ABM c ommunity

Explore opportunities for education, professional development, employment, funding, and more. OPPORTUNITIES Events Fellowships Funding Internships Jobs Studentships Mentorship Workshops + Courses Categories COMING UP These events are coming up soon! If you have an event to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org . No events or deadlines coming up now. Check again later! PAST EVENTS These events have already passed. If you like what you see, don't miss upcoming events! Symposium—Chia Oil in 18th Century Mexican Lacquerware and Paintings Details Gain insight into the art of Mexico with a live demonstration by celebrated artisans from Michoacan, Mexico and presentations from Met scholars and multidisciplinary experts. Join us to explore the scientific, historical, and cultural implications of the use of chia oil in colonial Mexican artworks and hear about exciting advancements in the study of this versatile plant material. This program is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mex-Am Cultural Foundation Inc. ECBSM2024 - 6th European Conference on Biodeterioration of Stone Monuments Details A great opportunity to gather researchers, heritage professionals, industry experts, teachers, and students working for the conservation of historic and culturally relevant objects and buildings. Abstracts due by September 9, 2024 Registration deadline: September 18, 2024 Milan, Italy on 7-8 November 2024 36th CIHA World Congress - Lyon 2024 Details The 36th CIHA Congress is organized under the aegis of the Comité français d'histoire de l'art (CFHA) in partnership between the CFHA, the Institut national d'histoire de l'art (INHA), the Université Lumière Lyon 2 and the Laboratoire de recherche historique Rhône-Alpes (LARHRA CNRS UMR 5190). The main aims of this internationally-renowned scientific and cultural event are to share and disseminate research by bringing together communities of art history and heritage around a unifying theme. AMNH Techniques Tuesday Details Lindsey Paskulin is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia and lab manager of the ADaPT Archaeological Laboratory that is a dedicated space for ancient DNA and paleoproteomic analysis. Her talk will provide background on collagen mass fingerprinting and shotgun proteomics techniques as well as discuss her research focused on applying proteomic techniques to vessel interiors and vessel residues to reconstruct elements of food processing, preparation, and consumption in the past. Please see ABM members' Slack for Zoom link. Reimagining Materiality: Artistic Interventions and Sustainable Innovations in algae-based polymers Details Jessica French May 17th, 2024 6:30 PM ET In this seminar, French delves into her pioneering work with algae-based polymers, a cornerstone of her artistic practice. Through 'Other Matter', her experimental design studio, French champions sustainability with innovative outcomes for algae-based bioplastics, impacting beyond the cultural sector. The talk will offer an overview of her artistic journey, showcasing how traditional techniques are transformed by groundbreaking sustainable materials, including her innovative non-petrochemical decal signage—Other Matter Decals™. These exemplify the practical implementation of closed-loop, zero-waste systems. The discussion not only highlights French’s unique blend of research and creative experimentation but also fosters a broader conversation on the role of sustainable practices in transforming artistic production and environmental responsibility. Additionally, the seminar will address ongoing research questions and spotlight knowledge and data gaps inherent in working with unconventional materials, underscoring the critical need for continued investigation and collaboration in this evolving field. Identification of a lichen dye source in a fifteenth century medieval tapestry Details Rachel Lackner Apr 18th, 2024 11:00 AM ET As part of a long-term campaign to clean, conserve, and treat the Heroes tapestries from The Cloisters collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, organic colorant analysis of Julius Caesar (accession number 47.101.3) was performed. