July 6–29, 2021
About Art Detectives
Art Detectives is a teen program presented by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Bard Graduate Center for rising juniors and seniors in high school. Teens study with museum conservators in art conservation and scientists working in the field of cultural heritage science to gain an understanding of studio art practice, materials identification, and the philosophy and ethics surrounding the research and preservation of cultural heritage.
During the Summer of 2021 Art Detectives practiced close observation of artworks in the Guggenheim and learned scientific examination techniques used to identify and authenticate materials in works of art in the conservation lab. Program instructors created sample mock-up paintings for teens to investigate; each case study was presented to community audiences, utilizing scientific analysis to identify materials and methods used to distinguish a forgery from an authentic work of art and to trace the life of an artwork. The program concluded with an introduction to technical art history and the science involved in the preservation of time-based and digitally born art, including an in-depth exploration of LOT-EK’s Mixer (2000), a sculptural, interactive, technology-based artwork in the Guggenheim’s collection.
The 2021 Art Detectives
Leon Cherry, Special Music School High School
Anya Chu, Brooklyn Technical High School
Rosamaria Garces, Kingsborough Early College Secondary School
Clio Gourevitch, Bard High School Early College Queens
Claire Judice, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School
Vionnie Khong, Bard High School Early College Manhattan
Miranda Kimm, The Brearley School
Davis Luengthada, Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Ondre Nelson, John Dewey High School
Jaida Sahin, Brooklyn Technical High School
Noah Schroeder, Brooklyn Technical High School
Ryan Schroeder, Bard High School Early College Queens
Ava Zhang, Brooklyn Technical High School
Acknowledgements
This program is made possible through the generous support of The Pinkerton Foundation. We give our sincere thanks to our program instructors and collaborators:
Visiting Scholars
Giuseppe Lignano, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Architecture at Columbia GSAPP, founding partner of LOT-EK
Erich Uffelman, Ph.D., Bentley Professor of Chemistry, Washington and Lee University
Guggenheim Staff
Julie Barten, Senior Painting Conservator and Associate Director of Conservation Affairs
Tracey Bashkoff, Curator, Collections and Exhibitions
Francesca Esmay, Conservator
Megan Fontanella, Curator, Modern Art and Provenance
Agathe Jarczyk, Conservator, Time Based Media Associate
Queena Ko, Project Manager, Curriculum Development
Kayla Metelenis, Conservation Intern
Lena Stringari, Deputy Director and Andrew W. Mellon Chief Conservator
Hillary Torrence, Manager, Conservation
Jeffrey Warda, Senior Conservator
Laura Worden, Manager of Teen Programs
Bard Graduate Center Staff
Ama Codjoe, Consulting Director of Equity and Inclusion
Jocelyn Lau, Designer
Jennifer Mass, Ph.D., Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Cultural Heritage Science
Kristin McCool, BGC MA ’22, Teen Program Coordinator Madeline Porsella, BGC MA ’22, Website Designer
Emily Reilly, Director of Public Engagement
Carla Repice, Senior Manager of Education, Engagement and Interpretation
Nadia Rivers, Coordinator of Public Programs, Education and Engagement
Maggie Walter, Coordinator of Marketing and Communications
Madison Williams, BGC MA ’21, Copy Editor
Special thanks to High School Science teacher, Brittany Klimowicz, for her curriculum support.
We also thank the National Science Foundation Grant and Johnson Strategic Initiative Grant for lending imaging equipment for the program.