Sep

Haiti update

Special thanks to Beverly N. Perkins, conservator at Smithsonian Affiliate Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo., for this guest post.

Three American Institute for Conservation— Collections Emergency Response Team members were asked to join the Smithsonian Haiti Cultural Recovery Project in July. Beverly Perkins, Karen Pavelka and David Goist of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center spent some time with the staff of the Centre de Sauvetage de Biens Culturels in Port au Prince helping to set up the CRCH labs so that they can be used for conservation treatments and to train Haitians in the recovery of cultural collections. Under the supervision of Project Manager Stephanie Hornbeck, the visiting conservators also carried out conservation projects and helped to guide tours of the labs.

Elizabeth Perkins painstakingly repairs damaged ceramics while her colleague documents her work.

A project I worked on involved conserving ceramics and building elements as they began to come in to the lab from various sites in Haiti. Some of the ceramics had been clumsily reassembled at some point in their past, prior to being brought to the conservation center.

One group of decorative ceramics depicting a nativity scene was carefully repaired. Cracks and damage were filled and shaped to replicate the pieces that had been lost. These new elements were then toned with paints to make the ceramic appear to be whole again. All of the treatments are documented with written notes and photographs so that in the future our work may be easily distinguished from the original ceramic.

Smithsonian Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture Richard Kurin, with Haitian colleagues at the presidential reception.

Also during our stay, the United States President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities visited Haiti, along with dignitaries from the Smithsonian and The Broadway League. The meetings held with Haitian cultural leaders helped to strengthen the determination to salvage cultural collections and train Haitians in that salvage effort. The visiting dignitaries, AIC-CERT volunteers, and the staff of the CRCH were treated to an evening of Haitian song and dance at President and Mrs. Preval’s lovely home.

The 10 days I spent away from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, were donated in the spirit of good will from the Museum’s board and staff and the people of Cody, Wyo. to the people of Haiti. Upon my return from Haiti, the Museum’s director, Bruce Eldredge asked how we could further be of assistance to the people of Haiti. He developed a plan to offer training for one or two Haitians in the conservation laboratory of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. He further offered to provide support following those months of training.

This project is in the process of being formed, and so the story continues…