Susan M. White
Education
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA; MFA in Sculpture. September 1994 - May 1996
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA; Diploma. September 1987 - May 1991
University of Delaware, Graduate Program in Art Conservation at Winterthur; MS in Objects Conservation. September 1982 - September 1985
Harvard College, Cambridge, MA; Completion of BA. September 1981 - June 1982
Duke University, Durham, NC; BA in Art History / Chemistry, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. September 1978 - May 1981
Experience
Private Conservator and Instructor. Training of pre- and post-graduate interns offering experience to individuals desiring a broader range of objects and materials to learn about and master. April 2010 - present.
Special Project Manager. In the service of my business, have just completed the examination and treatment of over 100 ancient Chinese and Eurasian Steppes Bronzes for The Sackler Foundation in NYC. 2008 - 2010.
Private Conservator. Self-employed owner of White Conservation Services. Objects Conservation Services for museums, collectors and dealers located primarily within New York City. September 1996 - Present
Guest Lecturer. Smith College, Northampton, MA. "The Conservation of Greek Ceramics," given to Smith archaeology students, March 2008
Contractual Conservator. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY. Restoration of Greek Ceramics for the New Greek and Roman Galleries. September 1997 - October 1998
Frolich Fellow. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY. Designed and executed research in ancient goldworking technology of Egypt. September 1986 - June 1987
Objects Conservator. Private Practice, New York, NY. Clients included The Natural History Museum, Tibetan Museum, NYC, et. al. 1985 - 1987
Lecturer. Presentation to Friends of Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Bronzeworking Technology in Early China." March 1987
Guest Lecturer. Columbia University, New York, NY. Taught History of Materials Technology to Undergraduates. Classes given in the Objects Conservation Laboratory at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1986
Lecturer. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY. Gave lectures to Sotheby's interns and Graduate students from New York University's Institute of Fine Arts on special topics in Fine Art Conservation and materials history. 1986
Visiting Scholar in Conservation to China to meet with Chinese conservators and artists for information and cultural exchange, sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY. May - June 1986
Advanced Intern in Conservation. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, Department of Objects Conservation. October 1984 - January 1986
Presenter. The International India Conference at New York University, New York, NY. "Studies in Gold Corrosion." May 1985
Summer Intern in Conservation. National Gallery of Art, Department of Sculpture Conservation, Washington, D.C. June 1983 - August 1984
Summer Intern in Conservation. National Museum of American History, Department of Objects Conservation, Washington, D.C. June 1983 - August 1984
Aide to Curator of Drawings. Drawing Study, Fogg Museum, Harvard University. January - May 1982
Research Assistant to Curator of Drawings. Fogg Museum, Harvard University. January - May 1982
Awards & Honors
The Ragdale Colony, Lake Forest, IL, March 2004
The MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH, October 1 - December 31, 2002
Henry Street Settlement Artist's Residency, NY, NY, September 1999 - 2000
Millay Colony for the Arts Residency. Austerlitz, NY, October 1998
Vermont Studio Center Artist's Residency. Johnson, VT., November 1998
Juror's Prize. New Art 96 National, Kingston Gallery, Boston, MA, 1996; Juried by Trevor Fairbrother, Curator, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Award of Recognition. Residency Contemporary Artists Center, Historic Beaver Mill, North Adams, MA, Summer 1996; Jurors: Thomas Krens, Director of the Guggenheim Museum and Walter Hopps
Massachusetts Cultural Council General Support Grant for "The Child as Healer Project," Boston City Hospital, 1993
Cambridge Arts Council's Second Annual Exhibition Competition, Gallery 57, Cambridge, MA., 1991
Somerville Arts Lottery Grant, Somerville, MA., 1991
Fellowship, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Objects Conservation Dept., New York, NY, 1986-88
Phi Beta Kappa: Duke University Chapter, graduated summa cum laude, 1981
National Chemical Honor Society, Duke University Chapter, 1981
Curatorial Internship, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Education and Objects Conservation Depts., New York, NY, Summer 1981
Beneson Prize, Duke University (to study at Harvard College), 1981
National Teachers of English Writing Award, 1978
Certificate of Scholarship, Activities and Honors from the American Association of University Women, 1978
Affiliations
Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation
Publications
Objects and Their People: Tales from the Crypt of a NYC Art Conservator. Pending Publication.
Optical Fields. Pending Publication.
"The Expert vs. The Object: A Book Review," Art and Auction, October 2004.
"Marlo's Meiji Masterpiece," (under the pseudonym "Venus de Malachite") in Hermenaut: The Digest of Heady Philosophy, number 15, The Fake Authenticity Issue, 1999.
On the Verge: Emerging Poets and Artists, ed. Thomas Sayers Ellis and Joseph Lease, curated by Gerry Bergstein, Mark Booth, Hanna Melnyczuk. Published by Agni Press and distributed by Faber and Faber, 1993.
"Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry of Gold and Copper Standards for Comparison with Historic Objects," by Susan White, Robert Koestler, Chris Blair and Norman Indictor. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1990.