The Fine Art of Storage

Happy 2012

2012-01-23T17:04:00.002-05:00

It's been a little while since I posted something. I have been super busy on some upcoming projects. 2012 will be a big year for SD Fine Art. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements.

Miami Arts Week

2011-11-29T14:07:00.001-05:00

When the last of the leaves have fallen in the East Coast, you know that its time for Art Basel Miami Beach. The largest and most important art fair in North America starts this weekend. For those who will attend below is a short list of things to see while in Miami.

Art Fairs

Art Basel Miami Beach

The main event takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center where a stellar list of over 260 blue-chip dealers from all over the world display museum quality art works. It is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see the leading edge of the global art market.

Check the Art Basel Miami Beach website for the nearly 50 page guide to lectures, video, tours, receptions, and other events around the fair.

ADMISSION
$40 (one day), $85 (full run), $28 (evening ticket after 4pm)
Reduced Day Tickets (Students with ID, Senior Citizens and Groups of 10 or more) $23

HOURS
Thursday Dec 1 to Saturday Dec 3, Noon - 8pm
Sunday Dec 4, Noon - 6pm

Aqua 11

A West Cost affair in the cool Aqua Hotel.

ADMISSION
$10, ticket good for the week
Free admission for Aqua VIPs, Art Basel VIP card & Art Basel Press Pass

HOURS
Thursday, December 1, 11 - 8pm
Friday, Dec 2, 11am - 8pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 11am - 8pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 11am - 4pm

Design Miami
An exciting international fair featuring the some of the most respected dealers of modern and contemporary design.

ADMISSION
Tickets can be purchased for entry to the fair Wednesday to Sunday, November 30 - 4 December 4
General Admission: USD $25.00
Students & Senior Citizens (with valid ID): USD $15.00
Tickets are valid for one day only.

HOURS and EVENTS
Public Hours: 12pm-8pm daily, 12pm-6pm on Sunday

Ink Miami

Sponsored by the International Fine Print Dealers Association, INK Miami focuses on works on paper from major artists.

ADMISSION
Free, No Charge

HOURS
Wednesday, Nov 30, 12 - 5pm
Thursday, Dec 1, 10 - 7pm
Friday, Dec 2, 10 - 7pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 10 -7 pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 10 - 3pm

NADA Art Fair

The New Art Dealers Association (NADA) is a non-profit collective of contemporary art dealers. It the fair brings a lot of fresh and new ideas to the art fair scene.

ADMISSION
Free, No Charge

HOURS
Thursday, Dec 1, 2 - 8pm
Friday, Dec 2, 11 - 8pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 11 -8pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 11 - 5pm

Art Asia

A showcase for contemporary art coming from Asia.

ADMISSION
$20 One Day Pass, Students and Seniors $15
Visit their website for additional admission options

HOURS
Wednesday, Nov 30, 11 - 7pm
Thursday, Dec 1, 11 - 7pm
Friday, Dec 2, 11 - 7pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 11 -7 pm

Art Miami

A huge international fair that has taken a back seat to Art Basel Miami Beach. However, Art Miami is the longest running of the two and still brings a lot to the table.

ADMISSION
$15 one day, $30 multi-day pass, $10 Students 12-18 years and Seniors
Visit their website for additional admission optionsHOURS
Wednesday, Noc 30, 11 - 7pm
Thursday, Dec 1, 11 - 7pm
Friday, Dec 2, 11 - 7pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 11 -7 pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 11 - 6pm

Pulse Miami

Established and emerging galleries make Pulse a nice and funkier alternative to the blockbuster fairs up the street.

ADMISSION
General Admission $15, Students and Seniors $10
HOURS
Thursday, Dec 1, 1 - 7pm
Friday, Dec 2, 11 - 7pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 11 -7pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 11 - 5pm

Scope Miami

Scope brings a lot of new and interesting art from all over the world. Its focus is on curated shows which is a nice alternative to the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to some booths at Art Basel Miami Beach.

ADMISSION
General Admission $20 and Students $15
Free for VIP cardholders

HOURS
Wednesday, Nov 30, 11 - 7pm
Thursday, Dec 1, 11 - 7pm
Friday, Dec 2, 11 - 7pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 11 -7pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 11 - 6pm

Seven

Exciting curated shows by a number of up and coming contemporary galleries.