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of several dark brown samples revealed the presence of several molecules produced only by certain species of lichen. Various lichen dye sources have been documented in the literature for centuries and are classified as either ammonia fermentation method (AFM) or boiling water method (BWM) dyes based on their method of production. However, none of these known sources produce the distinctive metabolites present in the tapestry. Lichen metabolites were definitively identified in the tapestry by LC-MS based on comparison with a reference of Lecanora sulphurata. This finding marks the first time that these lichen metabolites have been identified in a historic object, and the first evidence that BWM lichen dyes may have been used prior to the eighteenth century. This is a members-only event. Registration links will be sent directly to ABM members. ABM March Round Table Details ABM members share their current research projects and challenges to spark conversation and connect with relevant colleagues: Thainá Vígio is seeking other fungicide methods other than freezing and anoxia treatment for 19th c. silk textiles. Pamela Hatchfield will discuss an outdoor Chinese sandstone sculpture compromised by a myriad of microbiological growth, and how to evaluate the risk of further damage from these species. Micheal Galardi (Celeste Mahoney) will discuss light spots uncovered on a Huastec sandstone relief and wonders about the possibility of biological growth as a factor. This is a members-only event. Registration links will be sent directly to ABM members. 2024 Edition: 'New Perspectives in the Study of Medieval Manuscripts' Details Inaugural Seminar. Jiří Vnouček Conservator of parchment, paper & bookbinding The Royal Library, Copenhagen Changes in production of parchment during one millennium: 4th to 14th centuries Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Sala de Grados 2 de febrero de 2024 · 16:00h The seminar will take place in a hybrid format and is open to the general public. To register, please send an email to ainoacastro@usal.es The cause of much chagrin: using marine shagreen for the marine historical ecology of elasmobranchs Details Rachel Winter December 14th, 2023 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT Marine shagreen is a luxurious, storied leather made from the skins of elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates). Demand for marine shagreen peaked between the 17th-19th centuries in northwestern Europe. Once elasmobranch skins have been turned into shagreen, more precise taxonomic identification than shark or ray is not possible. Preliminary review of historical sources indicates at least 17 species, spanning the Atlantic Ocean to the Indo-Pacific, were targeted. One third of all elasmobranch species are classified as being threatened with extinction by the IUCN. A key challenge to conservation efforts is the lack of historical data, long term perspectives, and ecological baselines. This talk will discuss some of the potential avenues and challenges for studying marine shagreen museum objects for insights into which species and seas were targeted. Exploring how shagreen can be used to investigate the ecological consequences of historic elasmobranch fisheries and investigate past species biogeography. Animal mummy genomics: success, failure and collaborative interpretation Details Evon Hekkala Fordham University and American Museum of Natural History November 14th, 2023 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT Silk and Science: Collaborative research into a knitted waistcoat associated with Charles I Details Jane Malcolm-Davies (Project Leader, Knitting in Early Modern Europe), Beatrice Behlen (Senior Curator, Fashion and Decorative Arts, Museum of London), and Paula Nabais (Junior Researcher at LAQV-REQUIMTE Research unit) May 18th, 2023 11AM EDT/3PM GMT Since 1924, the Museum of London has had an undergarment, knitted of fine silk, said to have been worn by King Charles I at his execution in 1649. Several attempts have been made to analyse stains on the front of what would then have been called a waistcoat, and to fill gaps in its provenance. A new research project has brought together a curator, a knitting historian, a conservator, scientists, and expert craftspeople, including knitters. Different methods have been used to broaden knowledge of this rare garment: detailed object examination and description, comparison with other extant garments, radiocarbon dating, various dye analysis techniques, and silk sample knitting. In this talk, the challenges and advantages of this work will be discussed: from discoveries that can be made by looking at objects together to the difficulties of grappling with science for those unfamiliar with laboratory techniques. Click "Explore" below to learn more about the project! Compound Specific Radiocarbon (14C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice Details Laura Hendriks, Branco Weiss Fellow at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), Switzerland April 20th, 2023 11AM EDT/3PM GMT Join us for a 20-minute presentation by ABM member Laura Hendriks, Branco Weiss Fellow at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), Switzerland. Laura’s presentation will be followed by a discussion/Q&A with current ABM members. For more information, click “Explore” below to view her abstract.

