Recently, Milwaukee collector and activist Joseph Pabst graciously spoke with us about his remarkable collection. The great-great grandson of Captain Frederick Pabst, Joseph Pabst has a background in art history and design and has been collecting art and objects since he was a child.

What do you collect and why?
I collect paintings, photos, antique cabinet cards, illustrations, works on paper, paperweights, and more, both contemporary and antique. I collect because of Desire, a never-ending hunger to constantly look and appreciate and wonder.  Trash and treasure both have merit.  Something inexpensive can have great value in terms of beauty and importance.  I am drawn to a bohemian aesthetic and it influences the way I collect.
​
Objects that spark a memory, commemorate an event, or define a sense of beauty are also of interest to me. Recently, after a trip to Oaxaca and discovering the work of the late Mexican artist Francisco Toledo and what he did for Oaxaca, I wanted something he touched or made.  I found a piece a few weeks after I returned home at auction. The results of his good work in his community sparked a desire in me.  He was a driving force that changed the cultural landscape of Oaxaca.  The piece I purchased is a reminder of his beautiful life, what he did for the people. One example is the Institute of Graphic Arts Oaxaca which includes a center for photography and as well as other art forms.

Wherever your finances may fall, collecting things at different levels will help build an interesting collection.  I save for higher priced pieces but also love to collect Victorian cabinet cards which are usually just a couple of dollars and very accessible. Most antique malls have them. I enjoy the sense of history and the graphics are always beautiful.  One day after going through a pile of hundreds, I caught the bug and bought ten.

There are now about 3000 in my collection, which is significantly male dominated.  Identifying as a gay man was part of it. Who were these men?  Were any identifying as gay and not living openly? What was life like?  Privilege and success, opulent versus worn shoes and collars.  Everyone wore their best. I can find one at any time which satisfies my urge to collect.  I previously displayed my collection floor to ceiling on special rails and they served as a “tapestry” backdrop for other pieces in my collection. In 2016, they were featured in an exhibition at Woodland Pattern Book Center that was curated by Deb Brehmer, owner of the Portrait Society Gallery.  It is wonderful when some other person wants work from the collection for something.  It is a delight to share and educate.

​When my home renovations are complete, the cabinet cards will be on display again in a specially designed room with an 1880’s Frederic Remington illustration that I recently purchased. The cards and illustration are from the same era.

When and how did you get started?
I love this question. It may be genetic for some people.  There are born collectors.  Evidenced based studies suggest gay men were the keepers of history.  Have you seen the Will Fellows book, A Passion to Preserve:  Gay Men as Keepers of History? My passion for collecting was fostered by my family, especially my grandmother, paternal aunt, father, and great grandmother. I appreciated beauty at an early age. My mother was very self-controlled and curated – she did not have a passion for junk.  I appreciated the collections of others, including my grandmother who collected bohemian glass and overlay glass, much of which was gifted to the Milwaukee Public Museum. My mother and great grandmother Ilma Vogel Uihlein always had a few Baccarat paperweights on their desks. I was encouraged to pick things up, if I exercised care and caution.  As a 7-year-old, I felt I was looking at “magic” suspended in glass. Father collected beautiful shotguns including two from Purdey in London. My paternal grandfather collected rare books, French bronzes-mostly dogs by PJ Mene.  He loved dogs,  and had a John Martin Tracy painting of pointers which had belonged to his father.  I have since given it to the Pabst Mansion along with a letter by Captain Frederick Pabst and a folio turner.

When I was 10, there was a famous paperweight dealer named Larry Selman in Santa Cruz, CA.  I traveled there with my father. Leo Kaplan, a respected paperweight dealer in New York may have suggested that we make the visit.  I fell in love with a faceted Clichy paperweight that I still have.  It was $600. I told Mr. Selman, “I really want it.  All I have is $50 right now.” He replied, “If you promise to send me at least $50 each year I will sell it and allow you take it with you.”  I still treasure that paperweight and have it with those I inherited from my great grandmother, mother and numerous ones I have purchased.

Father had a true appreciation for beauty, both naturally occurring and created by human hands.  He loved gemology and the intricacy of jewelry.  On a trip to New York, we were walking down 5th Ave and stopped at Harry Winston.  My father knew Don Carnivale, a sales executive and vice president of Harry Winston, so we saw a number of beautiful pieces. After our tour, I asked, “Is there anything else you can show me?” We were escorted to a room where gems met their settings. We saw a bracelet with emeralds as large as postage stamps. It was sheer beauty and felt like an adventure.  It is a special memory.

