The Maine Project for Fine Art Conservation-Project MEAC (ME Art Conservation) is the only non-profit Fine Art Conservation lab-studio in the State of Maine. We preserve art from museums and historical societies in Maine and New England and also conserve artworks belonging to families and individuals. We at Project MEAC believe that these artworks belong to a complex historical patchwork. Conserving and preserving them will help define New England’s cultural heritage for future generations.
What’s the difference between conservation and restoration?
Art Conservation is the preservation of cultural property for the future. Conservation activities include examination, documentation, treatment, and preventative care supported by research and education.
Art Restoration is intended to return cultural property to a presumed known or assumed state, often through the addition of non original material.
All Conservation techniques must be reversible in order for other conservators to reverse and apply new techniques in the future, if needed.
“You saved my family’s paintings!
I remember as a small child seeing the portraits of my great grandparents hanging in my grandparent’s house. As the years passed, they became more and more yellow and harder to see the detail. I was astonished when Bonnie told me that the paintings had previously undergone a lousy ‘restoration’ and had been covered in shellac. No wonder everything was so yellow. I have to admit I was a little teary-eyed when I first saw them in their current glory. Thank you so much!”
Susan M.