Participate, expand you network and have some fun with these events on biological materials in heritage. OPPORTUNITIES Events Fellowships Funding Internships Jobs Studentships Mentorship Workshops + Courses Categories COMING UP These events are coming up soon! If you have an event to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org . No events or deadlines coming up now. Check again later! PAST EVENTS These events have already passed. If you like what you see, don't miss upcoming events! Symposium—Chia Oil in 18th Century Mexican Lacquerware and Paintings Details Gain insight into the art of Mexico with a live demonstration by celebrated artisans from Michoacan, Mexico and presentations from Met scholars and multidisciplinary experts. Join us to explore the scientific, historical, and cultural implications of the use of chia oil in colonial Mexican artworks and hear about exciting advancements in the study of this versatile plant material. This program is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mex-Am Cultural Foundation Inc. ECBSM2024 - 6th European Conference on Biodeterioration of Stone Monuments Details A great opportunity to gather researchers, heritage professionals, industry experts, teachers, and students working for the conservation of historic and culturally relevant objects and buildings. Abstracts due by September 9, 2024 Registration deadline: September 18, 2024 Milan, Italy on 7-8 November 2024 36th CIHA World Congress - Lyon 2024 Details The 36th CIHA Congress is organized under the aegis of the Comité français d'histoire de l'art (CFHA) in partnership between the CFHA, the Institut national d'histoire de l'art (INHA), the Université Lumière Lyon 2 and the Laboratoire de recherche historique Rhône-Alpes (LARHRA CNRS UMR 5190). The main aims of this internationally-renowned scientific and cultural event are to share and disseminate research by bringing together communities of art history and heritage around a unifying theme. AMNH Techniques Tuesday Details Lindsey Paskulin is a PhD student at the University of British Columbia and lab manager of the ADaPT Archaeological Laboratory that is a dedicated space for ancient DNA and paleoproteomic analysis. Her talk will provide background on collagen mass fingerprinting and shotgun proteomics techniques as well as discuss her research focused on applying proteomic techniques to vessel interiors and vessel residues to reconstruct elements of food processing, preparation, and consumption in the past. Please see ABM members' Slack for Zoom link. Reimagining Materiality: Artistic Interventions and Sustainable Innovations in algae-based polymers Details Jessica French May 17th, 2024 6:30 PM ET In this seminar, French delves into her pioneering work with algae-based polymers, a cornerstone of her artistic practice. Through 'Other Matter', her experimental design studio, French champions sustainability with innovative outcomes for algae-based bioplastics, impacting beyond the cultural sector. The talk will offer an overview of her artistic journey, showcasing how traditional techniques are transformed by groundbreaking sustainable materials, including her innovative non-petrochemical decal signage—Other Matter Decals™. These exemplify the practical implementation of closed-loop, zero-waste systems. The discussion not only highlights French’s unique blend of research and creative experimentation but also fosters a broader conversation on the role of sustainable practices in transforming artistic production and environmental responsibility. Additionally, the seminar will address ongoing research questions and spotlight knowledge and data gaps inherent in working with unconventional materials, underscoring the critical need for continued investigation and collaboration in this evolving field. Identification of a lichen dye source in a fifteenth century medieval tapestry Details Rachel Lackner Apr 18th, 2024 11:00 AM ET As part of a long-term campaign to clean, conserve, and treat the Heroes tapestries from The Cloisters collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, organic colorant analysis of Julius Caesar (accession number 47.101.3) was performed. