Urban Renaissance Restoration 

Preservation Virginia and Eastern National, Jamestown, VA, Museum Contractor

 Review catalog records in the Interior Collection Management Software (ICMS) to verify accuracy and completeness

Investigate and correct un-catalogged objects and those with missing or duplicate numbers

Researching inaccurate data

Correct errors in accession entries to reflect specific projects and provenances

Determination of the material culture from the prehistoric through to the 19th century

Conserved objects when needed

Performed routine checks monitoring the stability of fragile objects or those needing conservation

Assisted in the display of objects on exhibit at the park's museum, determining light redirection, humidity level assessment, and removing debris and dust 

 

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, Conservator, St. Leonard, MD

Conservator

Paleo Environmental Lab – Preparation and placement of animal remains for scientific observation and paleo comparable studies

Created electronic database and storage facility according to the Linnaean classification system

Elimination of dermestids by freeze drier chamber isolation

Removal of flesh and cartilage upon immersion into deionized water and biological detergent solutions such as papain

Identification of specimen bone structures

Placement of skeleton in acid free archival storage units

Tested procedures for degreasing methods including ammonia, household chlorine, and peroxide

 

Treatment Lab – Condition reporting and treatment proposals for Addison Plantation (Oxon Hill, MD) slave site collection containing 250,000 ceramics, copper alloy, bronze, iron, wood objects

Cleaned and removed previously applied adhesive and application of consolidant to preserve prehistoric ceramic bowls, rims, plates and vases

Utilized vacuum dessicator holding containers of 1% benzotriazole for copper alloy corrosion inhibition

Dental scaler, dremel and air abrasive machinery for mechanical removal of concretions

Billed and invoiced clients for services rendered for treatment and assessment

 

Lead Conservator, Manager, (Contractual project) 

Restoration of artifacts found at the Jamestown Colony site in Virginia consisting of iron, wood, and ceramic material totaling 42,500 objects dating the 1600s Colonial period

affected by Hurricane Isabel flooding in 2003

Assessment and examination of material corrosion level microscopically, using x-radiography, employing tactile and visual observation

Cleaning ceramic objects using acetone and performing consolidation using Paraloid B72

Dewaxing of wax layers on iron using still solvent recycling system and desalination in 1 percent of sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

Checked humidity levels to determine suitability for storage

Placed objects in acid free paper, escal bags, and collection boxes for storage

Organized storage by category of object, catalog number and conditions

Tested solutions for chloride and the pH level readings during object immersion

Coated objects in 10% Acryloid B67/B48 in ethanol and xylene

Dewaxed wood artifacts by room temperature xylene immersion; vacuumed barrel stave wood artifacts using a Hepa Vac; applied 10% Butvar coating and 30% for consolidation

Data entry of observations of the objects into laboratory database for tracking and inventory purposes

Deposition of hazardous waste in chemical tanks including sodium hydroxide,

polyethylene glycol (PEG), and xylene

 

Assistant Conservator, (Contractual project)

Managing and ordering of supplies and maintenance of mechanical machinery needed for treatment, i.e., solvent recycling still

Organized deliveries of objects and meetings with the National Park Service for discussion of project status, treatment completion projections, and budgetary concerns

Assigned tasks for contractual conservators and volunteers working on the project

Performing research of treatment and re-treatment of irons after brackish water flooding

Preparing objects for client pickup using appropriate safety precautions with use of ethafoam, acid free paper and boxes for packaging

Photographed black and white and color photographs for before and after treatment documentation using a 33mm camera (TMAX and Kodachrome film) and a digital camera in RAW, FINE and JPEG formats

 

Monument and Architectural Conservation

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World War I Monument Restoration, Frederick, Maryland, Maryland Military Monument Commission

Application of cold paste and heating source (blow torch) used as a final coating to the name plaques of the statue’s base; provided protection for the stone against the metal

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Four Panther Monument. 16th Street, NW and Arkansas Avenue, Washington, DC

Utilization of liver sulfide using a heating source against the patina; combined wax and subsequently cold paste with heating source to coat structures; assisted in the construction of a scaffolding using 2x4 and 4 x8 plywood planks

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Boy Scouts of America Monument, Washington, DC, White House Administration

Coated microcrystalline wax with heating source against medallion objects later intended to be set in stone; mixture and application of pigment and wax to fill in areas of color loss

St. Anne’s Parrish, Annapolis, Maryland, 17th century cemetery head stones

Cleaned cemetery stones with deionized water; removed concrete and mortar from original stone areas using an air scribe machine

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Walters Art Museum, Conservation and Education Intern, Baltimore, Maryland 

Assisted head conservator in cleaning of paintings and Louis XIV gilded frames

Documented condition and treated of works created by Franciso Goya, Jean Baptist Camille Corot,

Joseph Mallord William Turner and a Bellini copy

Applied gesso consisting of a Kaolin and rabbit skin glue mixture or Paraloid B-72 to fill in areas of loss located on the surfaces and edges of the frames

Conducted group tours of current exhibits

Aided in program planning of public seminars educating museum visitors regarding historical facts of artworks present in the museum

Tracking visitor traffic and surveying visitor reactions to specific exhibits 

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Teaching Assistantship, Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy

Instructed students on the processes and ethical practices of restoration using Italian methodologies

Helped students to document incoming artwork to establish cleaning, consolidation,

relining (starch and pasta compositions), stretching, and retouching requirements

Created and organized chemical solvents containing DMSO, alcohol, petroleum

Provided retouching varnish and gauche colors with isopropyl alcohol, turpentine and xylene

Organized lesson plans, slide projections, and field excursions relating to restoration

Budgeted costs of materials and excursions intended for class instruction

Assisted senior restorer and professor in determining final grade reviews