Should fine art come with a warning label?
Artists exposed to toxic chemicals. Many now take the risk seriously
article on TORONTO STAR posted on Oct. 9, 2004
[…An] Ontario College of Art and Design
student had been a touch cavalier with a bottle of
nitric acid in the etching studio, and had spilled a
good amount of it over her legs and shoes.
slow reveal. "The risks for artists are a lot more subtle
than they are for other workers," says Rickard."Artists
tend to absorb the chemicals they use in small
doses, which leads to chronic, low-level poisoning."
[…] "The biggest problem for artists is the air
[...]She was rinsed off, rushed to the hospital and
treated for third-degree burns. The student was
okay, but never returned to art school.
pollution they create," says Rickard, who's been an
expert in such matters for nearly 20 years now.
Air Purifiers for
"For many artists, the challenge is getting
fresh air to the nose."
"I tell that story to every new printmaking
class," says (Professor Rudolf) Bikers. "It
gets them thinking about safety in the studio."
Artists
All Artists
Unfortunately, many artists don't start taking the
risks involved with their craft seriously until later in
life. That was the case for Jennifer Dickson, who
damaged her lungs by working with large-format
photo etchings in the '60s and '70s.
Though we tend to think of workplace safety as
something that applies to industrial environments
such as construction sites and factories, the artist
,too, faces an alarming number of occupational
hazards.
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"I can remember standing over acid baths watching
nice orange clouds coming off," she recalls.
While most of the pitfalls aren't as cataclysmic as the
case of Bikkers and the disrobed pupil, a lifelong
exposure to the chemicals, heavy metals, fumes and
particulate associated with many forms of art-
making can spell serious health problems -
Dickson, a retired professor and celebrated
printmaker, says she nearly died from respiratory
problems in the early '70s. She considers it a miracle
that her son was born healthy despite exposure to
harsh chemicals during the pregnancy.
- Art Restorators
- Print Makers
especially when safety precautions are ignored.
[…] Hobbyists are at risk too, as they are least likely to
take precautions when it comes to producing art
and could be affecting the health of their families.
"I had no one to blame but myself for
my own stupidity and ignorance," she
said. "A lot of artists became ill because
they weren't working in a safe way. But
there's no excuse for it now."
Ted Rickard, OCAD's manager of health and safety,
says the hazards facing artists are insidious in their
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G0900R13_ALLER_Artists
Nov. 04, 04
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