Art Now

Arts for a Better World

Privarte Art Spaces

One of the best things about coming to Miami for Arts Week is that a group of local private collectors open the doors to their private museums. They work all year to put together great shows. These collections are impressive and worth a visit.

Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation

1018 North Miami Avenue, Miami

www.cifo.org

de la Cruz Collection Contemporary Art Space

23 NE 41 Street, Miami Design Destrict

Information | info@delacruzcollection.org

www.delacruzcollection.org

The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse

591 NW 27 Street, Miami

Information | mcollection@bellsouth.net

www.margulieswarehouse.com

Rubell Family Collection

95 NW 29th Street, Miami

Information | info@rfc.museum

www.rfc.museum

World Class Boxing

170 NW 23rd Street, Miami

Information | desireecronk@gmail.com

www.worldclassboxing.org

Museums

Bass Museum of Art

2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach

Miami Art Museum (MAM)

101 W Flagler Street, Miami

Lowe Art Museum

University of Miami, 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables

The Frost Art Museum

SW 107th Avenue and 8th Street, FIU, Miami

How much storage is 300sf?

2011-09-20T16:31:00.000-04:00

When people talk about storage you hear a lot about square feet. Companies will price storage by the square foot and people talk about storage in square feet but many people don't think in square feet (myself included). So how much storage is 300sf? More importantly, how much will fit into 300sf. Well, 28 bin boxes. See below:

Post Irene

2011-08-29T10:16:00.000-04:00

I am pleased to report that SD Fine Art is open and 100% operational. The building suffered no damage. No water penetrated the storage areas, office, or any other part of the building. Temperature and humidity remained a constant 70F / 50%Rh. All systems functioned flawlessly throughout the storm.

SD Fine Art is the premier art storage building in New York City because of our commitment to excellence. It is no accident that we weathered this weekend's storm without incident. Our facilities department had a team of contractors standing by throughout the storm to provide emergency repairs. The maintenance department is proactive and diligent. And our art handlers are conscientious and sensitive to the needs of our customers.

Thank you for trusting your collection to SD Fine Art.

NYC issues severe weather warning for all 5 boroughs

2011-08-26T16:59:00.000-04:00

NYC issues severe weather warning for all 5 boroughs

The Office of Emergency Management has issued instructions for Hurricane Irene including a mandatory evacuation of Hurricane Zone A. (click here for more information).

SD Fine Art is taking precautions to secure our facility and the artworks in storage. All of our storage customers should be reassured with some of our building features, including:

· Backup Generator to power security and safety systems

· New Membrane Roof

· Remote Monitoring for Security System and HVAC System

· No Windows

· No Ground Floor Storage

The art handlers are including potential storm threats in their daily walkthrough today. We are hopeful that Irene passes without incident. Feel free to contact us for information after the storm. We will be in touch with all of our customers in the event of an emergency.

Anyone with antiques, artwork, or other valuables to secure during this storm should take some of these preliminary precautions, if possible:

· Place artworks on shelving or blocks to protect from flooding

· Move artworks away from windows, basements, or low lying structures

· Drape plastic over unmovable sculptures or installations

· Check with your insurance carrier for more instructions, advice, and coverage details

Put the safety of yourself, family, and staff first. The New York Times City Room has compiled a useful list of resources with advice and information. (click here to read more).

Rising Fuel Prices Make Local Storage More Important Than Ever

2011-07-26T11:49:00.003-04:00

High gas prices are here to stay. While the ecconomic downturn in the U.S. and Eurpoe has constrained the rise in fuel prices somewhat, red-hot Asian and South American demand is soring. This means that fuel prices are still high and poised to spike as the U.S. and European economies emerge from ression.

Many transportation companies are struggling with shrinking margins amind rappidly rising fuel prices.
For everyone in the art logistics world, this means that shipping costs are going up. Many transportation companies are levying fuel surcharges.

Read More About Increasing Fuel Surcharges in the Transportation Industry
Read More About the Effect of Rising Fuel Prices on the Trucking Industry

As fine art shipments become more costly, the location of your storage facility becomes more important. If you are Manhattan based, you should lock in a rent rate on a long term lease in a New York City art storage facility because shipping prices are volitile and change frequently. And, while your artworks may not travel by mass transit, if you have staff that regularly visit your storage room make sure that mass transit is an option.