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of several dark brown samples revealed the presence of several molecules produced only by certain species of lichen. Various lichen dye sources have been documented in the literature for centuries and are classified as either ammonia fermentation method (AFM) or boiling water method (BWM) dyes based on their method of production. However, none of these known sources produce the distinctive metabolites present in the tapestry. Lichen metabolites were definitively identified in the tapestry by LC-MS based on comparison with a reference of Lecanora sulphurata. This finding marks the first time that these lichen metabolites have been identified in a historic object, and the first evidence that BWM lichen dyes may have been used prior to the eighteenth century. This is a members-only event. Registration links will be sent directly to ABM members. ABM March Round Table Details ABM members share their current research projects and challenges to spark conversation and connect with relevant colleagues: Thainá Vígio is seeking other fungicide methods other than freezing and anoxia treatment for 19th c. silk textiles. Pamela Hatchfield will discuss an outdoor Chinese sandstone sculpture compromised by a myriad of microbiological growth, and how to evaluate the risk of further damage from these species. Micheal Galardi (Celeste Mahoney) will discuss light spots uncovered on a Huastec sandstone relief and wonders about the possibility of biological growth as a factor. This is a members-only event. Registration links will be sent directly to ABM members. 2024 Edition: 'New Perspectives in the Study of Medieval Manuscripts' Details Inaugural Seminar. Jiří Vnouček Conservator of parchment, paper & bookbinding The Royal Library, Copenhagen Changes in production of parchment during one millennium: 4th to 14th centuries Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Sala de Grados 2 de febrero de 2024 · 16:00h The seminar will take place in a hybrid format and is open to the general public. To register, please send an email to ainoacastro@usal.es The cause of much chagrin: using marine shagreen for the marine historical ecology of elasmobranchs Details Rachel Winter December 14th, 2023 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT Marine shagreen is a luxurious, storied leather made from the skins of elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates). Demand for marine shagreen peaked between the 17th-19th centuries in northwestern Europe. Once elasmobranch skins have been turned into shagreen, more precise taxonomic identification than shark or ray is not possible. Preliminary review of historical sources indicates at least 17 species, spanning the Atlantic Ocean to the Indo-Pacific, were targeted. One third of all elasmobranch species are classified as being threatened with extinction by the IUCN. A key challenge to conservation efforts is the lack of historical data, long term perspectives, and ecological baselines. This talk will discuss some of the potential avenues and challenges for studying marine shagreen museum objects for insights into which species and seas were targeted. Exploring how shagreen can be used to investigate the ecological consequences of historic elasmobranch fisheries and investigate past species biogeography. Animal mummy genomics: success, failure and collaborative interpretation Details Evon Hekkala Fordham University and American Museum of Natural History November 14th, 2023 11 AM ET / 4 PM GMT Silk and Science: Collaborative research into a knitted waistcoat associated with Charles I Details Jane Malcolm-Davies (Project Leader, Knitting in Early Modern Europe), Beatrice Behlen (Senior Curator, Fashion and Decorative Arts, Museum of London), and Paula Nabais (Junior Researcher at LAQV-REQUIMTE Research unit) May 18th, 2023 11AM EDT/3PM GMT Since 1924, the Museum of London has had an undergarment, knitted of fine silk, said to have been worn by King Charles I at his execution in 1649. Several attempts have been made to analyse stains on the front of what would then have been called a waistcoat, and to fill gaps in its provenance. A new research project has brought together a curator, a knitting historian, a conservator, scientists, and expert craftspeople, including knitters. Different methods have been used to broaden knowledge of this rare garment: detailed object examination and description, comparison with other extant garments, radiocarbon dating, various dye analysis techniques, and silk sample knitting. In this talk, the challenges and advantages of this work will be discussed: from discoveries that can be made by looking at objects together to the difficulties of grappling with science for those unfamiliar with laboratory techniques. Click "Explore" below to learn more about the project! Compound Specific Radiocarbon (14C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice Details Laura Hendriks, Branco Weiss Fellow at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), Switzerland April 20th, 2023 11AM EDT/3PM GMT Join us for a 20-minute presentation by ABM member Laura Hendriks, Branco Weiss Fellow at the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg (HEIA-FR), Switzerland. Laura’s presentation will be followed by a discussion/Q&A with current ABM members. For more information, click “Explore” below to view her abstract.

