#oxidizing

On May 3, Liz Johnson Artur: Dusha opened at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibit showcases Artur’s iconic photographs from her Black Balloon Archives that expands thirty years of documenting the lives of black people across the African Diaspora. Many of these photographs are framed, however, the artist also wanted to display some works less formally. There are two wall installations in the gallery in which the photographs are installed with neodymium magnets.

Neodymium magnets have been used for mounting textiles and works on paper since the late 1980s. They are often coated with layers of nickel and copper to prevent oxidization and are available in various sizes, shapes, and strengths While neodymium magnets come in many shapes and sizes, for installation purposes, it was best to use small circular magnets to minimize how visual they were against the art work.

Since the artist requested white magnets, the paper conservators designed a way to produce over 200 magnets that were both aesthetically pleasing, but also safe for the photographs. In order to do this, conservators, with the help of interns and their department assistant, wrapped the magnets in small pieces of Japanese paper adhered with wheat starch paste. Both of these materials are commonly used in paper conservation to mend tears, fill losses, and hinge artwork for display.

The face of each magnet was toned with white gouache to better match the tone of most of the photographs. A small piece of a polyethylene film was adhered to the back of the magnets as a barrier layer, to better protect the photograph. The strong magnets can attract metal-containing dust-particles from ambient air. The polyester also prevents contact with any wheat starch paste and makes it easier and safer to lift the magnet off the artwork when the photographs are deinstalled at the close of the exhibition.

Liz Johnson Artur: Dusha is on view until August 18. Come see these stunning photographs!

Silver becomes black because of hydrogen sulfide (sulfur), a substance that occurs in the air. When silver comes into contact with it, a chemical reaction takes place and a black layer is formed. Silver oxidizes faster in places with a lot of light and high humidity.

Also contact with products like cosmetics, hair spray, perfume, deodorant, body lotion, bleach, etc., can speed up the oxidizing process.

Besides that, the natural oils that your skin produces can also react to your silver jewelry. The extent to which the silver reacts with these substances from your skin is highly dependent on the type of food you eat, alcohol consumption and whether you are taking medication. These things influence the acidity of your skin, which can cause a reaction. Also sweat (which ammonia occurs in) raises the acidity of the skin and could tarnish the silver.

That silver jewelry that turns black would be made of a less silver content or even be no silver, is incorrect and a myth. The oxidation of silver jewelry is a sign that it is really silver. Other (noble) metals oxidize differently.