SD Fine Art is located in New York City 3.5 miles from the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Shipments to and from Manhattan are quick and easy. There are no tolls. We are conviently located 1 block from the 4/5 subway and on a major bus route (BX19).

An Art Storage Room Tour

2011-06-16T15:33:00.000-04:00

SD Fine Art has unparalleled construction experience. Not only did we design and build our facility from the ground up but we also have designed and built many of the storage rooms within the building. See below for a tour of a custom built and designed storage room for a major collection.

This room is approximately 1,100sf. The two levels provide about 1,800sf of usable storage space. Construction is of steel which is fabricated and manufactured exclusively for SD Fine Art. By using steel and not plywood or other treated material we minimize potentially harmful off-gassing.

Custom Fabricated Low-Rise Stairs (for safely carrying objects up and down without tripping)

Bi-Level Design to Maximize Usable Square Feet

Lower Level

Excellent Lighting Provided By an UV Shielded Lights on Energy Efficient Motion Sensors

Upper Level

Custom Storage Room for Major NYC Fashion Designer

2011-05-26T15:35:00.004-04:00

SD Fine Art storage builds custom rooms. When a major fashion house came to us looking for 1,800sf of museum quality storage but a budget for 1,000sf, we came up with an innovative room design that maximizes the volume of the room.

Take a virtual tour of the bi-level custom built and designed storage room.

Are you maximizing your storage room? Let SD Fine Art take a second look. Give us a list of artworks or objects and we will use our extensive experience to design a world-class storage room. Contact us today.

A Brass Band Welcomes the Art Handlers Delivering the Aidone Venus in Italy

2011-03-31T10:04:00.002-04:00

Every once in a while, art handlers become part of an artwork's story. Such was the case when a brass band greeted the truck delivering "Cult Statue of a Goddesss," a very large sculpture that was once the centerpiece of the Getty Villa in Malibu. Repatriated as part of a 2007 settlement, the Aidone Venus (as it is locally known) seems to cast her aura on even those who pack and install her. Check out the youtube video below.

The artwork was disassembled and packed into a number of crates for shipping. It is scheduled for installation in its new permanent home at the Aidone Archaeological Museum.

DIY Art Storage?

2011-03-15T14:24:00.005-04:00

Even Homesteaders Need Storage

Every once in a while I google search terms relevant to art storage. Today, I turned up quite a gem when I asked, "how much does storage cost"? Apparently, you can build your own unit for a little over $6psf. Land is not included.

Read more on the Homesteading and Simple Living Blog!

Justin Lowe and Peter Coffin Talk Art Handling at The Armory Show

2011-03-04T15:38:00.002-05:00

Art On AIR discusses the professionalism of art handling and the art logistics. Guy Walker sits down with Justin Lowe and Peter Coffin for a lively discussion.

Check out the WPS1 Archive and have a listen.

The Logistics of The Armory Show

2011-03-03T08:53:00.003-05:00

A few years back, the NY Times ran a nice piece about the behind the scenes logistics that make The Armory Show possible, including, moving a cruse ship.

Link to the NYT

The Armory Show

2011-03-01T11:43:00.001-05:00

Check out the SD Fine Art Storage Facebook page for news and other quick links about the Armory Show.

Is Google’s Art Project a Game Changer for Museums?

2011-02-23T12:17:00.003-05:00

This month Google launched Art Project, a digital platform to explore the collections of an impressive group of international museums. The experience is familiar to anyone who has used Google’s Street View feature within Google Maps. While there has been talk about some minor problems with the interface, the program is impressive overall.

I am not sure that Google’s Art Project is going to change the museum world. There is still quite a lot of distance between the primary object and its reproduction, no matter how detailed. I cannot imagine that a museum would choose to launch a "virtual exhibition" instead of a real one.

Art Project does signal a digital shift for museums, however. I think that it indicates that museums are acknowledging that viewers are not always able or willing to actually visit but are still hungry for a more interactive experience than traditional media allows. It’s a smart strategy and it’s only going to expand as our lives become more and more wired.

Video Tour of the 20,000 object Chazen Museum of Art collection

2011-01-28T16:28:00.002-05:00

The Chazen Museum gave the Wisconsin State Journal access to their 4,500sf storage space where the museum houses its collection of 20,000 objects. The video is short but it gives you a very good look at the strategies used by museums to safely store their collections.

Click here to view the video.

