Rembrandt to Monet: Packing of 60 European Masterworks
In 2019, I assisted the Packing & Crating Specialist with outfitting 23 crates to carry 60 European paintings to tour China.
The task involved fitting the interior of the wooden crates with foam for insulation and cushioning, creating inner wooden boxes to house each painting, and individually fitting and modifying each box to meet the specifications of the particular painting. Each crate required dozens of pieces of foam products and plywood, along with plenty of glue and tape, all carefully assembled to safely transport the artworks across the globe.
After the Packing & Crating Specialist, I was the most highly-involved staff member of the project, working full-time on its completion from July to December of 2019. It was gratifying to be involved from implementing the construction of the first crate all the way
until the last painting was packed away and all 23 crates were ready to leave the building. This included screening half of the crates in accordance with TSA guidelines so that the crates could be transported via passenger aircraft.
The paintings toured three venues in China and returned to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in January 2021. I was there to receive the crates and was also part of the unpacking of the artworks and welcoming them back into the collection.
Because of the pivotal role I played in completing the project, I was nominated for an A.R.T.S. Award at the end-of-year banquet. The award recognizes tremendous service to the institution, and I won first-place.