B e n c h m a r k

Benchmark Catalog

In 1990, Benchmark  introduced our first catalog of 200+ tools and materials geared to the special requirements of exhibition installation. The Catalog was produced in response to being so often asked (while we were on-site doing installations) "Where do you get this item?"  The answer was very often "We make that ourselves"....so we decided to make a few more, and offer them to all.  We include many hard-to-find items and make available smaller quantities of items that are usually "bulk" buy.

Our customers include Historical Societies, Libraries, Museums large & small, Exhibit Design and Fabrication Companies.

 A Partial Customer Listing Includes:

Benchmark Installation

Since 1980, Benchmark has worked to augment the capabilities of museums, galleries, historical societies, corporate and private collections.  through  custom mountmaking and on-site artifact installation for exhibition.  Benchmark is known for its on-time, on-budget work done by knowledgeable and good-natured mountmakers.  A particular strength is to successfully assemble skilled teams that can beat a tight deadline.  Our services include:

Mount Design & Fabrication
Effective mount-making combines overall esthetic considerations with a concern for each object's nature and safety, avoiding problems and adverse reactions from use of incompatible materials.  Our mounts are as invisible as possible, so as not to interfere with the integrity and silhouette of the objects they support.  Unless otherwise requested, we paint out all of our mounts to further conceal them.  All mounts are carefully padded to prevent abrading the object.  We are familiar with a full range of mount-making, from pinning small, delicate objects, to designing and fabricating large structural mounts.  

On-Site Installation 
Safe, efficient installation requires skill, understanding and teamwork.  Benchmark works well on site, providing needed tools and skilled personnel.  Our efforts include those aspects of exhibition co-ordination needed to dovetail with the institution's existing procedures.  We perform well under pressure, meet installation deadlines and work well with existing staff at all levels.  


Click the photo to see our brochure.		 Hands-on Seminars in Mountmaking
From time to time, our schedule allows us to offer intensive one week-long seminars in the basics of mountmaking techniques.  The courses cover mount design, fabrication and installation techniques. These are mostly held at our studio in Rosemont, New Jersey although they have also been held at the University of London, School of Archeology.  Please contact us via email if you would like to be on a "please notify" list.

 


Partial Client Listing

Benchmark Principals
Mair Digges La Touche. Formerly Associate Production Manager responsible for metal objects and jewelry in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Sales Reproduction Program, working closely with reproduction staff, curators and outside manufacturers.  Researched original pieces, organized production plans and oversaw production contracting and execution. Prior involvements include restoration work with the Museum's Costume Institute and fabrication of exhibition presentation models for the Design Department. Has taught in cooperation with the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Museums Collaborative and the New York State Council on the Arts. Trained at Skidmore College, Carnegie-Mellon University and the Tyler School of Art, Rome, Italy.

David Digges La Touche. Formerly first Senior Installer in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Objects Conservation Department, responsible for installation of temporary, traveling and permanent exhibits. Served on and led installation teams, coordinating their functions with designers and curators. Temporary or traveling exhibits worked on include Treasures of Tutankhumun, Thracian Gold, Irish Treasures, Treasure from the Kremlin and Early Christian Art. Permanent installations for Lila A. Wallace Egyptian Galleries and the Department of Western European Decorative Arts, working with materials and objects ranging from small glass fragments to massive stone reliefs, cast metal sculpture to wooden furniture. Worked on restorations of wooden objects for Egyptian and Islamic Departments. Trained at The Cooper Union and Instituto Nacional des Bellas Artes, Mexico.

Ex-officio
Shelly Uhlir.  Formerly Exhibits Specialist with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art, responsible for the silkscreen production shop, developing labels, text panels and maps for all exhibitions. Prior to heading the silkscreen shop, responsibilities extended to art handling, implementing case security and general installation assistance, working with registrarial, curatorial and conservation departments. Additional work has included maintaining the graphics section of the museum shop at the National Air and Space Museum and teaching English and cultural courses to Chinese students in Shaanxi Province. Trained at Northern Illinois University, University of Maryland and Xi'an Foreign Languages Institute, People's Republic of China.  As of December 23, 2000 Shelly started a new life-time project: Tasha Marie Uhlir.

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Benchmark  PO Box 214, Rosemont, NJ 08556 USA
 

Copyright 2002 Benchmark

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