adminArt has been around for thousands of years dating back to ancient times with Egypt, Rome, and even cave drawings. Each of these times art can still be observed and looked at within museums whether it be art or history like Natural History Museum or The Met. These pieces are usually kept within barriers to keep them protected from outside stressors and conditions such as air pollutants and oxidation on the photography and paintings. It is quite interesting how much can affect these pieces and how much work goes into restoring them to their right way view. All the time and delicate workings, the endless effort with tiny hand moments to ensure that no mistake is made is insane.
Kate Lewis a conservationist at The Met has been in this field of work for many years originally within England where she had moved around for 20 years. However, her specialty within conservation is media, which I had no idea existed until reading upon her. It is fascinating how each medium can have its own room and treatment and of course its process. The varying room and equipment makes sense for its materials differ from each other and can cause more harm when mixed such as photography and acrylic and/or oil painting.
https://www.moma.org/collection/about/conservation/
Additionally, the way that each conservationist feels confident or gives off the appearance and air of confidence when working with these famous pieces is mind blowing. For me, at least, I would be out of my head thinking I was in another universe, world, dimension, time, whatever is possible to explain how I am able to touch such a famous and loved piece. Even when looking upon the pieces in the gallery I can’t believe it’s the Starry Night from Van Gogh or Monet’s Water Lilies. It’s all insane seeing the pieces from another time, but touching them, even with gloves on just takes it out of the park.
The other thing that I can’t wrap my head around is when questioned about making mistakes Kate Lewis had no worries and undoubtedly, with absolute confidence responding with no mistakes are made. When doing simple presentations and tiny sketched I sometimes feel like I will make a mistake. Although, I know that their training and course work within school is very specific to fixing the pieces without ever harming them in any way. The thought and effort behind the scenes that are not seen is insane and should be shown some way to allow people to see what they are missing.