Care of Paper Artifacts/The Sleepaway Camp for Conservators

I was really lucky to take a student assistant position at the Campbell Center this past week. One of the conservators at Northwestern teaches a class called the Care of Paper Artifacts, and she offered that I come with her and "assist" while also getting to take the class for myself. While most of the lab work we did was a review from the past six months at Northwestern, a lot of the lecture was new information to me. It was, overall, a very great experience.

WARNING: I will now go on a tangent about the Cambpell Center.

The Campbell Center is a small but amazing institution located in Mt. Carroll, IL about 3 hours west of Chicago. It is run out of the few buildings that used to be Shimer College (a school that still exists, on the IIT campus).  The center offers courses on historic preservation, collections care and conservation. Its a small place, and everyone gets to know everyone. You live there-- sleep in dorms, eat meals together and explore the area together.  Its really great.

I had heard about the Campbell Center my senior year of college, when I really started working in conservation. I remember flipping through the catalog, and eyeing the paper conservation classes, hoping that one day I could afford to take them (there are scholarships offered, and many of the classes are reasonably priced, but I was indecisive and about to graduate, so I did not investigate further). It really is amazing that a little over one year later, I am taking the course for free, and helping other people in the class with things like building passive humidification chambers and poulticing with methyl cellulose. 

The course was a very solid introduction to paper conservation techniques, ethics and history. The students came from all walks of life, some were librarians and teachers, others were technicians and preparators and everyone was very interested. It was interesting to see other people deal with the methods I had been taught, and exciting to discuss conservation with other people interested in the field. 

The truth is, the Campbell Center is a small place, and a non-for-profit, and in a small town in western Illinois. It is also a really special place, where people who love history and art can come together and talk and learn about the best way to care for our history and preserve our past. Also, all the instructors are very respected in their field, so its not in any way backwoods and shady (which in the wild west of conservation/restoration, is something you may stumble upon).

I had a great time and recommend anyone interested in learning more about specific topics in conservation or preservation checking out this great place. 

Quite a Whirlwind...

I was really lucky to be able to go to the Winterthur/University of Delaware Portfolio day this past week, along with a small side trip to New York City. Turns out, it was a lot of fun and very educational in the sense that is showed me what EXACTLY is expected of my application to grad programs.

The Winterthur Program at the University of Delaware is on its own small estate, formerly owned by the Du Pont family. Its a wonderful museum, and a really beautifully landscaped estate. The grounds of the Winterthur are very historical, and you get a sense that this is is exactly what a program called the Witherthur should look like. What I'm trying to say is its SOOO FANCY! haha.

I was able to tour the various labs, and speak with some first year fellows in the conservation program, including meeting Heather from Repair The Tear, who was super helpful in telling me all about her pre-program experience.

Moral of the story: its a lot. You have to be prepared to answer in depth questions. You have to really want it. You have to be a chemist, an artist, an art historian. You have to be prepared to devote yourself to conservation. I am ready, emotionally. Now it all comes down to compiling/creating a really compelling portfolio, with lots of reporting and research, along with actually applying.

:0)

I will be assisting a paper conservation class at the Campbell Center next week, so I'll hopefully post again about my experiences there. Photos from my trip still to come.

Excited, but tired.

I love things that happen at the last minute....I hate them but I love them. Well my internship at Northwestern was SUPPOSED to end the 1st of this month, then, on the 28th of August, I get called to the preservation director's office. My heart starts beating fast, and I don't want to jump to conclusions, but in shocking twist, things worked out. They offered to extend my position until December. I said yes. YES!! haha. I may have been a bit loud considering the library atmosphere. I was very excited.

I should mention, that I really really REALLY am thankful for Northwestern. They want me to go to grad school almost as much as I do. The conservators are so supportive and friendly, the atmosphere is similarly so. They're truly a great set up and I cannot believe how lucky I am to have this opportunity.

Now that means I will be taking three studio art classes, interning and volunteering, not to mention I have yet to take the GREs and will be slowly putting together my actual program applications. Oh life. So intense.

Anyways, I am extremely excited, and now looking forward to my visit to the Winterthur programs portfolio day NEXT WEEK, but I am tired, trying to finish things, and catch up, even though the semester has only started. AAHH life, it never stops.