“The pandemic made us all think about doing things differently — doing much more virtually — and this seemed like it could be very useful,” Wickens said. Her first thoughts were of the time, money and environmental impact that could be saved by sending a headset, rather than a museum professional, along with a collection loan to survey and document the condition of the pieces when they arrived at the host institution.
Her next thought was of the ways the technology could streamline her own work.
“My students and I have worked in many historic, multistory buildings with no handicap-accessible elevators, and I’ve used various work-arounds,” she said. “But I realized that this technology could solve an immediate need for me.”
Wickens ordered a HoloLens 2 device and conferred with Eric Cantrell, director of college computing operations for the College of Arts and Sciences Information Technologies group. Cantrell had been interested in the technology for some time and thought it had educational possibilities.
“I’m really happy that Joelle saw the potential and jumped right in,” he said. “There are so many uses, beyond any mobility issues.”
Wickens, who acknowledges that technology “is not my first love,” said the support and enthusiasm from Cantrell and Tim Leefeldt, also of the college’s Information Technologies group, has been invaluable.
Wearing the headset “takes some getting used to,” said Schindler, a 2022 graduate of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation who is now principal conservator with Pearl Preservation. The device works best, the trial run demonstrated, when the wearer learns to move their head slowly and smoothly and adjusts their gaze to line up objects with the camera on the visor rather than their eyes.
But with those adjustments, “It’s amazing to use,” Schindler said.
Going forward, plans are to collaborate with Microsoft to see if certain features — like specialized lighting that would be particularly useful in art conservation work — could be incorporated into the technology.
Also interested in the project is Karen Latimer, an assistive technology specialist with the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative housed in UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies. Latimer is investigating the potential for adding an augmented reality device to the statewide library of technology that can be borrowed and used by people with disabilities.
About Joelle Wickens and the project
Joelle D.J. Wickens is assistant professor of preventive conservation and associate director of the graduate Winterthur/UD Program in Art Conservation.
Preventive conservators work to protect cultural heritage, such as historic buildings and museum collections, from environmental damage. They often conduct assessments to help develop conservation and emergency preparedness plans.
Wickens’ current work focuses on evolving the practice of the specialty to place social, economic and environmental sustainability at its core and to help broaden and diversify the field.
Rockwood Park and Museum in Wilmington is a 72-acre site owned and operated by New Castle County, Delaware. The museum is housed in a 19th century Rural Gothic Revival mansion that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Article by Ann Manser; Photos by Evan Krape
January 03, 2023