New and Old Traditions
Debra Hess Norris, Chair and Professor of Photograph Conservation, Art Conservation Department, Unidel Henry Francis du Pont Chair, and Director of WUDPAC, and Carol Cadou, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Winterthur, gave the welcoming remarks on day one, with Gregory Landrey, Director of Academic Affairs at Winterthur and Affiliated Associate Professor for WUDPAC closing out the day. Day two opened once again with Norris, who was joined by University of Delaware Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. John Pelesko. The final day ended with a series of presentations. First up, was Society of Winterthur Fellows President, Andrew Richmond and Membership Officer, Lara Kaplan, who welcomed the graduates as new members of the Society.
Next, Katie Shulman, President of the incoming WUDPAC Class of 2023, continued the tradition of gifts from the incoming class to the graduating class. This year, rather than a tangible present for each graduating student, the students raised funds in the graduates' honor for Museum Hue, noting:
We recognize that this is not a normal year to be graduating, and we thought that the gift-giving tradition should evolve to be more fitting for the historical moment we are experiencing. We want to celebrate the class of 2020, but in a different fashion than in prior years. In lieu of a tangible gift, the class of 2023 would like to make a donation in honor of the class of 2020 to Museum Hue, an organization chosen by the graduating class. We respect WUDPAC's long-standing tradition and hope that donating to a charitable cause in honor of those graduating can become a newfound tradition sparked by a desire to commit to long-term social justice change within the field.
Founded and run by two Black women, "Museum Hue is an arts platform for people of color. We craft a welcoming, creative environment that encourages exploration, investigation, collaboration, imagination, and creation in museums throughout major cities, countrysides, and everywhere in between."
Shulman revealed that as of August 19th, her class had raised a grand total of $1,083! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful and important organization. Julianna Ly, President of the Class of 2020, then thanked the Class of 2020 as well as everyone who helped her and her classmates along their conservation education journey.
Finally, Debra Hess Norris delivered her final remarks, reflecting the challenges of our current moment:
Your work across the cultural heritage sector—your honesty, bravery, and strength—will promote diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, address systemic racism, foster joy, and well-being, and give voice to the voiceless. And while art and culture alone cannot protect us from a pandemic, they are a necessity, connecting us worldwide as human beings during this time of uncertainty. And forever. They give us hope.
The final day concluded with a retrospective video, created by Karissa Muratore, Class of 2020.
The presentations were recorded and will be posted on the Art Conservation Department Website once they have been edited. Many thanks to the University of Delaware's George Watson, Technical Operations Supervisor, and Madeline Hagerman, Instructor in Art Conservation. for their logistical and technological help and organization. Stay tuned!
UPDATE: The following two videos are recordings of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation Class of 2020's final presentations, hosted on Zoom Webinars on August 18-19, 2020.
Day 1Day 2
