CCC Paintings Conservation Department: Elena King, Senior Conservator of Paintings

Professional Experience

2005 – Present
The Chicago Conservation Center, Chicago, Illinois
Senior Conservator of Paintings

1998 - 2005 
Yoder Conservation, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio
Conservator of Paintings
Responsible for all aspects of conservation in the treatment of paintings, including: examination, photo-documentation, structural and technical treatment, in-painting, and varnishing.
Conservator of Frames
Responsible for all aspects of conservation in the treatment of frames, including: examination, photo documentation, structural reconstruction, and in-gilding.

1998-2000
EIKONA Studios, Cleveland, Ohio
Conservator and Painter of Icons
Consulting conservator and involved in the conservation treatment of icons. Assisted the principle icon writers in the creation of contemporary icon projects for Orthodox churches.

1993
Moscow Central Conservation Studios, Moscow, Russia
Conservation Apprentice
Conservation of 12th century Byzantine frescos in the monastery cathedral, Pskov, Russia.

1993
Pskov Art Museum, Pskov, Russia.
Conservation Apprentice
Carried out conservation treatments on 19th century oil paintings from the permanent collection. 

1992
Pskov Art Museum, Pskov, Russia.
Conservation Apprentice
Carried out conservation treatment on 15th-16th century icons from the permanent collection.

Education

1991-1997  
Masters Degree in Art Conservation, Masters Degree in Painting
Academy of Art, Restoration Department, St. Petersburg, Russia
A six year paintings conservation program with five years of practical training, followed by a one year diploma project. Received the highest grade of achievement.

1980-1984 
Bachelor of Science
LAMST, Leningrad, Soviet Union.

2002  
Workshop with Mark Golden of Golden Paints, Nashville, TN
Sponsored by the MRCG, Mid-West Regional Conservation Guild.

2003
“Art in Transit” Workshop with Mervin Richard, John Molini, Patricia Goddard, Midwest Regional Conservation Guild, Chicago Area Conservation Group; Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, MI.

2005
“Modular Cleaning Program: A Systemic Approach to Cleaning Artworks.” Workshop with Chris Stavroudis and Tiarna Doherty; Cleveland, OH. Sponsored by ICA.

2006
“Tear Repair of Paintings”.  Workshop with Winfried Heiber, Robert Proctor and Petra Demuth; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT.

2007 
“Mastering Fills: A Mid-Career Workshop for Conservators”
Workshop with James Bernstein, Meg Loew Craft and Margo McFarland, Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies, Mount Carroll, IL, 2007.  

Professional Associations

Professional Associate, American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) 1999.

Midwest Regional Conservation Guild (MRCG)

The International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC)

Presentations, Grants and Publications

"Education for Conservators in the Academy of Art, Russia.” Midwest Regional Conservation Guild Conference, New Harmony, IN, 1998

“Old World Oxgall for Removing Oil-Resin Varnishes,” 1998 WAAC, Newsletter. Co-authored with Dean Yoder

“What’s new about filling, Neyt!” 1999 WAAC Newsletter, Co-authored with Dean Yoder

Ohio Arts Council grant to teach the process of icon painting, 1999


“Reversing the Irreversible,” Midwest Regional Conservation Guild Conference, Cleveland, OH, 2004

“Obtaining a Masters Degree in Art Conservation in Russia,”  “Saving a Lost Painting”, Chicago Area Conservation Guild., Chicago, IL, 2006

“Going Dutch: the Dutch Method as the Only Effective Method in the Treatment of Severe Shrinkage in Canvas,” MRCG/CACG joint annual meeting, Chicago, IL, 2007.