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Art Conservation at the History Center
February 2, 2015, 10 a.m.–February 6, 2015, 5 p.m.
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The Oklahoma History Center will highlight the importance of artifact conservation by inviting the public to view the step by step process of conserving a painting Monday, February 2, through Friday, February 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The painting to be conserved is Elizabeth Jane’s “Trail of Tears” that was completed in 1938 as part of the requirements for her master of arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. It was donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1940 and was displayed almost continuously in the Oklahoma Historical Society’s previous home, the Wiley Post Building, for more than 60 years.
Carmen Bria, director and chief conservator of the Western Center for the Conservation of Fine Arts (WCCFA), a Denver based firm, will be in charge of the project. As he works, supported by museum staff, Bria will explain how his preventative conservation approach is applied, including techniques for proper care, handling and storage of the artwork. Conservation treatment will include cleaning the painted surface, repairing small punctures, and creating a new stretcher to support the painting for many years to come.
