A conservators’ first step is to examine the materials, construction, and cultural context of artifacts. This ensures a full understanding of the objects, allowing us to consider any ethical implications of our work prior to any potential treatment. This is also one of the first ideas that we teach to aspiring conservators. To facilitate this, in early 2020, Bryn Mawr College loaned four toys constructed primarily from colorful flip-flop sandals to the University of Delaware for use in an undergraduate-level course in art conservation. The course centered on learning how to document artifacts, studying materials used in the manufacture of art, and recognizing condition issues. The flip-flop toys provided rich material for investigating each of these areas and challenged students to capture these complicated structures in a report. Furthermore, the students were tasked with putting these artifacts into context. Although they were resourceful in finding references about the artist, it...
The Flip-flop Toys of Saarenald T. S. Yaawaisan in the Bryn Mawr Art and Artifact Collections
Nina Owczarek (she/her) is an assistant professor at the University of Delaware in the Art Conservation Department. Prior to her current appointment, she was associate conservator at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum), where she worked for nine years. She is a graduate of the Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Owczarek served as secretary/treasurer for the Object Specialty Group (2016–2020) and was on the Education and Training Committee (member 2014–2020, vice chair 2018, chair 2019) for the American Institute for Conservation, where she is a Fellow member. [email protected]
Madeline Hagerman (she/her) is the director of the undergraduate art conservation program and an assistant professor at the University of Delaware (UD). Before transitioning to UD, she served as an assistant objects conservator and affiliated assistant professor at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. She received both her MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums and her MA in the Principles of Conservation from University College London. Hagerman serves as assistant coordinating officer for the ICOM-CC Education and Training Working Group. [email protected]
Nina Owczarek (she/her) is an assistant professor at the University of Delaware in the Art Conservation Department. Prior to her current appointment, she was associate conservator at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum), where she worked for nine years. She is a graduate of the Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. Owczarek served as secretary/treasurer for the Object Specialty Group (2016–2020) and was on the Education and Training Committee (member 2014–2020, vice chair 2018, chair 2019) for the American Institute for Conservation, where she is a Fellow member. [email protected]
Madeline Hagerman (she/her) is the director of the undergraduate art conservation program and an assistant professor at the University of Delaware (UD). Before transitioning to UD, she served as an assistant objects conservator and affiliated assistant professor at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. She received both her MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums and her MA in the Principles of Conservation from University College London. Hagerman serves as assistant coordinating officer for the ICOM-CC Education and Training Working Group. [email protected]
Nina Owczarek, Madeline Hagerman; The Flip-flop Toys of Saarenald T. S. Yaawaisan in the Bryn Mawr Art and Artifact Collections. African Arts 2023; 56 (1): 20–25. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/afar_a_00695
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