Like most museums, the Chazen Museum is pressed for space. 4,500sf may sound like a lot of storage space, but, it isn't as much as you think. Read the full article on how the museum deals with maximizing their storage area.

What Other Fees Will I Pay for Storage?

2011-01-18T16:17:00.005-05:00

Fees

Fees can add up to 40-50% to your monthly storage bill. To keep costs down, you need to take a hard look at your storage bill each month. Some creative fees have crept into the art warehousing business. As utilities, real estate taxes, health care, and other operating expenses increase, some art storage providers have implemented various “fees” to offset some of these operating costs.

Artex and SD Fine Art have adopted a philosophy that we think is both very simple and fair. Our customers are only charged for the services that they use. They pay the rent that is in the lease. No surprises and no gimmicks.

Energy

Some companies levy an energy surcharge on monthly rent. Since the energy requirements for running a climate controlled art storage warehouse are significant, an energy surcharge can add as much as 10% to the monthly storage bill.

SD Fine Art, as a part of Storage Deluxe, is able to buy energy contracts in advance. Storage Deluxe has unparalleled experience managing storage properties. With over 1 million square feet under management, SD Fine Art benefits from bulk discounts and passes the savings along to our customers.

Tax

Sales tax is often added to rent charges. Presently NY sales tax is 8.875%.

SD Fine Art does not collect sales tax for art storage. Since SD Fine Art is leasing storage space to our customers the monthly rental is not subject to sales tax. You pay the rate that is on your lease and no more.

Access Fees

Many art storage firms charge an access fee when you visit your storage room. The thinking is that since your room is located in a secure area you must be escorted to your room by the firm’s staff. The staff’s time is billable, and therefore, you pay for an hour’s worth of their time when you visit your room. However, all they really did was walk you upstairs, open the door, and charge you $60-120. Over time, these fees get pretty expensive, especially if you are a gallery or dealer and have to go in and out of your space a few times a week.

SD Fine Art does not charge access fees. We have some unique high-tech security controls that take some of the staff requirements out of the equation. We also feel that access fees are heavy handed and not fair.

About Open Storage

Some companies offer “open storage” where you pay for a portion of the storage room that your artwork is placed in. This sounds like a good deal until you need to get to your artwork and the money that you saved in rent is eaten up by service fees.

Open storage is commingled space. A customer can never enter the room alone. That means you have to pay an art handler to pull your piece out and hover over you while you do whatever it is that you came to do. Worse is that some firms make you rent their viewing room on top of the service fee. At the end of the day, it can cost as much as $1,000 to see one artwork for as little as five minutes.

SD Fine Art is against open storage. Not only is it not good a deal for our customers but it is an unnecessary risk for the artworks. A large percentage of the artworks that are lost or damaged in storage are in open storage.

Instead, SD Fine Art focuses on private storage rooms. These rooms can be very very small (like a locker) and make storage safe and simple. Our customers know exactly where their artworks are at all times. Private rooms also eliminate the need to waist staff time on lording over visitors when they’re working inside the building.

How Much Will Services Cost?

2011-01-18T16:16:00.002-05:00

Services

A benefit to fine art storage is that it comes with concierge services. Usually these include inventory management, receiving and releasing shipments, packing and unpacking artworks, viewing room rental, local transportation, crate building and packing, rigging, etc. These services are usually offered at an hourly rate and have to be reserved in advance.

SD Fine Art’s partner, Artex Fine Art Services has an in-house staff to provide Artex’s full menu of services for our customers. Warehouse labor, receive/release, inventory management, condition reports, installation and de-installation, packing and unpacking, local transportation, and more, are all billed at a very competitive hourly rate. Contact us for a current rate sheet.

How Much Is Rent?

2011-01-18T16:14:00.003-05:00

Rent

Rent is the monthly fee that you pay for the storage space. For most providers the rent is determined by how many objects are in storage and/or how much space they occupy within the building. Or, you pay for a private room which is priced by its size (it doesn’t matter much how much space the artwork takes up so long as it fits within the room). Typically rent is calculated by applying a rate per square foot (area) or rate per cubic foot (volume) to the amount of space that an artwork or group of artworks takes up within the building.

