Steven Pickman is an objects conservator in professional practice within the Washington, DC area, having formed his own firm during the summer of 2009. He graduated from Brandeis University in 2001 with a BA in Anthropology (specializing in Archaeology) and was a recipient in 2008 of a Master of Arts degree from the UCLA/Getty Conservation program in Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials. He has had internship experiences in a broad range of contexts at a number of institutions, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the South Street Seaport Museum. More recently, he has become active in promoting emerging conservation professionals within the field.

 

 

Education:

University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California
Master of Arts, UCLA/Getty Program in Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials, June 2008.
Thesis: Examination of some bronze corrosion products with polarized light microscopy.

Brandeis University - Watham, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts, High Honors, Anthropology, May 2001.
Major: Anthropology, specializing in Archaeology.  Minors: Classics; Art History. Honors: Dean's List - Spring and Fall 2000.
Thesis: The Gate of Tel Yafo: Understanding gateway communities and Egyptian hegemony in Canaan (1504-1202 BCE).


Continuing Professional Development:

Courses and Workshops:
In addition to my graduate education, I am a big believer that continuing and supplemental education is imperative part of the profession. Additional workshops I have attended include:

  • Technical Imaging with modified UV-VIS-IR DSLR Cameras Conservation Workshop. Smithsonian American Art Museum – Washington, DC. December 11-13, 2019.
  • FAIC Glass and Ceramic Conservation Workshop, The Conservation Center – Chicago, IL. March 18 – 22, 2019.
  • “Introduction to Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI)”, Houston, TX. May 29, 2018; sponsored by American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works [AIC] at 46THAnnual Meeting.
  • Advanced XRF Workshop, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Bowie, MD. April 25 – 26, 2018.
  • Modular Cleaning workshop (with added material on clenaing water-sensitive surfaces). Smithsonian American Art Museum – Washington, DC. September 20-23, 2016.
  • "Laser Cleaning of Surfaces: Artifacts and Architecture", Miami, FL. May 12-13, 2015.
  • FAIC WAG/AIC Air Brushing for Conservators workshop,  Haverhill, MA. December 12-13, 2013.
  • Cleaning Plaster Surfaces with Agar workshop. Smithsonian American Art Museum – Washington, DC. June 12-13, 2012.
  • Bruker X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy and ARTAX software training. National Air and Space Museum –Washington, DC. October 31- November 1, 2011; May 9-10, 2012.
  • FAIC/NEH Outdoor Sculpture Conservation workshop, San Francisco, CA. July 27-30, 2010. 
  • JAHN Restoration Mortars training workshop, Cathedral Stone Products, Inc. – Hanover, MD. November 16-18, 2009. Certified JAHN Installer.
  • “Polarized Light and Chemical Microscopy”, College of Microscopy - Westmont, IL. November 3-7 2007.
  • “Creating Cost-Effective Preservation Environments for Cultural Collections”, Los Angeles, CA. October 3-4, 2006.
  • "Scientific Methodology for Conservation Treatments”, Minneapolis, MN. June 8, 2005.


Awards, Grants, Fellowships:

  • 2020 Objects Specialty Group Speaker Stipend, American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
  • NEH Individual Professional Development Scholarship (Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation), 2010.
  • Sidney S. Williston Fund Award (Washington Conservation Guild), 2007-2008.
  • Dorot Foundation Travel Grant, 1999.


Professional Positions:

  • Blind Peer Reviewer for Postprints of Objects Specialty Group (OSG) of AIC (2019). 
  • Nominating Committee: The Washington Conservation Guild (WCG). 2015-2017; Chair, 2016-2017.
  • Vice President: The Washington Conservation Guild (WCG). 2013-2015.
  • Board of Directors: The Washington Conservation Guild (WCG). 2010-2013.
  • Co-Chair: Climate Control for Historic Buildings and Collections Symposium (APT-DC/WCG). March 2011.
  • Advisory Group: FAIC/NEH Outdoor Sculpture Conservation workshop, Washington, DC. October 18-21, 2011. 


Professional Associations:

Previous Academic and Professional Associations Include:  The Western Association for Art Conservation (WAAC) and The Emerging Conservation Professional Network (ECPN). 


Bibliography:

Peer Reviewed Papers:

  • Pearlstein, E., De Brer, C., Gleeson, M., Lewis, A., Pickman, S., Gencay-Ustun, O., Werden, L. Fall/Winter 2008. An Examination of plant fibers used for Cahuilla baskets from Southern California, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 47:3.

Articles:

  • Pickman, S. 2013. “Breathing New Life into an Old Fabric”. AIR SPACE BLOG: Behind The Scenes at the National Air and Space Museum (blog). November 20, 2013. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/behind-the-scenes/breathing-new-life-into-an-old-fabric/
  • Pickman, S. 2008. ‘Lecture Summary: “Protecting National Heritage Properties from Fire” by Jack Mawhinney, Senior Engineer, Hughes Associates, Inc., Fire Science and Engineering’, In: Washington Conservation Guild Newsletter. Vol. 32. No. 1. (March 2008).

Posters:

  • Pickman, S., Norquest, S., and Hornung, T.  2015. Doing the Most in a Triage Situation. Poster Session: AIC 43rd Annual Meeting 2015. Miami. (Poster).
  • Pickman, S. 2008. Challenges and Choices in the Treatment of a Whalebone Sculpture. Poster Session: AIC 36th Annual Meeting 2008. Denver. (Poster).

Presentations:

  • Pickman, S., Czubinski, G., McPhaul, K. 2020. “Navigating Deep Currents – Treatment of an Artifact with a Traumatic Origin Potential Hidden Hazards.” Concurrent General Session - Reacting to Hazardous Collections:  AIC 48thrdAnnual Meeting 2020. Salt Lake City (Presented On-line, August 17, 2020).
  • Pickman, S., Czubinski, G., McPhaul, K. 2020. “A Moving Reality of the Cuban Diaspora – Balancing Emotional, Physical, Biological, and Chemical Concerns of a Floating Platform.” Washington Conservation 3-Ring Circus speaker, January 9, 2020.
  • Pickman, S., McPhaul, K., Doutriaux, M., Czubinski, G. 2019. “Navigating Hidden Hazards in Collections: Emotional, Physical, and Chemical.”Lightning Round Session at the 2019 Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit. Smithsonian American Art Museum, October 30, 2019.
  • Pickman, S. 2013. “Aim High, Crash Magnificently! Or, the Samuel P. Langley Collection Preservation Project (National Air and Space Museum). Washington Conservation 3-Ring Circus speaker – “Up, Up & Away: The Conservation of Aviation & Space-related Objects” ring, January 10, 2013.
  • Pickman, S. 2008 (Co-Presenter). Conservation. A Brown Bag. Monthly meeting of Survivor Affairs/Speakers Bureau (USHMM). April 2008.
  • Pickman, S. 2008. The Hidden Life of Everyday Objects: from a toy chair to silverware. Washington Conservation Guild Intern Speaker. March 6, 2008.