Katie Bonanno Takes on Art Preservation Project at University of Delaware

NEWARK, DE (03/07/2012)(readMedia)-- For anyone who's interested in visiting locations on the University of Delaware campus focused on the arts or history, a new resource has been created-thanks to a group of art conservation students and a couple of bronze goats.

As part of their Care and Preservation of Cultural Property course, the undergraduate conservation students undertook the preservation project of a sculpture of Nubian goats by André Harvey, located on the South Green across from Perkins Student Center. It was the first preservation work done on the sculpture in 10 years.

The project took two weeks to complete, with the students having to accommodate the weather due to the sensitive materials they were using to care for the sculpture.

The piece is a pair of bronze Nubian nanny goats created by the internationally known Harvey, of Rockland, Del. It was installed in 2001 in the Grove, near Alison Hall, and was given by Naomi and the late Edward Jefferson in memory of their sons. The goats, Lucinda and Chloe, have nametags and goat bells with clappers that ring.

In addition to their preservation work on the sculpture, the students also completed outreach projects to educate the UD community about art conservation and appreciation by outlining the several artistic and historically significant sites on a map of campus. The sites can be viewed by selecting "Arts and History at UD" from the dropdown menu at this website and then clicking on any of the pinpoints.

Once users select a specific location, they can view a picture and brief description. Highlighted on the map are such attractions as the Historic Costume and Textiles Collection in Alison Hall West and the Mineralogical Museum in Penny Hall. In addition to the map, the students created a podcast about the sites.

Students described the overall project as a valuable hands-on learning experience as well as a useful experience when seeking future internships in the field. Katie Bonanno, a sophomore in the art conversation major, called the opportunity to work on the sculpture "an awesome opportunity."

"Not only was the project great for gaining experience in the conservation field, but it was also wonderful to be able to work in a group on the project. Some students were able to meet and interview the artist, and we all created outreach projects," Bonanno said.

"The project was a perfect opportunity to gain experience and raise UD awareness for the arts and art conservation in particular. It was also great to be able to give back to the UD community in our treatment of the sculpture."

In addition to their preservation work on the goats sculpture, art conservation undergraduates have undertaken other projects on campus, including helping to revive the terracotta mural in Spencer Laboratory.