SD Fine Art leases individually alarmed, high security, temperature and humidity controlled private rooms on a monthly or annual basis. The rooms are discrete spaces with steel walls and you pay for the whole room. Rates are based on a rate per square foot that is determined by the size of the storage room, our occupancy rate, and the length of the lease. Like most services there is a volume discount where larger rooms on longer leases are offered at a lower rate per square foot than smaller rooms on short term leases.

How Much Does Art Storage Cost?

2011-01-18T16:12:00.004-05:00

Fine art storage does not have to break the bank. High quality storage insures that your investment is protected against damage from environmental conditions, theft, fire, and poor handling. Knowing what you are paying for and understanding the cost structure of your storage commitment is key to getting the most for your money.

In the next three posts we will take a detailed look at the three main costs associated with having artworks in storage:

Keep in mind that while price is not necessarily an indicator of quality it is often true that you get what you pay for. Storage is NOT the place to cut corners. Damaged artwork is tragic and if your storage provider goes belly up paying to move is expensive. A firm with a good reputation, facility, and honest staff will give you piece of mind for years which is worth its weight in gold.

High security and climate controlled storage for small collections or single artworks

2011-01-14T19:34:00.004-05:00

SD Fine Art feels that "open storage" is not a good idea. Not only are customers charged access fees for each and every visit, but, "open storage" will never be as safe for artworks as a private room.

We are now pleased to offer an open storage alternative: high security and climate controlled storage vaults that are small enough to be cost effective for a group of small pieces or a single artwork. Contact us for more information.

What is a Bonded Warehouse?

2010-12-15T11:52:00.007-05:00

From time to time SD Fine Art is asked by potential customers if we are a "bonded warehouse".

A bonded warehouse is a warehouse, certified by the government and guaranteed by a bonding agency, where taxable or dutiable goods may be stored, with payment of the tax or duty deferred until the goods are removed. We are not a bonded warehouse. Nor is artwork dutiable in the United States.

Most of the time, customers who ask this question are asking if their artworks are insured while they are in storage with us. The answer is YES. SD Fine Art requires all artworks to be insured while in storage.

Read more about Bonded Warehouses and their history.

What are the advantages of using a bonded warehouse?

Read the definition of a bonded warehouse according the the tax code.

Los Angeles Unified School District Confronts Their Storage Problem

2010-12-02T12:25:00.003-05:00

CityWatch - An insider look at City Hall

The Los Angeles Unified School District is working to deal with a newly discovered trove of approximately 300 antiquities and works of art. The collection, stored in a utility closet and wrapped in newspapers, apparently contains some valuable objects. Needless to say, newsprint inside a utility closet are not recommended conditions for most anything, especially fine art and antiquities.

Despite what must be a lot of pressure to sell valuable pieces the district is instead keeping the collection intact. They have also significantly upgraded the storage conditions by loaning many of the works to local institutions such as the Getty, USC and UCLA.

Ai Weiwei's "Sunflower Seeds" mothballed in plain sight

2010-10-19T10:06:00.002-04:00

Ai Weiwei's magnificent installation "Sunflower Seeds", a sculpture that was intended to be walked upon and touched is now off limits to Tate Modern visitors because of health and safety concerns, according to the New York Times's Roberta Smith. Viewers must observe the piece from a safe distance, fundamentally changing the experience of the piece.

Weiwei's sculpture is a throughly beautiful and thought provoking piece. It explores individually, creativity, and originality with the uniquely Chinese tool of massively labor intensive production (100M hand painted porcelain sunflower seeds). Modern China's industrial prowess is clearly referenced in "Sunflower Seeds". And now, so too is the western response to that prowess: institutional health and safety concerns.

While unintended, Weiwei has knocked the ball out of the park with this one. It is unfortunate that Tate visitors will not get to experience the full beauty of "Sunflower Seeds". However, now that the piece is quarantined, it has become transformed into a much broader and richer artwork.

Digital Media Storage on NPR

2010-10-18T16:25:00.001-04:00

In a recent broadcast on NPR's Talk of the Nation, Neal Cohan and Sam Brylawski discus some of the risks with storing digital media. This discussion is especially relevant for collectors interested in video art, sound art, and other multi-media works. So, make backup copies of your collection when possible. Just remember that in some cases, the original media is part of the artwork. So, keep those 8mm, 16mm, slide projectors, VHS, and BETA players!

click here to listen to the NPR broadcast

Outdoor Storage -- Richard Serra in the Bronx

2010-10-08T11:53:00.002-04:00

The NYT has a great local piece about some Richard Serra works that can be seen in storage. They are sitting in an empty lot in the Bronx. Some pieces do not need climate control. I think that someone should bill this as a new public art project for the Bronx.

