Artist Lecture Review 2: Barry Bauman

       Barry Bauman gave a talk about the conservation of paintings. He graduated from the University of Chicago and worked at the Art Institute of Chicago’s conservation department as the associate conservator of paintings. Barry Bauman established and operated the Chicago Conservation Centre for over 20 years. He stated that the Chicago Conservation Center as a resource facility which including the conservation of paintings, mural works, paper works, and frame works. Most of the works are the conservation of flood-damaged paintings. Barry restored a portrait of Mary Lincoln that was featured on the New York Times.
       Barry Bauman explained some valuable experiences to us on the restoration and conservation of paintings. The restoration and conservation of artworks is a professional process in order to protect them. The aim of protect artwork for fewer restore, restore artwork for better protection. Both protection and restoration are indispensable. He as a conservator must have the enough vision to deal with these paintings such as comprehend and reveal the purpose of the painter. There are several historical and technical discoveries made by Barry Bauman. For example, exposed hidden signatures and dates as well as put paintings below other works. 
       The conservation of paintings refers protect and repair them because the painting damages as time goes by and the environment changes. Any a painting begins natural aging process while it complete. This is decided by the material and structure of the painting itself and influenced by various environmental factors. The conservation and restoration of paintings is a appropriate human intervention to stop or reverse the aging process in order to achieve the purpose of conservation.