Storage and organization is essential to making art and it’s something that has morphed with me depending on my space limitations and budget. Organizing art storage is like tending a garden, and the harvest comes when you can retrieve what you need with ease. If you have seen my video called Working in Museums, you will know that most of the museums, libraries, archives, and universities I have worked with had hazards and some level of disarray regarding their storage. There are industry standards for keeping art, archives, and documents safe, and I have tried to replicate that on a smaller scale and budget.
I have previously written about the benefits of renting a storage unit for artists long-term and I’ve had storage units over the years because it is an effective tool worth the money. But, nowadays all of my belongings are with me and I’ve crafted a storage system for my artwork, supplies, and documents. While my backend area is an ever changing glob, this is my general goal!
FIRE SAFETY BOX
I have personal items and photographs in my fire safety box like social security cards and family photos.
LOCK BOX
This is where I keep my computer files, usbs, and sim cards. I used to lug them around with me and they’d get wet, damaged, or lost. When my computer bag was stolen in 2014, my laptop and all of my files were taken with it and the Dallas courts did not issue an arrest warrant for the thief until 2020! I now have my computer files stored in a safe, dry, stationary place.
ARCHIVAL BOXES
I have a few precious items stored in flat, acid-free archival files for preservation purposes. I’d love to invest in more over time.
STEEL FILE CABINETS
I feel this style of file cabinet is quite vintage (all of mine were thrifted finds), but they get the job done. I can categorize my files in each drawer and store dozens of files per drawer. My sketches, collage material, receipts from buying supplies, taxes, personal documents, research, etc. can all fit with room for growth. Because file cabinets are common commercial office sizes, I can easily find the supplies I need to maintain them for a cheaper price than specialized archival supplies. I also started adding wheels to the cabinets for ease of use and I sprayed them all with a primer. While fireproof cabinets are expensive and impossibly heavy, I could potentially layer on a fire retardant paint to help save anything inside in case of a fire emergency.
WATERPROOF BINS
I am transitioning all of my plastic bins to these waterproof, airtight bins. They are a utility alternative to the typical plastic bins I’ve had for years with flimsy lids and cracked bottoms. I can put organic materials in these without worry of pests like cardboard artwork or vintage wool sweaters. They are also more protected in case of flood. My art studio in Tulsa, OK flooded constantly in bad weather and the toilet overflowed with every flush putting some of my inventory and artwork at risk.
ART FRAMES
Contrary to the thinking of many curators I’ve worked with, I believe framing artwork, especially art on paper, is an excellent method of safe storage. While many finished pieces are stored in the filing cabinets, I consider an artwork completed once it is framed. Framed art can be stacked and packed in numerous ways without damage to the art itself which I like. Although, it should NOT be kept directly on the floor as you see here!