​I have an Andre Lanskoy painting because my grandmother had three which I did not inherit but always loved.

​My aunt had a large Bernard Buffet of sunflowers and this made me want a Buffet too.  Nostalgia is a factor. For me, there is no strong investment component as with some collectors.  I never intend to sell when I make a purchase but I have downsized in order to make room for different purchases.

Bernard Buffet’s early life was spent with Pierre Bergé. This is interesting because Buffet went on to marry and adopt children. Bergé, of course enjoyed a long relationship with Yves Saint Laurent and they were prolific collectors.

Have you seen Richard Renaldi’s series “Touching Strangers?” There is something compelling about seeing two unknown people touching.  It is similar to how an object and a collector can end up together through chance and circumstance.

Another early favorite are my Audubon Octavo edition chromolithographs made in a smaller size than the original, thus much less expensive. Great grandfather Joseph Uihlein had purchased two complete Double Elephant Folios. Many were gifted to the Milwaukee Public Library and the others were distributed among family and friends.  I am fortunate to have two double elephant folio prints, Artic Birds and a beautiful Louisiana Heron. 

How do you safely display, care, and/or store your collection?
I try very hard to keep my pieces protected from direct sunlight.  My current residence has extensive east facing windows.  When I purchased the space, I gutted it with the intention to have a vast open interior.  I quickly realized I needed walls so designed the space with precision to display art including fragile things like works on paper and photographs.  I always use UV plexiglass and have UV rated tinted windows. I have a few paperweights out but most are in beautifully made vitrines. I have also benefited from Guardian by having another safe place to nicely store things.  Some of my collection will live at Guardian and I will occasionally rotate things out.  I was happy to see the Guardian building pre-COVID and the magical, high-tech thought behind its design.

What has been most challenging for you in developing your collection?
Focus is always challenging because I see so many things that strike me. Space and budget are issues too.  Prices have risen significantly in the last 25 years for the very best items, so I have adjusted accordingly.  I came to realize that while I collected Audubon because they are familiar, I also needed to develop my own taste over inherited taste.  Familiarity was a start, and the cabinet cards were a new direction. It is important for collectors to separate their taste from peers and family.  People move in packs and “rages” are started.  We should be careful and welcome our individuality to shine through.  Less popular items are more available.

Do you have advice for new collectors?
Look at everything. Study in whatever form that takes.  Explore your motivation.  Why do you want to collect?  Are you filling a house for the sake of it?  Inanimate objects should be allowed to have a soul too. Seek what touches you, for beauty, memory, or whatever reason.  Don’t be deterred by the judgement of others.  Just because something is inexpensive does not necessarily mean it is not important.  I will periodically examine 100 cabinet cards at a time, and it gives me such pleasure. Collect at all levels for maximum pleasure.  If you find yourself stuck in a small town without the best galleries, give the little antiques shops a chance.  When I make a new purchase, sometimes I know exactly where it will go, but not always.
The Toledo I purchased was appropriately framed in simple maple. I had it reframed in an elaborate rococo frame for the juxtaposition and stylistic collision.  By doing this, I am trying to put my own stamp on the memory.  How things relate to each other is interesting, like a layered visual tapestry.  Go to a museum for an academic setting.  The Layton Art Collection salon style installation at the Milwaukee Art Museum is a nod to history and a period of art. With interesting juxtapositions, one sees something, a relationship between the pieces.
Have you seen Lois Bielefeld’s Bed series?  She photographed me and I find it a haunting image. She captured the truth so accurately.  J Shimon and J Lindemann also photographed me.  The methodology they utilized was fascinating.  I donated the platinum prints to the Museum of Wisconsin Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum.  Jim Goldberg a Magnum photographer, also photographed me.  I gave the original to the Milwaukee Art Museum but kept the part that peeled off the polaroid and framed it.  The experience of having a world-famous photographer shoot my portrait was incredible.  Experiences allow you to find others with similar passions and build new relationships.
​
Please share a photo of a favorite item from your collection.   
I cannot pick just one, but here is one I care about very much. 

​When another collector takes an interest in this passion, I feel grateful.
~Joseph Pabst, July 2020

We recently sat down with Sarah Beckett of SB Framing Gallery to ask about her role in helping to protect and display her clients’ artwork.  Becket is a Certified Master Picture Framer and a member of The Professional Picture Framers Association with over 23 years of experience.  Her retail shop and framing studio in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward has long been a reliable resource for galleries, collectors, corporations, and other art lovers in need of archival framing and other specialized framing services.
​
What are the criteria for earning the designation Master Picture Framer?
To become a Master Certified Picture Framer with the PPFA (Professional Picture Framers Association) a framer must have been a Certified Picture Framer (CPF) for at least 5 years. The criteria for CPF is a 4-hour multiple choice exam regarding math, technique, definitions, and knowledge of artwork material and handling.  
 
