The Grum Project Visiting Artist series continued the week of February 13, with art conservator Michael Duffy visiting campus to talk to students in our art studios and during a lecture in the Dodge Room.

Duffy is the Paintings Conservator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Duffy joined MoMA in 1993, and has worked on conserving paintings and leading studies into materials and techniques on some of the biggest painters in the world.

“I do what I call heritage preservation,” Duffy said. “There’s a bunch of factors that come in [to what I do], but it’s, I would say, a mélange of science, art history, and studio art that kind of make a conservator the most effective.”

Duffy shared his knowledge first in our AP Studio Art class, taking the time to talk with students about their work and their techniques in producing it. While Duffy is no stranger to giving lectures about his work, he noted that it was unique to get to talk to students about it.

“I have a studio art background, so I always feel comfortable in a studio situation,” he said. “It was great to see how they’re pretty versed in all different kinds of medium. It seems like they’re getting exposed to a wide range of materials, and it’s a good situation.”

For the lecture, all students on campus were invited to gather in the Dodge Room as Duffy went over a range of projects he’s worked on, and what went into them. One particular highlight was Duffy recounting the work that went into producing the exhibition Matisse: The Red Studio. Centered around Matisse’s famous “The Red Studio” panting itself, Duffy discussed how his crew conducted various studies on the painting and how it was made, including uncovering secrets like the background color of the painting itself.

Launched in the fall of 2016, the Grum Project is Williston’s visiting artist program. Funded by a generous alumna from the Northampton School for Girls, the Grum Project brings artists of all kinds—musicians, actors, visual artists, dancers, and more—to campus for mini-residencies so that the entire Williston community can participate. To learn more about the Grum Project and previous visiting artists, click here. To read more about Duffy, visit the MoMA website.