WEBINAR – Behind the Collection’s Curtain: Conservation Ethics and Logistics of Thomas Cole’s “Solitary Lake in New Hampshire”

Did you know Olana State Historic Site’s collection contains over 90,000 objects and archival documents? Learn more about how this expansive collection is maintained, cared for, and shared with the public during this webinar with two conservators from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Elizabeth Robson and Lauren Ross. The conservators will provide their insight on the treatment considerations and technical aspects of conserving and lending one of Olana’s collection objects, Solitary Lake in New Hampshire by Frederic Church’s esteemed teacher Thomas Cole. The webinar will focus on this particular painting and its frame but also highlight how Olana’s historic collection can provide important lenses into the past while connecting with diverse, contemporary audiences.

Elizabeth Robson is the Paintings Conservator for New York State’s Bureau of Historic Sites. She received a master’s degree in art conservation from SUNY Buffalo State University, and has trained at institutions such as the Saint Louis Art Museum, Colonial Williamsburg, and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Lauren Ross is the Conservator of Frames and Gilded Objects for New York State’s Bureau of Historic Sites, with over 25 years of experience working with museum collections. She previously worked at the Baltimore Museum of Art for 22 years. Ross is a bench-trained conservator and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute/College of Art and has received specialized training in recognized conservation programs, both national and international.