Wednesday, October 28, 5:30pm

“The Story an Object Can Tell: A Conservator’s Perspective on African Art”

A lecture by Harriet ‘Rae’ Beaubien, Senior Conservator

Live stream the lecture here: https://vod.unm.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/catalogs/ms-shop-the-story-an-object-can-tell-a-conservators-perspective-on-african-art

With insights from investigations of features, including unusual component materials and ritual applications, of objects belonging to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, Rae will discuss her recent review of African items in the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology’s collection – some now on view in the Sowing Seeds in the Garden exhibit at the University Art Museum. In sharing her processes she will provide a conservator’s perspective in piecing together the events in an object’s life history.

Harriet ‘Rae’ Beaubien is an objects conservator who, until her move to New Mexico in 2014, was on staff at the Museum Conservation Instiute [MCI] – one of 9 research centers of the Smithsonian Institution – for more than 25 years, the last 6 as its head of conservation. In collaboration with research, curatorial and conservation colleagues from the Smithsonian’s 19 museums, MCI provides scientific and conservation expertise, and instrumental analytical support, to investigate the materials and address the preservation issues of their collections.

INSIGHTS: University of New Mexico Art Museum | Distinguished Lecture Series Fall 2015