Abigail Mack

Abigail has a Master of Arts and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Conservation from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been working in museums since 1989 and is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historical and Artistic Works.

Ms. Mack’s private art conservation studio is located in the Hudson Valley of New York.  Her practice includes the treatment and preservation of fine art sculpture and historical objects from museums and private collections with a focus on modern and outdoor sculpture. Of particular interest to her is striking a balance between the preservation of the physical object and the artists’ intent for appearance. To this end, Ms. Mack is actively involved in efforts to develop more durable coatings for painted outdoor sculpture. She works closely with artists’ foundations such as the Calder Foundation, Louise Nevelson Foundation, and Tony Smith Estate to balance the aesthetic intent of sculpture with conservation and long-term preservation.

Ms. Mack has published and lectured at national and international venues on specific conservation research, conservation treatment, and general preservation issues. Other skills include safeguarding of individual art works during exhibition, storage, and transit and conducts training workshops for the care and handing of art objects.

Affiliations

Abigail Mack is a Professional Associate for the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), and member of ICOM-CC, IIC, and INCA.

In 2010 Ms. Mack was appointed to the Government Services Administration National Peer Registry to assist with evaluating proposals for the conservation of large-scale outdoor art and conservation issues related to the fabrication of new art for GSA buildings.

Ms. Mack serves on the Board of Advisors for the Calder Foundation.

Contract Conservator for the Getty Conservation Institute’s Outdoor Painted Sculpture Project.

Through a partnership with Bronze Specialist, Ellen Rand known as Monumenta: Art Conservation and Finishing LLC, Ms. Mack is the Lead Conservator for the Empire State Plaza Art Collection of sculpture.

Art Conservation

The focus of the field of Art Conservation is the preservation of art objects. This is done through the practice of restoration which is informed by the study of materials that comprise art objects; materials used for the repair of art; display, storage and transit environment for art objects.

http://www.conservation-us.org/   http://www.buffalostate.edu/