Summer.

I am currently at the airport in Washington DC, awaiting a flight to Chicago. My hyper-paranoia about missing the plane has brought me here exceptionally early, but it has also finally allowed me a minute to think and, more importantly, write.

I have recently started an internship at the University of Virginia. When I first told people about my internship in Charlottesville, everyone in libraries immediately asked if it had anything to do with the Rare Book School. It did not. That being said, thanks to my proximity to the Rare Book School, I think I will be able to learn a lot more about the world of book people: conservators, collectors and craftsmen. Virginia has proven to be an exciting place to work, and not just because of the University’s presidential controversy currently trending in the news.  It’s a really great location, right in the Blue Ridge, with a really impressive history. As a more-or-less native Illinoisan, the state of Virginia is flooded with American history by comparison. We may be the land of Lincoln, but Virginia is the land of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, pretty much everyone except Benjamin Franklin….

Needless to say, the collection reflects this rich history, and its been interesting just get a peak into it. Next Post: my work at UVa….?

Always Excited

Paul Revere's Work Found in Brown's Library

I'm always excited when I see book conservation in the news. It, well, never happens, but here it is! Most of the time, people do not understand what I want to do, what my day consists of, etc. But this shows how fun and exciting the field really is.


Also, I am going to Buffalo. I guess that's important, too! :0)

the least likely of outcomes...

I have exciting news. But also overwhelming news. I have been accepted to two programs in conservation. Now, it is up to me to choose.

As I wrote in previous posts, I liked all of the programs. I would be happy attending any of them. I don't want to say no to anyone. I really did not expect this to be the outcome. I was told no one gets into more than one program and no one gets in on their first try....lies, apparently.

Either way, I will regret my choice but be very excited. I am ALMOST at the point of making my decision, I told myself I'd wait until Friday, so that those on the wait list would have to wait no longer. Needless to say, I am still settling into the idea of leaving my beloved Chicago, which is now clearly inevitable, but also really figuring out what I want from a program and from life...

A Brief Note

So, grad school decisions will be announced on Monday, April 16. There is a huge chance I will NOT be accepted this year. If this happens, I will keep chugging along and reapply next year.This is not a defeatest attitude, just a realistic one.  All in all, my interview experiences were great, and I would be happy to be accepted into any of the programs. I also understand if I am not accepted into any, the competition is stiff. Congrats to those who are accepted. I wish you all the best!

My Third (Graduate School) Interview

Last, BUT NOT LEAST, I just came back from Buffalo and the Buffalo State Art Conservation Program, and it was quite an adventure. Unlike the other two programs, I had never visited Buffalo before, due to one major reason: I know no one anywhere near Buffalo. Well, I finally made it to Buffalo, for a very great reason, to interview at the program. I can honestly say I very much enjoyed Buffalo, or at least what I saw of it, which pretty much consisted of the conservation program at Buffalo State College and the surrounding neighborhood (Also the airport? But that never counts).

The interview itself was exactly as described on the website, a presentation of my conservation and art portfolio with questions. It was a conversation, and a friendly one. I was lucky to stay with a student-host who told me a bit about his experience in Buffalo. What he mentioned is something I think can be applied to the program, "it's friendly here."

The labs at Buffalo are currently being remodeled, so I was only able to see a portion of the facilities, and everything seemed great. Located on campus, the program is also directly across the street from the Albright Knox Gallery. Its surrounded by life, and seems to be buzzing with lively students and art enthusiasts. Because Buffalo used to be such a wealthy city, it has a lot of history, and the conservation program puts that to use, utilizing collections within the city as learning opportunities for the students.

The program itself is a community, of faculty and students, who work side by side together and support each other throughout the long hours in the labs. Professors are full time employees and work as mentors for the students lucky enough to be in the program.  The program is intensive, you live your life in the labs, so inevitably you become close with your fellow conservators in training.

