Press Releases

June 1, 2004, Contact: Sara Murphy, (508) 853-6015 ext. 26, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The world of metal to be explored in summer program

International Experts brought together by first Higgins Armory Museum and WPI conservation program

(WORCESTER, Mass., June 1, 2004) - On June 7, the world's best and brightest metal conservators, metallurgists and archeologists will convene on WPI's campus for two weeks of discovery, discussion and hands-on experience. The Metals Conservation Summer Institute (MCSI) will assemble faculty and participants from the United States and as far away as Australia, Kuwait, Brazil and Greece who bring with them years, sometimes lifetimes, of metals knowledge.

"The idea behind the program is to foster open discussions between these groups of professionals--to build a bridge between metals conservators, archeologists and academics," said Dr. Yancy Riddle, a research scientist at the Metals Processing Institute (MPI) at WPI, and member of the program's organizing committee.

To that end, a planned metallurgical "ice breaker" centers around an object or sample of an object brought by each participant to be viewed under microscopes under the guidance of faculty members. Other planned activities include site visits to the Fogg, Worcester and DeCordova art museums, Saugus Iron Works, Strawberry Banks and the Higgins Armory Museum, hands-on laboratory work, and lectures--working towards the goal of melding theoretical and applied sciences.

"The Higgins (Armory Museum) has been at the forefront of the arms and armor world with the breadth and size of its collection, and we're thrilled to be able to contribute to the field of metals conservation in such a significant way," said Higgins Executive Director, Kent dur Russell.

Faculty for the program includes Diran Apelian, founder of the MPI program and WPI professor; Edward Hunter from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC; Martha Goodway, Archaeological Metallurgist, Smithsonian Institution; Professor Mike Notis, Lehigh University; Henry Lie, Harvard University Art Museums, Strauss Center for Conservation; Professor David Scott, UCLA; and Dr. Matthias Pfaffenbichler, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.

Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), MCSI programs will take place during three summers (2004, 2005 and 2006).