SD Fine Art LOVES the Bronx!

Why Climate Control?

2010-09-29T15:29:00.004-04:00

Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can damage artwork over time. Paint cracks, separates, and peels. Paper molds, tears, and fades. Antique veneers separate and warp. Photographs crack, fade and dim. The materials that make up and a work of art (wood, paper, paint, stone, etc.) expand and contract in hot or cold and/or wet or dry conditions. Over time environmental fluctuations cause these materials to weaken or break. Also, different materials expand and contract at different rates. For example, oil paint on canvas will expand at a different rate than the canvas, cracking and flaking the paint. Wooden sculpture and furniture can warp and dry or joints can crack and weaken. Nearly all objects are susceptible to damage from changes in the environment.

Additionally, both high and low humidity levels can cause damage. High humidity promotes mold and mildew growth and even some chemical reactions that adversely affect a long list of objects. Low humidity causes materials to dry out and become brittle, crack, and break. Fluctuations in humidity are especially harmful for paper, textiles, furniture, paintings, photographs, and musical instruments.

Choosing Storage for Your Collection

Professional fine art storage providers use the term “Museum Quality Climate Controlled Storage” to describe storage conditions with strictly regulated temperature and humidity. These variables are kept in a tight band, never fluctuating more than a little bit within a 24 hour period. Typically, the temperature is kept at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity at 50% (Rh%). Ideally, these conditions do not change more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 10%Rh in a 24hr period.

Ask your storage provider about their climatic conditions. There is a wide variety of quality among providers. All high quality fine art storage providers will provide you with a clear description of the conditions that they maintain. Many providers will also furnish you with a climate history report. Don’t be afraid to ask for one. Museums often require a history report before agreeing to place an object from their collection into off-site storage. Remember, consistency and evenness are key.

The museum community has published some guidelines outlining ideal storage conditions. Read the Philadelphia Museum’s recommendations on their website (link). The American Institute For Conservation also makes specific storage recommendations for collections by type (architecture, books, paintings, ceramics & glass, metal objects, furniture, photographs, home videotape, documents, and textiles). Ask your local museum or conservator for their recommendations. Understand that one of the best things that you can do for your collection is to keep it in climate controlled storage.

A Fine Art Storage Study

2010-09-09T11:01:00.003-04:00

The Exhibition Alliance completed a very through study of fine art storage available in New York State. While published before a few notable additions to the marketplace, the information is still very accurate.

Read the report at the Exhibition Alliance website.

Gary Tinterow Shares Some Innovative Storage Ideas

2010-09-02T09:30:00.001-04:00

Speaking to Jason Kaufman of Artinfo.com, Gary Tinterow, The MET's new director, suggests that collection sharing may be the way for local museums to share the storage costs associated with acquiring new works of art, especially new media. His idea is that an agreement between sister institutions (e.g. The MET and MoMA) would allow the museums to share the acquisition and storage costs for new artworks. Instead of the MET and MoMA each buying and storing a Neo Rauch, for example, the two could buy one and share it.

It is great to have such outside the box thinking from Mr. Tinterow. We will see if this idea gains footing among MET donors and the museum. We can see a model where donors share artwork with the museum, but have a hard time envisioning this system working across rival institutions.

Read the full interview here: http://blogs.artinfo.com/inview/2010/08/26/gary-tinterows-agenda-for-contemporary-art-at-the-metropolitan-museum-part-one-of-interview/

Naturally, SD Fine Art Storage is available to advise both the MET and MoMA on how to set up this shared storage space. Mr. Tinterow is free to give us a call.

The Art of Storage

2010-08-27T12:25:00.003-04:00

Eli Broad’s recently challenged museums to display or loan more of their collections, saying, “Get art out of the basements.” According to The Art Newspaper, he is dismayed that 90% of collections are languishing in storage. The article has generated broad agreement that Mr. Broad has a good point. Though there are some obvious practical limitations to displaying even 50% a collection there has been an honest movement to transform storage spaces into something more than black holes. SD Fine Art Storage would like to bring to everyone’s attention to some attempts (public, private, and commercial) to transform storage into an art form.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Despite MoMA’s art storage fortress out in Long Island City (remember, we went there a few years ago while the museum updated its digs in Midtown), MoMA’s online digital database of the collection provides a forum for much of the collection while in storage. There are over 33,000 works by 6,000 artists online, many with detailed images, provenance, and artist information. While online viewing is not quite the same as an exhibition, these works are a far cry from lost in the basement.

