WUDPAC First Year
For our first year at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC) we spend two to three weeks (called the ‘block system’) studying each conservation specialization: preventive, paper, library/book, organic objects, wood/furniture, photography, painting, inorganic objects, and textiles. In addition to these courses, we take two year-long science courses, one focused on theory and another on implementation.
Preventive Block
Making a hat mount during Preventive Block.
Photo credit: Jess Ortegon
Library Block
Trying my hand at rebinding a book during Library Block.
Wood Block
A condition map of a painted wooden chest (Winterthur Museum, Library & Gardens; 1967.0693) performed in collaboration with Jess Ortegon during Wood Block.
Photo Block
Setting up photographs to dry after a mock water event in order to practice salvage procedures during Photo Block.
Photo credit: WUDPAC Class of 2022
Inorganic Block
In process image of ceramic bowl reconstruction during Inorganic Objects Block.
In the block structure, we are able to perform in-depth research projects. They are often more theoretical in nature, however, there are hands-on activities as well. Each block involves at least one large project that usually ends with a treatment proposal. These proposals may be used in the future by second-year students performing treatment. Click the images for an example of a project or documentation from each block.
Paper Block
Image of paper before (left) and after (right) bathing under raking light, which is a light source from the side. This allows the texture and cockling of the paper to be documented via photography. This documentation took place during Paper Block.
Organic Objects Block
A leather baby shoe before humidification during Organics Block.
The same shoe after humidification during Organics Block.
Paintings Block
A micrograph of a paint cross-section, demonstrating how the artist built up layers as he painted. (Winterthur Museum, Garden &Library. GACP1751)
(Virtual) Textile Block
Textile Block took place safely from home at the beginning of the 2019 COVID-19 shut down. Study objects were borrowed by the students for the documentation projects and returned when safe in 2020.
Photo credit: Bri Karamol-Gibson