Move to Louisiana and updates

Finally moved to Baton Rouge and am settling comfortably in this new way of life. So far, it's proving to be an enlightening situation to say the least. Taking classes at LSU is so different from classes at Spelman; however I am glad that I started out at a small institution and "migrated" to a larger one. I'm currently in the process of seeking out museum/conservation experience and have contacted the LSU Museum of Art (LSUMOA) in hopes that I can secure a volunteer position with their Collections Manager. I am extremely excited about this opportunity because it will give me a chance to experience the diverse collection contained in this museum. Hopefully, I will have time to update this blog periodically as I go through this 2 year journey -- essentially my road to art conservation school.

hopefully... I will get a new phone that doesn't have "cut down" internet, so I can update a lot easier

Photo Preservation Project

I have been employed at the Robert Woodruff Library for the last year on a photograph preservation project. The aim/goal of this project is to preserve photographic materials from the respective Atlanta University Center schools, past and present, for future generations. While majority of the photographs in the collections are chromogenic or silver gelatin based prints, we do have a variety of materials in the collection -- specifically large albumen portraits, lantern slides, cartes de visites and cabinet cards (larger cartes de visites).

My daily/weekly tasks range from conditioning to processing photographic materials for preservation. Currently, my co-workers and I are processing photographs from Clark College, Atlanta University and their amalgamation -- Clark Atlanta University.

While the term of this project is near its end, I will do a sort of "retro" update on what has been done with the collection.

Past Forward

For my lantern slide project, my boss made a short photo-montage video of me and my research. This video includes a voice over of me discussing the lantern slide project and a brief about myself. Below, you can view the video.







Stable link to the Student Profile Page (click here) featuring my biography and the video. This profile resides on the Spelman College website.

Enjoy!

Updates

By next week... this blog would have undergone major renovations. Stay tuned :-)

the task to unmask - here we go!

WE WEAR THE MASK

by: Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

E wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes--

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us while

We wear the mask.

We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries

To Thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

--Update-- Additional Authors

Periodically, I will have additional authors contribute to this blog. Whether it be photographs, information, or updates.

If interested in being an author, message me.

~sbg

Documenting my art conservation experience

Though this blog has been in existence for almost a year now, until today I had no idea what the purpose of this blog was to be.

As a result, I have decided to utilize this space as a way of documenting my conservation and other art related, future career related experiences.

Currently, I work at the Atlanta University Center's Robert W. Woodruff Library as a Student Archives assistant. I am working on a special photograph preservation project and my current assignment is in conjunction with my Independent Study at Spelman College.

I am in the process of putting together a final project proposal to display archival material that is currently within the collection of the Woodruff Library. As I continue through this process... and other projects, I will update this blog. Ideally, I will update everyday. :-) But, we will see!

~sbg