Unprovenanced and undocumented antiquities play a large roll in the international trade of antiquities, a billion dollar sector of the art market. The removal of these antiquities from their source countries creates many problems for the academic community and the standards put in place to eliminate illegal activity. An analysis of an ancient Roman statue head of Livia was used to demonstrate the usefulness of such an legally acquired undocumented antiquity. A visual analysis was first conducted on the Scripps Livia residing within the Scripps Permanent collection by creating comparisons to other known portraits of Livia. A chemical analysis was then conducted to continue verifying authenticity. With the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope, four samples removed from the sculpture were analyzed for elemental composition. Based on the data gathered from these analyses recommendations for new acquisition policies were created for the purpose of ethically researching and displaying the Scripps Livia.

This thesis explores the display of Roman floor mosaics in museums and in situ. Taking the original mosaic to museums for display and protection, and replacing them on site with replicas, is best for the preservation of the original material and its context.

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The artist discusses the concept, imagery, and research influences behind a body of work entitled What We Give, for the completion of her Bachelor of Arts Degree and undergraduate research for the Fine and Performing Arts Scholars branch of East Tennessee State University’s Honors College. The artist used this body of work to explore her personal relationships with the ocean, Aspergers, and information. Particularly, the artist’s pseudo-mystic beliefs about the ocean, her frustrations with her life struggles, and fascinations with scientific facts and libation vessels are discussed. Dysfunctionality is cited as the driving force behind the thought process of the project. Her work includes two sculptural vessels, rendered in ceramics and painted with house paint. The artist cites gastropod shells, ancient libation vessels, and contemporary artists Marcel Duchamp, Beth Cavener Stichter, and Alison Evans as inspirations.

The sculpture of German-born American artist, Eva Hesse (1936-1970), presents many conservation challenges. Hesse’s experimentations with latex and fiberglass created stunningly innovative works of art in the late 1960s bringing these unorthodox materials into the world of fine art; but now these materials are creating major conservation problems. Her artwork is an extreme example of the conservation challenges of contemporary art. This thesis examines the challenges surrounding the conservation and replication of Eva Hesse’s large-scale latex and fiberglass sculptures. The latex and fiberglass materials that captivated Hesse are compromising the structural integrity of her large-scale sculptures today. Hesse’s art forces conservators to establish conservation practices specific to modern and contemporary art. Although replication pushes conservators to re-examine their usual practices and violates the standard notion of minimal intervention, the replication of Hesse’s sculptural works is necessary to represent her artistic vision.

This research project examines and documents the collection of Islamic ceramics at Scripps College from an art conservation standpoint. The main objectives were to establish provenance for these objects, assess their current conditions, propose recommendations for future preservation, and discuss the importance of preventive conservation and general collections care methods. Based on my survey and research, I demonstrated which objects in particular should be prioritized due to their states of conservation and significant educational value. Such objects raise further points of departure regarding authenticity and conservation ethics.

This thesis examines the collection of Cypriot glass stored in the basement at Scripps and its context throughout history. The first chapter focuses on the collection itself and includes a brief summary of the founding of the Mudd family’s Cyprus Mines Corporation, which led to the collection of the glass. The repatriation of the collection is also detailed. The second chapter examines the history of Cyprus, and how valuable resources such as copper led to trade on the island. A history of glass is given: how it was made, what it was made out of, and how it was used and appreciated at different times in history. The third chapter addresses the history of the glass trade and production on Cyprus. Island-specific shapes and production are explored. This chapter also looks at how glass was valued and used by different levels of society as glass production evolved and led to a saturated market. The fourth chapter focuses on five pieces selected from the Scripps and Mudd collections. These case studies include conservation condition reports. Physical description, condition, use, and similar examples in other collections are detailed. The final chapter addresses glass conservation. It contains an analysis of previous conservation interventions, descriptions of different types of weathering and degradation, and tips for stabilizing, storing, shipping, handling, and displaying the collection.

Quilting is a self-chosen leisure activity for millions of women in the United States. Previous research on quilting suggested that quilting is influenced by the emotional state of the quilter. However, the emotional experiences generated during quilting have not been fully explored. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore quilters' perceptions of what quilting as a leisure activity does to enhance their well-being and increase flourishing. Positive psychology well-being theory was the theoretical foundation for the study. Semistructured interviews with 12 adult women who quilt as a leisure activity were the basis of the narrative inquiry. Data were recorded through in-person and telephone interviews that were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to develop overarching themes. Findings revealed that quilting contributed to participants' well-being and built flourishing through three primary avenues: creativity, relationships, and positive emotion. Quilting provided an opportunity for creative expression and growth as artists. Quilt-making activity was centered around relationships with other quilters and with the larger community, and quilting was linked with positive emotion as participants experienced great joy in their quilting activities. This study has implications for increasing well-being and building flourishing in women through the adoption of quilting as a leisure activity.

Tucked within Pomona College’s campus in Claremont, California, sits Frary Hall, the home of Mexican muralist Jose Clemente Orozco’s first work in the United States. The mural, titled Prometheus (1930), has been subjected to many instances of vandalism over the years. Thus, in 1980, a protective coating was applied. Today, the coating, a highly-reflective varnish, has been noted as a hindrance of the fresco’s original matte surface. Using case studies and art historical analysis, this thesis examines the importance of the mural within the history of Mexican muralism and the pros and cons of removing the protective coating. In addition, this research looks at the potential of art conservation as a means of reactivating the mural and promoting discussions across campus about the preservation of this cultural landmark. The thesis is culminated by a detailed proposal for the continued conservation of the mural, using Prometheus as a starting point for further discussions about aesthetics and ethics within the discourses of art history, art conservation and art restoration.

This written thesis unpacks the thoughts and motivations behind the decisions I have made in my artistic practice that have ultimately culminated in my M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition: Sub for More. By merging images of my own work as well as internet sourced images of the culture that drives my work, I have created a platform to begin to understand my experience during graduate school. This text examines and explores my belief in the inherent power in pop culture, my obsession with fame, celebrity, and my self-identity as a participant in current pop-culture.