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Historic preservation: ‘
like “CSI” for buildings’
Savannah College of Art and Design Historic preservation graduate student Amy Galovic always had a passion for the arts, specifically art history. Unsure how her interest would translate into a paycheck, she pursued a career in graphic design. However, after nearly 10 years in the graphic design field, she decided she wanted a career that would offer a hands-on benefit to society. While accompanying her boyfriend on a tour of SCAD, she realized historic preservation was her next move. Galovic wasted no time in pursuing an education in her new field, as well as an internship at the childhood home of the late writer Flannery O’Connor. Galovic heard of the possible project while on a field trip at the home. Intrigued by the opportunity to restore the old home, she spoke up. “ I guess it was a case of the right place at the right time, and eavesdropping on the right conversation,” she said. Galovic eventually got in touch with the Flannery O’Connor Foundation, the group that runs the home, and the internship was on. A large component of Galovic’s work at the home was paint analysis to determine what wall treatments would have been used during Flannery’s childhood. Using microscopes, restorers look at holes or “craters” drilled into the wall. During this process that Galovic realized her training in all art forms would benefit her career in historic preservation. “I think that my background in art, design and color theory really prepared me to take on a paint analysis project. I already have an idea about perception of color and how different types of paint work with substrates and each other,” she said. While doing paint analysis, Galovic searched for clues to the home’s past and for evidence to confirm or deny rumors that the stairway may have been in a different location. “The house is a great big detective story, sort of like ‘CSI’ for buildings,” she said. Her work on the house continues as she is using the data gathered in the internship for her thesis project. While Galovic had the opportunity to use many of her classroom skills in the field during her internship, her education in historic preservation was complemented in other ways. Through the internship Galovic realized that historic preservation doesn’t stop at brick and mortar but encompasses the events that took place there. “ Finding out more about the family history helped me understand what kinds of colors and furnishings they were more likely to have had around them and why,” she said. “Investigating architectural details led to more information about the history of the occupants. Learning about the additions to the house and construction methods helped to determine the sources of damage and decay. Each subject fed into the next and helped tell the story of the building.” In addition, Galovic’s view of the her new profession was enhanced. “I realized what a truly supportive field historic preservation is. The faculty was really helpful and shared so many stories with me of past experiences,” she said. “I was really impressed with how so many other people involved with museums, academic research and materials conservation were willing to help me out along the way.” While Galovic’s internship experience has cemented her decision to work in historic preservation, it has also given her the tools to pursue her career. “I’ve tried to choose projects, including the internship, to try out different aspects of historic preservation and see what appeals to me,” she said. “But regardless of the specific tasks involved, preservation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I feel like no matter what part of the field I choose to work in, whether it’s research, restoration, museum work, paint analysis, politics or economics, I will have enough experience to work well with people in other facets of the field.” Blaho is communications coordinator at SCAD. |
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