AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

This talk presents a custom display innovation crafted specifically for Darrel Ellis's ca. 1987 acrylic on canvas painting, Untitled (Bedroom Scene). This painting portrays a woman in a bedroom, its scene stretching to the uniquely-shaped canvas's edges—approximately trapezoidal in form. Having never been displayed before, the challenge arose to safely exhibit it within the 2022-2023 "Darrel Ellis: Regeneration" exhibition, jointly organized by The Baltimore Museum of Art and The Bronx Museum. Collaborating with the curator and the artist's estate representative, a decision emerged to design a hanging mechanism that would elegantly 'float' the artwork on the gallery wall.

Darrel Ellis’ art blends painting, printmaking, photography and drawing, often centering on identity and memory as expressed through portraiture. Untitled (Bedroom Scene) is part of a large series based on photographs Ellis took at his mother's apartment, with its canvas's trapezoidal shape possibly echoing the photo projection process.

The devised hanging system involves an aluminum rod inserted into a sewn canvas sleeve. The sleeve is securely attached to the upper edge using BEVA 371 adhesive. The two ends of the rod are supported by Z-clip hardware installed on the wall. The canvas sleeve is precisely sewn to hold the hanging rod snugly, maintaining necessary tension and preventing any top-edge sagging. Additionally, four rare earth magnets concealed within canvas pockets, combined with self-adhesive steel discs affixed to the wall, serve to align the lower edges against the wall, preventing the lower edges from flaring forward.

The design and implementation of this system were carried out in 2021-2022 by Jen Munch of Jen Munch Art Conservation, a New York City-based private practice. The use of a hanging rod in a tensioned canvas sleeve is believed to be a unique display solution for a work on canvas. Magnetic mounting systems are also uncommon for paintings on primed canvas, and this may be the first recorded instance of their use. Magnetic display systems are now common for textile and paper works. This is due in large part to the work of Gwen Spicer, the author of the 2019 book “Magnetic Mounting Systems for Museums and Cultural Institutions.”

This system prioritizes the use of economical and durable materials. It can also be removed if needed in the future. Additionally, the aluminum hanging rod can be substituted with a steel rod to make it compatible with the commercially available SmallCorp Magnet Slat system designed by Gwen Spicer for textile display. It is an adaptable solution for evolving needs.