AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

Grief is how we respond to a loss. The first thing that may come to mind when we think of grief is the loss of a loved one, but the stages of grief also apply to a much wider range of losses. To varying degrees, losing a friendship, an opportunity, or having to make peace with not achieving a goal we had for ourselves are all losses we must deal with in life and to which most of the grieving stages apply.

In the fall of 2022, I treated a cellulose acetate negative and ended up damaging the object beyond any possible use. Reviewing that treatment and how I reacted both professionally and personally to the situation allowed me to realize that I was grieving the loss of the object that was under my care and responsibility.

This presentation explores how the 'Seven Stages of Grief' model, developed in the field of psychology in the 1960s, applies to how a conservator might react and feel when conservation treatment ends up causing more harm than good. This philosophical and ethical reflection aims to normalize and acknowledge the emotional impact of bad outcomes and how it might affect our future decision-making processes in the short and long term for better and for worse. It is also a reminder of the importance of constantly maintaining best practices and adhering to the code of ethics of our profession.