Preparator/ Paint Booth Technician

Job Title: Preparator/ Paint Booth Technician

Department: Collection Support

Reports To: Chief Preparator

Pay Rate: $23.50/ hourly

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Overview

The Preparator/Paint Booth Technician is responsible for the preparation, installation, and maintenance of art galleries, rotations, and interpretation programs. This position is also the primary operator for paint booth needs within the Collection Support department.

Primary Responsibilities

• The following responsibilities describe the general nature of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory.


• Apply paint and other finishes to displays, furniture, and props to be displayed in exhibitions and permanent galleries.


• Prepare surfaces of furniture, displays, and exhibition props by sanding, filling, and priming to receive paint or finishes.


• Maintain and update equipment in paint booth in a clean and organized environment.


• Maintain a database inventory of paint and painting supplies related to permanent and temporary galleries.


• Participate in art installation and de-installation by proper handling, lifting, moving, placing, crating, uncrating, and hanging works of art as required by the IMA art handling guidelines.


• Prepare galleries for exhibition installations, including patching and painting gallery walls, moving, and placing gallery furnishings, and implementing all aspects of exhibition designs.


• Maintain galleries, including patching and painting walls, mounting, and installing artwork labels, and general gallery maintenance.


• Deliver, install, de-install, and collect works of art by vehicle, both locally and interstate.


• Communicate with Curatorial, Conservation, and Registration staff to gather information related to art relocations, conservation handling requirements, and approvals.


• Assist with and oversee the safe use of the paint booth, ensuring proper operation of equipment and appropriate use of materials and tools.


• Support Chief Preparator in delivering all exhibition goals for the department.


• Work within the installation crew with appreciation of the team and its mission.


• Perform various preparator duties for Collection Support, including maintenance of workshops and storage, label making, vinyl application, and collecting supplies and materials for installations.

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Skills

• Experience with pneumatic or airless spray-painting and wall painting


• Knowledge of woodworking and finish construction and the ability to use hand and power tools and hardware along with good manual dexterity


• Knowledge of art, art handling, crating, including installation skills

Organizational skills

• Flexibility and aptitude to work in a collaborative environment


• Ability to read, write and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos


• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations to other employees


• Ability to calculate figures and amounts for design layouts of exhibitions and proportions. Algebra helpful.


• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form

Education and/or Experience

Professional level of knowledge needed in specialized field, equivalent to that which would be acquired by completing a four-year college program and one to two years job related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Demands of Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel; reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate