AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

A cohort of eight Wilmington community members comprise the pilot program of the Public Art Stewardship Workforce Training Program. These members are local artists, activists, leaders, and community builders. Over the course of 6-months, the cohort has learned documentation and conservation fundamentals in order to execute a large-scale conservation survey of 20 works of art around Wilmington and recommend preservation options for their care. The key to navigating so many moving parts was building a curriculum with flexible content and scheduling that could allow for adjustments when necessary while still moving the group forward.

Housed at the Delaware Art Museum, the grant-funded project aimed to solve two problems at the same time: support the aging artwork throughout Wilmington, and support the learning and employment goals of local Wilmington artists. With the support of conservator Margalit Schindler, the inaugural group shattered stereotypes by showcasing the abilities of diverse Wilmington locals to learn and act as caretakers for the city’s public art. The cohort brought together lived experiences and proficiencies to set the foundation of a progressive conservation curriculum, while navigating the inherent complexities of developing something new.

By working together to understand aspects of technology, fabrication, composition, degradation, and conservation of public art objects at the chemical level, the cohort completed a comprehensive conservation survey. Participants gained academic and hands-on skills including condition reporting, photographic and written documentation, data management, and basic maintenance of outdoor artworks. Participants, who range in age from 19 to 41 and span many walks of life, learned and executed graduate level condition reports after being introduced to conservation mere months prior. Additionally, they compiled their detailed findings into a database, which is publicly accessible online.

As the Program Conservator, Margalit was responsible for building, delivering, and executing a curriculum that could meet all participants where they are and provide a solid foundation in conservation ethics, resources, priorities, and basic materials science. Additionally, they managed the logistics of scheduling, transportation, supplies, and navigating with the cohort throughout the city as the group surveyed objects on site.

The only certain thing about this project was the guaranteed uncertainty of each day. From extreme heat and air quality advisories, to childcare falling through and the loss of a parent, the participants faced many unexpected challenges this summer. However, the biggest lesson is that not all uncertainties are created equal. Some you have no control over (weather, health, how and when other people respond, for example). There are times, however, when there is plenty within your control to plan and prepare for known uncertainty when it comes. Some examples include preparing a full curriculum ahead of time in order to pull appropriate content as it comes, changing the day’s activities based on who is in attendance to avoid falling behind, gathering useful supplies ahead of time, and even scouting out public bathrooms near our site visits. This organizational system allowed for the flexibility necessary to pivot last minute when faced with the uncertainties over which we had no power.