Track jobs as they are posted. OPPORTUNITIES Events Events Fellowships Fellowships Funding Funding Internships Internships Jobs Jobs Studentships Studentships Mentorship Mentorship Workshops + Courses Workshops + Courses JOBS Track jobs as they are posted. There are no current active opportunities to show today! If you have something you'd like to share, please send it to info@artbiomatters.org so we can upload it. Project Assistant at the Institute for Materiality in Art and Culture Deadline February 24, 2025 Location Bern, Switzerland The project, in which SUPSI and the HE Arc are also involved under the leadership of the Institute for Materiality in Art and Culture at the HKB, is researching how Switzerland's built cultural heritage can be protected against the effects of climate change. It traces the regional development of the climate over the last thirty years and breaks down the parameters with the greatest negative effects on buildings. Using a series of case studies, it carries out risk assessments in relation to ongoing climate change and identifies measures to mitigate the negative effects. It develops new protocols and model catalogues of measures for monitoring, reporting and mitigation. More about the project here: https://www.bfh.ch/de/forschung/forschungsprojekte/2024-923-031-809/ Explore Research Associate in the Institute for Materiality in Art and Culture Deadline February 24, 2025 Location Bern, Switzerland The project, in which SUPSI and the HE Arc are also involved under the leadership of the Institute for Materiality in Art and Culture at the HKB, is researching how Switzerland's built cultural heritage can be protected against the effects of climate change. It traces the regional development of the climate over the last thirty years and breaks down the parameters with the greatest negative effects on buildings. Using a series of case studies, it carries out risk assessments in relation to ongoing climate change and identifies measures to mitigate the negative effects. It develops new protocols and model catalogues of measures for monitoring, reporting and mitigation. More about the project here: https://www.bfh.ch/de/forschung/forschungsprojekte/2024-923-031-809/ Explore Junior Assistant Conservation and Restoration (Teaching) 50% Deadline February 28, 2025 Location Bern, Switzerland The University of Applied Arts in Bern Switzerland seeks a Junior Assistant Conservation and Restoration to support the Painting and Sculpture specialization teaching staff. Responsibilities: Provide organizational and administrative support in teaching (e.g. study trips, further training, studio, modules, etc.) Supporting students in the studio (teaching theoretical and practical basics, supervising practical work with regard to aspects previously agreed with the main supervisor, e.g. solubility test, consolidation, etc.) Maintain database and documentation storage Explore Postdoctoral Researcher in Heritage Science Deadline February 2, 2025 Location Fribourg, Switzerland The proposed research project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, as part of the interdisciplinary Ambizione project (FNS: PZ00P2_216127), entitled " The when and the where of colour: tailored radiocarbon and stable isotope analysis of natural organic dyes and pigments in cultural heritage objects". The novelty of this project is to develop metrics for assessing the origin of an artwork founded on the principles that i) the carbon backbone of natural organic dyes stores a wealth of information regarding its source and origin and ii) this information may be retrieved by capitalizing on compound specific analysis as opposed to bulk sample analysis. Explore Assistant or Associate Curator of Native American Art Deadline No posted end date Location Minneapolis, USA The purpose of this position is to develop, research, exhibit, and publish Minneapolis Institute of Art's collections of Native American art. Explore

