Katherine M. Lechuga
klechuga (at) gmail.com

 

Education

Master of Science of Information Studies (M.S.I.S.) with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Conservation Candidate
University of Texas, Austin, TX
August 2007-current

Bachelor of Arts, Art History
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Received August 2005

• Major:  Art History
• Minors:  Studio Arts, Anthropology

Related course work:  4 semesters of General Chemistry with lab component (2 at Purdue University), 1 semester of Organic Chemistry with lab component.

Experience                        

Conservation Intern, The Center for American History, University of Texas, Austin, TX
(October 2007-current)
Textile Conservation Technician, Textile Conservation Services, Indianapolis, IN
(January 2005- February 2007)
Framer, The Frame Shoppe and Gallery, Lafayette, IN 
(February 2006-September 2006)
Paintings Conservation Assistant/Technician, Indiana University Art Museum, Bloomington, IN 
(October 2002-January 2005)
Framer, Framemakers, Bloomington, IN 
(June 2003-June 2004)
Library Assistant, The Lilly Library of Rare Books and Manuscripts, Bloomington, IN
(January 2002-April 2002)
Gallery Assistant, Purdue University Galleries, West Lafayette, IN
(August 2001-December 2001)

Additional Experience

• Summer Fieldwork Internships at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Textile Conservation Lab, and Textile Conservation Services, Indianapolis, IN. Work conducted included adhesive research, shattered silk research, and tapestry treatment techniques. (July 2008-August 2008)
• Volunteer at Harry Ransom Center conservation labs, University of Texas, Austin, TX.
  September 2007-December 2007)
• Volunteer at National Library Bindery Company, Indianapolis, IN.  Experience with bookbinding, book and rare book repairs, etc. 
  (April 2006-April 2007)
• Member American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
• Member Midwest Regional Conservation Guild.
• Presented a paper at the Midwest Regional Conservation Guild Conference in Cincinnati, OH in October 2006.
• Volunteered at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library examining the condition and dusting a collection of French WWI posters.  Assisted the archiving team in evaluating books and other works on paper located in improper storage, and then moving these objects into more controlled conditions. 
  (April 2006-July 2006)
• Paid internship at Textile Conservation Services, Indianapolis, IN
  (January 2005-April 2005)
• Paid internship at the Indiana University Art Museum conducting treatment of a painting with marked damage. 
  (August 2004-January 2005)
• Volunteered in the book conservation lab at The Lilly Library, Bloomington, IN
  (January 2002-April 2002)
• Worked with an archiving team at the Herman B. Wells Library, Bloomington, IN, to properly repackage and clean a collection of medical journals that was being moved into permanent storage. 
  (February 2002-April 2002) 

Skills/Abilities

Conservation

• Experience with rare book repairs, restorations, disbinding and rebinding techniques.  Familiar with general bindery productions using typical bindery machinery and equipment.
• Experience with paper conservation techniques such as dry cleaning, mending, filling, and inpainting.
• Experience with examination and condition report writing, proper conservation record keeping as well as proper handling, and storage techniques for a variety of objects.
• Extensive experience with textile conservation treatment techniques. 
• Able to carry out minor treatments of paintings such as surface cleaning, consolidation, dusting, patching, and inpainting. 
• Comfortable with the preparation of solvents and the use of a variety of conservation lab equipment.
• Familiar with current periodical and research sources for conservation topics.

Museum/Gallery/Collections

• Consolidated the personal textile collection of Harold Mailand, Textile Conservator, Indianapolis, IN.
• Cataloged and processed entries for the “60 Square Inches” small print competition at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, as well as assisted with gallery exhibit installations.
• Familiar with accession procedures for new acquisitions in museum, gallery, and personal collections.
• Able to adapt easily to new collections procedures that may vary from institutions.

Framing

• Comfortable with operating a dry mount press, automated and manual mat board cutters, glass and plexiglass cutter, and wide range of small hand tools, and conservation framing techniques.
• Worked extensively with customers to assist with choosing an aesthetically pleasing frame as well as a stable environment for the artistic project.

Computer

• Comfortable with Mac and PC environments, Microsoft Office Suite, FileMaker Pro and other data base entry programs, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Framing software (Frame Magic and Lifesaver), internet browsers, and a variety of standard computer programs.

Languages

• Fluent in Ukrainian, proficient in French, basic reading, writing, and conversation skills in German.