From the Expert: Crating

Staff Highlight: David Mueller

David Mueller, GFA's Shop Manager & Preparator, has been building crates with Guardian for over 6 years. As an artist himself, no one better understands the importance of properly protecting one-of-a-kind pieces.

To best cover what GFA has to offer in crating, we spoke directly with the in-house expert.

Q. What kinds of crating does Guardian offer?
"The easy answer is Guardian offers custom crating. With proper assessment of the needs of the client, the needs of the object, and the scope of travel/usage, Guardian can build a custom crate for just about any need."

Q. What is the most important thing for a client to consider when requesting a build?
"The safety of the object being shipped and handled is the most important thing to consider when requesting a build. However, you don’t necessarily need the fanciest, most expensive build with all the options available to travel an object safely. If you’re moving across town, you probably don’t need a fully insulated Museum Crate; if you’re shipping by sea, you’ll probably need more than a pallet. We consider all types of variables when building our custom crates, with the object's safety in the forefront."

Q. What's something about crate building that clients don't usually consider?
"The concept of “handling” is often underrated when clients are considering crating and moving the objects they value. For example, an object may fit through a door, but once crated, the dimensions can considerably increase and that doorway can become an obstacle to those moving it. Handlers also have to consider factors, like the weight of the object, the terrain it will travel across, the climate(s) the object will travel within, etc. When building a good crate, it’s of utmost importance to not only think about the safety of the object, but also the safety of those handling it."

Q. Are there any recent ways that Guardian has “upgraded” how they build crates?
"We are always learning at Guardian and always striving to better our products and services. We have been stepping up our game on fully insulated crates, as of late, with more and more projects that require a stable interior climate. Clear coating or painting our crates has also become a more regular service; this not only provides protection but also a more sound, recognizable aesthetic. The crates may be meant for transporting art, but we in the shop look at them as art themselves."

Q. What are the most unique crates you build?
"Multi-object crates are probably the most unique. These builds meet at the intersection of crating and cabinetry. These come into play when a collection of items needs to be shipped or if a single item needs to be dismantled and shipped.  We construct internal structures, shelves, slides, braces, etc to make sure all objects travel safely, together, and with clear instruction for re-assembly."

Q. Do you have a favorite type of crate or type of object to build crates for?
"I enjoy making crates for 2D work. They’re usually not all too fancy, but there’s a real satisfaction when all of the math is correct, and at the end of the build, the piece just slides into the cavity made for its safe travel. These are usually simple builds, with streamlined solutions."

Q. Okay last question: What do you do outside of Guardian?
"Outside of Guardian, I’m a working artist. As a painter and illustrator, I’ve had the opportunity to exhibit on stages local to international. My focus has always been on the accessibility of art both in theme and practice. You can check out my work here: www.muellerlowlife.com or on Instagram @muellerlowlife."