Pierogi Gallery

While an art gallery’s responsibility to exhibit the works of its artists is different than that of a museums’, storage is none the less a major concern. In 1995 Pierogi Gallery started The Flat Files, an innovative program designed to provide a much wider audience for its artists than its space would allow. By inviting the public into the gallery’s storage space (the flat files) Pierogi created a new contact for viewing artwork. The Flat Files present artwork without the unifying curatorial leans through which most viewers experience works of art. Instead, the Flat Files present artwork in the context of storage, raising storage to an art form.

Schaulager

When you are passionate about collecting, have the resources to get serious about it, and buy enough artwork to fill a building, you end up with some very interesting problems. Namely (and this is the problem that Eli Broad is having now), you have taken enough of the public trust out of circulation that you have a responsibility to find ways to make it available to the public. The Hoffman Foundation in Basel Switzerland has addressed this responsibility head-on by building Schaulager. Uniquely, Schaulager is both a storage space and a study collection at the same time. The central philosophy is that artwork must be studied and appreciated at all times, even in storage. And so, the Hoffman Foundation constructed a massive facility dedicated to that central tenant. A worthwhile and ambitious achievement and well worth a visit the next time you are in Basel.

The dog days of summer

2010-08-19T12:51:00.002-04:00

While many think that the art world is away tanning in the Hamptons this August, many of us are still here working, albeit less visibly than usual. Peek into the window of any number of the shuttered Chelsea galleries and you will see the most unglamorous of the art world: art handlers unpacking crates. Look a little harder and you will see an army of staff getting ready to start the new season: Artists are making new works at a frenzied pace. Curators are making last minute changes. Dealers are cultivating their Rolodexes. And trucks are delivering from far and wide artworks to storage facilities.

SD Fine Art is looking forward to the unavailing of all that is new this September. We are here, plugging away during the dog days of summer, saving our beach reads for the weekend.

#2 Collection Management Tip for the Summer

2010-08-19T12:14:00.000-04:00

Inventory Audit: SD Fine Art recommends an annual inventory audit. A regular check will make sure that works are properly documented, packed, and ready for exhibition or sale. Nothing stops your heart like misplacing an artwork. Avoid the hair pulling, your audit your inventory this summer.

• Location: Make sure that you know the exact location of each artwork in your collection. SD Fine Art recommends that the location for each work is physically verified to avoid any confusion.
• Condition: If some of your collection has not been inspected since purchase or exhibition, it is a good idea to inspect those works.
• Packing: Make sure that artworks that are in storage are properly packed. Poor packing can damage artworks even when they are in storage. If works are in long term storage, make sure that they are packed in archival materials. Non-archival materials can contribute to the long term degradation of artworks.

#1 Collection Management Tip for the Summer

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#1 Review Your Storage Needs

It is crucial that you regularly review your storage needs. Make sure that valuable, or delicate works are stored in climate controlled storage. Make sure that you have enough space to grow this year and the years ahead, and make sure that you are getting a good storage value. A regular storage review can save $1,000's in rent and service charges. SD Fine Art recommends that you focus on at lease three key storage elements: Cost, Quality, and Size & Efficiency:

• Cost: Storage rates vary widely across the City, independently of quality and location in some cases. Rates range from over $10psf per month to just over $5psf per month on average. Don’t over pay. Reducing your monthly storage payment by $200 will save $12,000 over the next 5 years. Also, keep your eye on access fees, taxes, and other surcharges. These can nearly double your annual storage outlay for high volume accounts.

• Quality: Is your storage room bright, clean, and well built? It should be. Quality is more than just aesthetics. A good building is safe and minimizes the dangers posed by the environment, dust, mold and dirt, as well as fire, theft and even worse. Don’t send your art to a place that you are not comfortable visiting. Request a facility report from your provider. Talk to your insurance broker. A quality facility will happily provide you with information, and your insurance provider will point out red flags.

