Elle Friedberg
Community
I am passionate about collaboration and accessibility in art conservation practices. The following projects highlight some of my community engagement, outreach, workshop participation, and blog writing experiences.
Community Engagement
William Way LGBT Community Center is a not-for-profit organization that has supported the LGBTQ community in Philadelphia through arts and culture, empowerment, and community connections since 1974. They serve as a resource for peer counseling and support groups, among much more. William Way also has a library, archives, art collection, and art gallery.
​
In the winter of 2023, I worked in collaboration with the Director of the John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, John Anderies, to rehouse the three-dimensional objects in their art collection in preparation for a large-scale move. This project taught me the impact of collections care activities and gave me an opportunity to create my own self-driven project within my local community.
Portion of art collection stored in cardboard bankers boxes and wrapped in bubble wrap.
In progress reshousing into custom made Blueboard boxes with Volara foam.
Outreach
Starting from my time as a pre-program intern, I have enjoyed having conversations with high school and undergraduate students about art conservation. In addition to engaging with the community through talks and lab tours, I hope to be involved with supporting pre-program students in my future work.
Speaking to Wellesley College Davis Museum Summer Interns about a frame treatment in the Worcester Art Museum conservation lab (Jun 2019).
My classmate Alyssa Rina and I speaking to Massachusetts high school students on Zoom (Oct 2021).
Workshop participation
I have had the opportunity to expand upon my conservation hand skills and knowledge by attending workshops in-person and virtually.
Color Theory for Conservators Two-Day Workshop held at the Dartmouth College Library Preservation Services and organized by the New England Conservation Association (August 2019).
Artist Interview Workshop led by Jen Mergel and Sam Redman of Voices in Contemporary Art (Oct 2021).
Rigging Basics for Conservation Professionals Three-Day Workshop at the Penn Museum Conservation Annex Lab (October 2022).
Sandcasting workshop at Peters Valley Craft School (June 2023).
Glass Objects Conservation Workshop at the Seattle Art Museum (May 2023).
Woodworking workshop at Philadelphia Woodworks (November 2022).
Blog Writing
During my pre-program internship at the Worcester Art Museum when we were working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote several blog articles about conservation treatment projects. These were published on the Worcester Art Museum website.
Please click on icon for link to each blog post.
Conservation of "Paul Revere" by Charles de Saint-Mémin
Conserving a Nipmuc Storage Basket Using Unexpected Materials
The Global Influence of Blue and White Ceramics
Carefully Conserving a Museum Treasure: the Worcester Hunt Mosaic
WAM Updates webpage. Image: Worcester Art Museum.