To become a Master Certified Picture Framer, a framer must provide four fully framed projects: textile, paper, canvas and object.  Those pieces are then disassembled and critiqued.  The last practicum is framing an unknown object in an unfamiliar frame shop with an hour and a half time limit, then having the piece critiqued by two Master Certified Framers.  Once certified, a framer must continue their education with at least five approved classes as well as an evaluation every five years to keep their certification.

​What are some of the more common problems you deal with in terms of artwork being framed improperly?
When reframing a project, many techniques have changed over time and the client should be informed of a proper framing package. Glazing should be at least 99 % UV protective, space between glazing and artwork should be at least 1/4”,  mat board quality should be of cotton rag archival quality, hinges should be water or alcohol based and not pressure sensitive, making any mounting reversible, backing and filler should be of non-reactive material like Coroplast or Dibond, and hanging hardware should be a two point system or wire at 60% angle.

​How does improper framing affect the condition of original artwork?
One of the largest issues I see with original artwork is acid burn from improper materials and hinging. Only conservators can help with that issue.  Fading, especially artwork in red tones, is another issue due to no Ultra Violet light protection. Improper size of material to frame causes artwork to cockle, or wrinkle, which causes issues to paper as well as the art media.

Why is investing in high quality framing worthwhile?  
A framing client should look at archival custom framing similar to purchasing custom furniture. The client is investing in a best fit for the artwork which will also, with the correct material, outlast your lifetime and be able to be handed down for generations to come. 

Does UV glass really protect artwork? Even in strong sunlight?
Think of Ultra Violet protectant glazing similar to sunscreen on the body.  It can only protect up to 99 %.  If you have a piece that is extremely valuable it should be hung in an area that receives limited amount of sunlight, or use curtains on the piece to restrict light.   It is not widely understood that pollution, fluorescent lighting, and chemicals in carpet, and strong environmental changes can also cause fading in certain art media.  Upgrading from regular glazing to UV protectant is very minimal in price yet valuable in protecting your artwork.
​
How do you decide what type of hardware to use for safe installation?  
Both size and weight are considered when hanging hardware.  Usually pieces over 24 x 36 inches should not be fitted with wire. Ideally, larger work should be hung by a two-point system like D Rings or Wallbuddies.  This is also preferred for thin horizontal pieces.  Very large and heavy pieces should be hung with French Cleats. This system distributes weight onto the hanging system versus the frame moulding and mitre joints.

#ArchivalFraming #BestFramingPractices #PreserveYourCollection #KeepArtSafe #SBFramingGallery

Caring for oil paintings to ensure lasting preservation begins with the room where the work of art is hanging. Basic preventative measures to avoid poor environmental conditions include:

• Low light levels – Direct sunlight should be avoided. Excess exposure to light causes painted surfaces to lighten or darken. LED lamps are safest for illumination.
• Uniform temperature and humidity – Extreme variations in heat and humidity result in canvases and wood frames to expand and contract.  Paint is not as resilient as wood and canvas and fluctuations in heat and humidity can cause cracking throughout the layers of paint. Keeping the room temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity at 50% is a good balance. Never store paintings in humid areas such as basements.
• Keep the surface clean – Don’t hang paintings over fireplaces, near candles, or in rooms where smoking is allowed.  The build up of dirt on paint’s surface creates ideal conditions for mold growth and allows moisture and pollutants to penetrate the paint’s layers. Never try to clean a painting yourself. Always consult a certified conservator about a painting in need of cleaning, especially if the surface of the paint is cracked.
• Examine for insect damage – check the back of the painting and frame for small holes in the canvas or frame and a powdery substance that resembles sawdust. If these signs are visible, carefully place the painting in a plastic bag to discourage further infestation and consult a certified conservator.
• Handle with care – improper handling is the greatest cause of permanent damage to paintings.  Vibrations, unintentional bumping, and even contact with jewelry or a belt buckle can cause condition problems. Check to be sure the path to the new destination is clear of obstacles. Never use the wire on the back to carry a painting. Wearing nitrile gloves, gently grasp the painting by the vertical sides when moving. 
• If in doubt, ask – Professional, certified conservators are the best resource for painting care questions.  Certified conservators go through stringent science training and art study to gain their specialized knowledge.  If you need help finding the right conservator for your painting, please contact Guardian for assistance.