be826627-11d7-49a4-820a-2fac496966e2 Dan Kirby Conservation Scientist Private Practice Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Boston, MA, USA Previous Next All members MEMBER INFORMATION After careers as an analytical chemist in semiconductor electronics, pharmaceuticals and academic research, Dan redirected his interests to conservation. He currently works in private practice and as a volunteer in the Scientific Research Lab at the MFA, Boston and as a Visiting Scholar at Northeastern University. Dan specializes in applications of mass spectrometry in art and cultural heritage, with a particular interest in protein identification. ABM CONFERENCES ABM 2021 Participant Art Bio Matters 2021 Virtual Conference Explore Full Abstract ABM MEMBER EVENTS ABM Seminar Series - January 2023 Seminar Series Presenter Characterization of an unusual coating on Egyptian funerary portraits Explore PUBLICATIONS + PROJECTS

43af68bf-537d-4446-af05-9891ba8d2b97 Lisa Bruno Conservator Carol Lee Shen Chief Conservator Brooklyn Museum New York, NY, USA Previous Next All members MEMBER INFORMATION Lisa Bruno is the Carol Lee Shen Chief Conservator at the Brooklyn Museum. She is an objects conservator by training with a MS in Art Conservation from the University of Delaware/Winterthur Museum. Interests are in materials identification to understand the construction and deterioration of art materials. Past research projects analyzed materials used in ancient Egyptian mummification practices and currently the lab has begun a project to examine and identify materials used to construct Kachinas. ABM CONFERENCES ABM 2021 Participant Art Bio Matters 2021 Virtual Conference Explore Full Abstract ABM MEMBER EVENTS PUBLICATIONS + PROJECTS

dda1f54c-2a11-4591-b0d6-85187d92dac7 Aniko Bezur Wallace S. Wilson Director of Scientific Research Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Yale University West Haven, CT 06516, USA Previous Next All members MEMBER INFORMATION Aniko Bezur is the Wallace S. Wilson Director of theTechnical Studies Laboratory at Yale’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. Decoding the materiality of objects in Yale’s museums and the library is at the heart of their activities and expertise, carrying out materials analysis to address questions related to objects in Yale’s collections which emerge during their scholarly study, conservation, and during their use in teaching and exhibition. She oversees a research group that includes scientists and a conservator. A key mandate of her position is to increase our capacity to characterize materials by improving our capacity to use existing analytical tools and data analysis; by researching and advocating the purchase of new instrumentation; and by developing new instrumentation or tools and analytical methodologies. ABM CONFERENCES ABM 2021 Team Presenter Extracting Stories from DNA preserved by 19th century Americana Explore Full Abstract ABM MEMBER EVENTS PUBLICATIONS + PROJECTS

366a5fdd-5e84-403e-a00a-8e01443ac52e David McFadden Retired; formerly Chief Curator and Vice President for Programs and Collections Museum of Arts & Design New York, NY, USA Previous Next All members MEMBER INFORMATION David Revere McFadden served as Chief Curator and Vice President for Programs and Collections at the Museum of Arts & Design from 1997 to 2013. McFadden has organized more than 120 exhibitions, including Dead or Alive: Nature Becomes Art, which brought together artists who use materials such as bones, insects, dead plants, fish, and seeds. ABM CONFERENCES ABM 2018 Participant Art Bio Matters 2018 Conference Explore Full Abstract ABM MEMBER EVENTS PUBLICATIONS + PROJECTS

59dfa39a-84b5-4b97-b3ef-4cd420b1ace7 Laura Hendriks Previous Next All members MEMBER INFORMATION ABM CONFERENCES ABM MEMBER EVENTS ABM Seminar Series - April 2023 Seminar Series Presenter Compound Specific Radiocarbon (14C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice Explore PUBLICATIONS + PROJECTS

ca95c5cd-a176-4d12-a128-324656894eec Catherine Stephens Sally and Michael Gordon Conservation Scientist Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York, NY, USA Previous Next All members MEMBER INFORMATION Catherine H. Stephens, Ph.D., is the Sally and Michael Gordon Conservation Scientist at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, USA. Her work is focused on using analytical instrumentation, including mapping and handheld XRF, FTIR, SPME- and py- GCMS, MFT, and optical microscopy to inform conservation treatments, identify the composition of specific objects, study the environment around the art, and provide guidance for how to display and store MoMA’s collection. ABM CONFERENCES ABM 2023 Participant Art Bio Matters 2023 Conference Explore Full Abstract ABM MEMBER EVENTS PUBLICATIONS + PROJECTS