I had a really wonderful time in Buffalo, although I did not have time to get buffalo wings at the Anchor Bar. Ultimately, it's a great program and congrats to those who will be accepted. We shall see if I am lucky enough to be one of them.

My Second (Graduate School) Interview

I would like to begin by admitting I am behind. I have just returned from my THIRD interview, but have not talked about my second one, so first I will do that. Alright, that means this post is about NYU.

The New York University Conservation Center is a really wonderful program that offers a very different approach to graduate studies in conservation. Unlike the other two program, New York University's conservation program is actually a degree in Art History and a certificate program in Conservation, so it's essentially a dual degree. It has the same conservation core classes, and a BEAUTIFUL lab/building that is located in a historic home on the upper east side on Manhattan, but it also asks students to take a variety of Art History courses, at an even more incredible building down the street. It is also an additional year of study: three years of coursework with a fourth year internship (as opposed to a two year program with a third year internship)...so what does this all mean?

Well, it terms of Art History, you can't be anywhere better than New York City, obviously. The NYU program offers a lot of opportunities for students, with flexibility for students in terms of coursework and interests. You can do a lot with what the program provides you--its New York, the opportunities are endless, as are the bagels.

The students and staff at the program were incredibly helpful and honest about their experiences in the program and in the city. New York itself plays a lot into the program, conservators at area institutions help students, and students often work at local conservation labs to help make ends meet. It really allows someone to get fully entrenched in New York's conservation community while also receiving a great, well rounded education. And taking art history classes all the while not only informs your treatment, but is just plain fun.

The NYU program is really wonderful and offers a very different take on conservation training while maintaining all the traditional needs and courseload. It also happens to be in an amazing city with a wonderfully glamorous school. No big deal (very big deal). Ultimately, it's a great program and congrats to those who will be accepted. We shall see if I am lucky enough to be one of them.

My First (Graduate School) Interview

I woke up on the couch today to the smell of Sunday morning breakfast, coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches. Having collapsed in the living room after my flight, I have finally gotten back to Chicago, after a whirlwind tour of the east coast, with a very important stop in Wilmington, DE.

So, I interviewed at the Winterthur/University of Delaware conservation program last week. No big deal (it was a very big deal for me). I fear to tell too much, but I will reveal one thing, it is a really wonderful institution and considering that amount of fear and sleeplessness I suffered beforehand, I felt alright during/after the interview. My interview, well, we will see how that went. I felt alright, but I really don't want to jinx it, and its very competitive, and they only take ten people of the thirty they interview, and a thousand other things, so at this point, I will try as best as I can to NOT review and reassess every intimate detail of the hour long presentation/interview for the 9 members of the interview committee and continue on in conservation, working with my mentors and learning everything I can and trying to be the best pre-program conservation intern I can be and etc. etc. (and BREATHE) What I will talk about is the overall experience and vibe of the place.

First off...The Winterthur Program is beautiful, I believe I mentioned this when I visited on portfolio day, but it is located on amazing grounds, part of the Winterthur Estate, and this early in the spring, flowers were already blooming. It's really wonderful stuff. I was able to walk around a bit before my actual interview, and it calmed me down, the rolling hills and daffodils.

The people are really friendly. I was able to stay with a student, my host for the interview, who was then in charge of keeping me on time and at the right place, whenever I needed to go take an exam or test. So, ultimately, she was my personal guide and guru, and as a successful applicant, she gave me wonderful tips, that I have to say, really enabled me to relax and enjoy the experience.

The facilities are very nice. The instructors are extremely educated in their respective areas of expertise. Everyone there is passionate about conservation, something that's always inspirational to see.

Ultimately, the interview was intense, with a writing exam, a color blindness exam, a chemistry exam, a drawing exam and the interview itself. In many ways, this is a reflection of the program: they want to find the best students, and push those students to the limit. I mean this in the best way possible. The program is intensive, but ultimately, produces incredible conservators. Congrats to those who will be accepted. We shall see if I am lucky enough to be one of them.