• Size & Efficiency: Get the most out of your storage space by using the space wisely. Invest in some shelving or paintings racks. Make sure that you leave some room to grow if you are still collecting. These steps will help you to save $1,000’s in rent charges and time spent searching for artworks. Let an expert help you decide how best use your space. A good quality storage provider will advise you for no charge. Or try our handy Storage Calculator for FREE.

How much storage do you need?

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If we hear one question, it is this: How do I know how much storage I need?

Here are some tips:

1. Make a list

Even if you are still not 100% sure about the total number of works that you want to put into storage, you have to start somewhere. Make a list of each work. At minimum include the following information: Artist, Title, Medium, Dimensions (H x L x W).

(use our handy list builder in Doogle Docs to get you started There is a link below! )

2. Do some math

Oh, boy yuck! Well, it isn't that hard. L x W = Area and H x L x W = Volume. Now you have the tools to calculate square footage (L x W) and cubic footage (H x L x W) -- area and volume. Use the dimensions from your list and the formula above -- or our calculator below -- and find out how much space your collection will need for storage. Keep in mind, some things can stack and some can't and that everything is larger packed. But, that is it. You have all of the tools you need to find out how much storage you need.

3. Get a space

Once you have your list and know how much space it takes up, call us. (Actually, you can call at any point and we can do some of this work for you). SD Fine Art will work with you to get your artworks into the right sized space. We will impart some special tricks and knowledge that we have and incorporate best art storage practices to insure that everything will be safe.

Storage really is that simple. The hard work is not calculating how much space you need but providing the safest and best space for the artworks. SD Fine Art is the only new construction fine art storage warehouse in New York and is the BEST place for fine art storage.

FREE STORGAGE CALCULATOR

Newly Constructed Fine Art Storage Private Rooms Big and Small

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500sf rooms

lockers

SD Fine Art is the only newly constructed fine art storage facility in the New York metro area. Not a refurbished warehouse, but a brand new building. Our facility is new from the ground up. That means that SD Fine Art meets the latest building codes, has a computer controlled HVAC system that was designed for optimum performance specifically for our building. The fire suppression system is 21^st Century and so is the security system. Our building has no lead paint, wooden floors or joists, ancient electrical systems, or oil burning heating systems. Every detail of the building is centered on providing the highest possible storage conditions possible.

Small Rooms: Private Storage for 1 or 2 Artworks

In the past, a customer with only one or two artworks would not have a private storage room option. Instead the artwork would be placed into "open storage" or "general storage", which really is a big room with zillions of other people's artworks. Any time a customer wants to see their painting they have to call ahead, make an appointment, and pay warehouse labor for the guys to pull the piece.

Cost-wise it gets crazy. Rent is about $100 - $150 per month. But, there are service fees for pulling the artworks. A 24 x 24" painting that is viewed twice each month could cost $270 per month or more.

Our new spaces will be very small, secure, private rooms that are priced below the usual "open storage" minimum. So, for a little more than $100 per month, that same 24 x 24" artwork can be seen every day of the month for the flat rental price. It also is WAY more secure.

Large Storage Rooms: Custom Designed Museum Quality Rooms

Large storage rooms need to be more than just a big open space. Any art collection that requires 1,000 – 5,000sf is unique and exceptional. SD Fine Art Specializes in custom built large private rooms. With an in-house construction team, design team, and the experience to deliver for the most demanding collections, SD Fine Art provides unmatched quality. All of our large private rooms have poured and sealed concrete floors, steel walls, individual alarms, an open floor plan without columns, 14’ ceilings, oversized doors, and even WIFI. Within that shell SD Fine Art can build high density shelving or painting racks, steel shelving, custom millwork, lighting, flooring, and even finished interior walls. From high traffic gallery storage rooms to study collections and major estates, SD Fine Art has unparalleled experience and ability caring for large collections.

Medium Private Rooms: Designed to Be Economical and Super High Quality

Let's face it, most collectors or galleries do not have 1,000's of artworks. However, you have more than a couple. SD Fine Art has over 20,000sf of medium sized private rooms. Ranging from 100sf to 300sf, these rooms have all of the potential of our large rooms. They are built of steel and concrete, have extra high ceilings, no columns or obstructions, and are customizable based on the needs of your unique collection. These medium sized rooms are affordable. Our rates are nearly 50% less than Manhattan temperature and humidity controlled spaces. Like every room within SD Fine Art, quality is unmatched.