Nearly 60 years ago, Duke University staff brought a 17th-century sculpture to the hospital on a stretcher, hoping to uncover the secret of what lay hidden in the wooden friar's chest. Although technology has changed since then, the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration at the heart of the scientific study of artworks remains.
Technical art history, the focus of this exhibition, brings together art historians, conservators, and scientists to gain deeper insights into works of art and the methods and intentions of their makers. A new exhibit opening Jan. 30 at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke, "On the Same Wavelength: Art, Science and Conservation, explores the challenges and many accomplishments of these efforts.
Using microscopes, specialized cameras, scanners, and different wavelengths of light, our team examined objects from the Nasher Museum's permanent collection ranging from ancient American ceramics to a contemporary artwork made from found plastic.
Through the ever-evolving lens of technical art history, On the Same Wavelength presents the discoveries we have made about these objects' materials, original uses, and the techniques used to create them. This exhibition also highlights the role of the museum in navigating challenges related to an object's condition, display, and evolution over time because of aging and conservation.
On the Same Wavelength: Art, Science & Conservation was created through the Curatorial Practicum: Development and Design course, taught by Dr. Julia McHugh, Trent A. Carmichael Director of Academic Initiatives and Curator of Art of the Americas, and Dr. Katherine Werwie, Associate Curator, with scientific consultation from Heidi Kastenholz, James Bonk Fellow and Doctoral Candidate in Chemistry. The exhibition's student co-curators are Anna Grace Grossnickle '25, Abigail Hartemink '25, Hailey Kasney '26, and Beatrice Kleeger '25.
This exhibition is made possible by the Sunny Rosenberg Endowment Fund and through partnerships with Ruth Cox, paintings conservator; Stephanie Guidera, objects conservator; Tina Taylor and Lior Molvin, Duke Radiology; Dr. Fides Schwartz, Harvard Radiology; Dr. Erich Uffelman, Bentley Professor of Chemistry at Washington and Lee University; and Dr. Mark Walters, Director of Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility at Duke University.
