The Ooks.com Design Series concludes with input from all three of our experts on the subject of rotating artwork. In this article we will examine the many reasons for rotating art, including aesthetic and conservation reasons. We further explore the many design, lighting, and artistic considerations that are presented by this activity.

Seasonal fluctuations in light, temperature and humidity often necessitate the rotation of fine art. Aesthetically speaking, the design arrangement strives to exhibit art in the optimal light for color, texture, and form. Light synthesizes the observer's experience of the work, with natural light giving the perspective of truest color, texture and form. Artificial light then highlights certain characteristics of the piece while supplementing the natural light. The power of sculpture lies not only with an appreciation of the object, but also with an appreciation for the play of light with the object. Notice the effect of natural light on a sculpture in daylight as it changes with the time of day and season, the sun filling the interior spaces from different angles and to different degrees. Observe any interior space. How do natural light cycles change the design object's color, texture or form?

Designers often agree that the single most important design element is the use of natural and artificial light. Natural light allows us to observe the colors and textures of an artwork because it contains every wavelength in the spectrum, enabling color to be displayed in its truest form. Artificial light provides a light source when natural light is not sufficiently present and provides certain effects in display. Depending on the amount of natural light present in an interior space, the amount and quality of the artificial light will vary as well. Taking notice of your artwork's appearance enables you to continually display the piece in the most flattering light. Gradual seasonal changes may go unnoticed. As the natural light present in interior space changes throughout the year, so does the role of artificial light. You may suddenly wonder why your painting's color does not look as true as before, or why your sculpture now stands in shadow. Conversely, you may find a painting exposed to direct sunlight when it previously was subtly illuminated. Noticing seasonal light shifts and rotating pieces accordingly keeps your collection in optimal aesthetic condition.

Notice the natural sources of light in your interior space. What is available for your display? More specifically, note the presence of certain natural sunlight at various times of the day. If you usually entertain in a room in the late afternoon, check the room's light at that time of the day. Think of the effect of sunlight on a hand-blown glass piece; trace the patterns of sunlight through your interior space. Notice the cyclical nature of the path of sunlight throughout the day. Depending on what time of day the interior space will most likely be inhabited, arrange the art accordingly. Fortunately, many glass and pottery pieces are easily moveable and theoretically could be moved throughout the day, depending on your social calendar.

Once you have identified the light sources, you must then place the piece with special consideration for its proximity. Use the source to illuminate the work, but avoid direct exposure. If a piece stands in direct exposure it is time to rotate it to another position (the same is true if you find it hiding in shadow). While using a light source is necessary for display, direct exposure to natural and/or artificial light will damage the pigments used in paintings and dyed textiles, causing color loss. Damage can occur within a month of improper exposure.

When planning your lighting design with rotation in mind, it is important to utilize a flexible lighting system. Many systems, such as track lighting, are extremely flexible and allow the widest range of positioning. Permanent fixtures such as high-hats will limit the number of positions within a given space. Once the potential positions have been analyzed, the coverage of the lighting space must be adjusted in accordance with the size of the piece. Through the use of a framing projector, a single light source can accommodate paintings of many sizes. Be sure to consider the possibility of glare with every new painting that is hung, as every situation is different. More helpful tips regarding lighting can be found in the Lighting Your Art section of this series.

A second seasonal consideration is the effect of temperature and humidity on fine art, paintings in particular. Obviously a marble sculpture will not suffer the same effects, but a mixed media sculpture might. The recommended climate for paintings and artworks containing pigments and organic materials is room temperature (about sixty-five to seventy degrees Fahrenheit). While brief fluctuations are often unavoidable, maintaining a fifty-percent humidity level is ideal. If a room is too dry or cold, paintings become brittle. Anything above fifty-percent presents the risk of mildew damage. Be especially wary of drafts, moisture accumulation near windows, and cold exterior walls. Only hang a painting on a properly insulated wall, or a wall that has been treated with a vapor barrier. A painting hanging above a functioning fireplace is, of course, in danger of excessive heat and residue from burning substances. While it is perfectly acceptable to hang a painting over a fireplace mantle during spring and summer, the piece must be moved to a different location for fall and winter to avoid the hazards of the fire, as well as the drafts that often issue forth from an open flue. Simply put, all fine art pieces benefit from a stable, moderate environment.

A fortunate side effect of seasonal rotation is the renewed interior space that results from the effort. The rearrangement of a few pieces can create a new focus or spatial awareness. Think of a three-dimensional object - a sculpture. It is not possible to view all sides and angles at once. Rotation gives the observer an opportunity to view the piece from a different perspective. Similarly, a painting can demonstrate a new life in a new lighting or design situation. The entire effect can be quite dramatic, altering extensively a room's theme or concept. Rotating the fine art piece, in conjunction with altering non-permanent design elements such as shades, pillows, curtains, rugs, or tablecloths, can entirely transform a space - not just in form but also in function.

Once it has been decided that rotation is either required or desired, selecting art becomes paramount to uniting the many attributes a changing design scheme requires. Considerations must not only include the owner's reasons for wanting to purchase and display art, but also the many elements of a space's design and the characteristics of the changing seasons. Will art rotation take place gradually, changing a single piece at a time as the light moves through the seasons, or will an entire theme be altered when all the pieces are moved at once? It is important to keep in mind the many physical characteristics of the individual pieces so that they are not damaged as described above.

Once these considerations are made and a theme or series of themes can be determined, it will be possible to decide the nature and content of art one should acquire to facilitate the rotation, or how to best utilize the art one already has access to. If a room's summer rotation includes more sculptures due to humidity and direct light, they could be united in a theme by a single painting or design element. These higher level considerations will ultimately determine the success of the space's design and should be well thought out in advance of rotating the art.

Finally, there are many physical considerations that accompany the rotation of fine art. When rotating paintings, it is important to hold the frame on both sides and carry with both hands at the same level across from one another, all the while avoiding touching the canvas (or other surface media) with your hands. Rotating larger pieces requires planning to minimize the amount of movement and stress placed on the piece. If you decide to store the painting, find a cool, dry space and position the painting in an upright position. Considerations regarding the storing of statues all revolve around stability. It is important that any statue be secured against leaning or tipping, as this is the most likely scenario in which they could be damaged.