exercise 03: a language of care
11.25.2025

in this evening’s video conversation, we will speak with 𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐫, an object conservator at the brooklyn museum, about the care and maintenance of artworks in collections. following the artist’s instructions, conservation requirements, or material specifications, maintenance becomes a performative act — a practice of quiet, precise gestures. from regularly inflating large inflatable structures to marking a lost piece in a constellation of tiny fragments, these acts sustain the artwork while remaining largely invisible.

the conversation will be followed by 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐡, fine art packer at the brooklyn museum, who will share his extensive experience in creating crates and mobile homes for artworks. he will demonstrate his unique finger method and explain how his approach, guided by the mantra “listening to the object”, enables safe transport and silent communication between objects across museums worldwide.

contributors
kate wight tyler, object conservator at @brooklynmuseum
paul speh, fine art packer at @brooklynmuseum