Experience

RISD Museum

• United States
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Textile Conservator

  • Aug 2017 - Present

  • Improve standards of care for the costume and textile collection. Develop creative solutions to house and preserve the Museum's collection of 30,000 textiles with limited staff and space. • Propose and perform conservation treatments, focusing on empathetic, low-intervention stabilizations. Ensure that proper documentation and photography is produced and filed. • Assist with installing objects, dressing mannequins, creating display mounts, and performing exhibition maintenance. Escort objects to other institutions on courier trips, acting on behalf of the institution to ensure safety during transportation. • Train and supervise students, interns, and volunteers to achieve collections care goals with limited staff and budget so that larger projects otherwise outside of our capabilities can be achieved. • Teach classes, coordinate research visits, and facilitate programming to increase access to the collection and understanding of collections care work. Special Projects: "Lost in the Museum." This exhibition presented textiles found in the Museum's collection without tracking numbers or biographical data. As the curator for this show, I sought to make collection care work visible and engaging in the galleries. A stop-motion video, "Objects in Inventory Land," accompanied the exhibition, taking visitors through a surrealist fantasy scene of collections and reconciliation. Collaborations with the Museum's teen group created new narratives for some objects and resulted in the teens curating an additional case in the same gallery. "Preserving the RISD Museum's Lucy Truman Aldrich Collection of Asian Textile Masterworks for Educational Access." As the onsite manager for this NEH CARES Act grant, I supervised the inventory, photography, condition assessment, and rehousing of 900 objects. This grant supported the retention of eleven staff positions during tight financial times produced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Show less



The Preservation Society of Newport County

• United States
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Fellow

  • Sep 2016 - Aug 2017

  I assessed hundreds of objects on long-term display in the houses, authoring condition reports and treatment proposals for furnishing textiles, furniture, and other objects with fabric components. Additionally, I conducted research on the post-market life of textiles in Gilded Age Newport, investigating how summer residents, servants, and itinerant peddlers reused and valued clothing. I also stabilized garments and dressed mannequins for the show "Pierre Cardin: 70 Years of Innovation." I assessed hundreds of objects on long-term display in the houses, authoring condition reports and treatment proposals for furnishing textiles, furniture, and other objects with fabric components. Additionally, I conducted research on the post-market life of textiles in Gilded Age Newport, investigating how summer residents, servants, and itinerant peddlers reused and valued clothing. I also stabilized garments and dressed mannequins for the show "Pierre Cardin: 70 Years of Innovation."



Rhode Island School of Design

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Museum Conservation Assistant

  • Jun 2015 - Sep 2016

  After working as a Mellon Intern in the Summer of 2015, I was hired to assist with the Summer 2016 show 'All of Everything: Todd Oldham Fashion'. I proposed and carried out conservation treatments, created and updated records on MuseumPlus, and dressed and installed mannequins. During the run of the show, I did bi-weekly exhibition maintenance, vacuuming objects, monitoring condition, and stabilizing fragile components as needed. After working as a Mellon Intern in the Summer of 2015, I was hired to assist with the Summer 2016 show 'All of Everything: Todd Oldham Fashion'. I proposed and carried out conservation treatments, created and updated records on MuseumPlus, and dressed and installed mannequins. During the run of the show, I did bi-weekly exhibition maintenance, vacuuming objects, monitoring condition, and stabilizing fragile components as needed.



University of Rhode Island

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Textile Conservation Lab Manager

  • Jan 2015 - Sep 2016

  In addition to evaluating objects and performing conservation treatments, I oversaw the organization and daily operations of the lab, ordering supplies, maintaining financial records, and managing correspondence with clients. In addition to evaluating objects and performing conservation treatments, I oversaw the organization and daily operations of the lab, ordering supplies, maintaining financial records, and managing correspondence with clients.



Plimoth Patuxet Museums

• United States
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Historical Clothing & Textiles Intern

  • Sep 2013 - Jun 2014

  I assisted in a museum shop, participating in all aspects of production including research and production. I expanded my knowledge of historical clothing through recreation, and using old and new techniques to create accurate garments for interpreters. I also participated in public programming, demonstrating weaving and sewing techniques in the craft center. I assisted in a museum shop, participating in all aspects of production including research and production. I expanded my knowledge of historical clothing through recreation, and using old and new techniques to create accurate garments for interpreters. I also participated in public programming, demonstrating weaving and sewing techniques in the craft center.



Mount Holyoke College Antique Clothing Archive

• Collections Worker

  • Dec 2009 - Sep 2013

  I assisted in the Archive’s reorganization. This included cataloging garments, researching and applying for grants, preparing gowns for display in classrooms, and packing garments for storage. I assisted in the Archive’s reorganization. This included cataloging garments, researching and applying for grants, preparing gowns for display in classrooms, and packing garments for storage.



Historic Deerfield

• United States
• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Bartel's Curatorial Intern

  • Sep 2012 - Feb 2013

  I measured garments and worked with probate records and historic documents to add information to object files. I was then invited back to spend a month sanding, repairing, and repainting their collection of mannequins. I measured garments and worked with probate records and historic documents to add information to object files. I was then invited back to spend a month sanding, repairing, and repainting their collection of mannequins.



Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

• Peter Kruger Intern

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  I wrote copy and monitored SEO data for the Design Shop to help increase revenue while the physical museum was closed. I also assisted with the relocation of the warehouse. I wrote copy and monitored SEO data for the Design Shop to help increase revenue while the physical museum was closed. I also assisted with the relocation of the warehouse.