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Summer Work Opportunities

Although we do not require that students participate in summer work projects, we do encourage them to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them. Since the inception of the program, Conservation Center students have worked at Institute-sponsored excavations, such as those of Samothrace in Greece, and Aphrodisias, in Turkey. In addition, our students serve as the conservation team at the Harvard-sponsored excavation in Sardis, Turkey. Similarly, they have worked at museums both in the United States and abroad, for historic houses, at such American icons as the Washington Monument, and at New York University’s Florentine campus, Villa La Pietra.

Students who choose to work at archaeological sites participate in treatment of newly excavated materials (including metals, ceramics, glass, wallpainting, mosaics and stone), treatment of previously excavated and treated objects currently in storage or in on-site museums, as well as consultation with archaeologists and other specialists on handling and storage issues. They are encouraged to think independently in designing and undertaking treatments, in order to gain experience in the application of techniques learned in the seminars to new and changing “real life” situations. In addition to treatment, students also have the opportunity to assess the success of past conservation treatments.

Villa La Pietra is another locale for summer work projects for our students. The Villa was bequeathed to the University, along with its art collection, in 1994. With the gift, the University became responsible for the care of the collection and recruited conservators affiliated with the Conservation Center to oversee its treatment. Student involvement is a major component of our efforts there. This year, with the support of the Solow Art and Architecture Foundation, seven students assisted in the re-installation of the collection after the completion of a massive architectural restoration project. Students performed remedial treatments and were able to participate in a large-scale exhibition effort.

Because the Villa’s collection is so vast and is comprised of a wide variety of materials, there is literally an endless supply of learning prospects for the students. It also provides a unique opportunity as a majority of the objects were not been treated, or were minimally treated during the 20th century. Therefore, students can see 18th and 19th century restorations first hand, without the intervention of modern aesthetics, as well as the effects of environment and handling on art objects.