Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Sawczuk.
Margaret, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I came to America once I was already trained after years of studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Poland, and then spending long summers in an almost meditative state on scaffoldings in picturesque villages of Austria. I was restoring baroque wall paintings, and the atmosphere of the monasteries where I worked for almost 10 years in patient silence and focus gave way to my ambition to pursue my own studio. I first visited New York where I had the pleasure of working for the Laboratory for Conservation, which first exposed me to the new American culture, language, and sense of artistic aesthetic. The vertical beauty of the city differed strongly from the Europe, yet it made a lasting impression. My visit, originally intended to be short and explorational, was followed by a drastic decision that overwhelmingly changed my life and yet allowed for me to discover another American beauty: Chicago.
Over time I moved out into the suburbs to accommodate the needs of a family, and I found myself in the delightful village of Oak Park. Here I finally opened my studio. We came across a space needing immense work to turn into our dream, but over months we were able to renovate it into a truly friendly and energetic laboratory. We needed it not only for conservation, but also for our other passions, which include photography, ceramics, and sculptures
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The decision to transition to another country would have to be the greatest struggle. It is tough and emotionally exhausting. Every foreign country has its own language with its own way of communication and set of cultural codes that must be recognized and absorbed to feel a sense of normalcy and belonging. My bridge to this English speaking world has been and still frequently is my older son, who landed here when he was three years old and assimilated quickly, as kids do. Finally getting established in our current studio was also a tremendous burden from all the work to get it prepared and transformed into a space where we would be happy to function and spend our days. It has a contagious and motivational energy and aura.
Please tell us about The Art Objects Conservation Lab.
My business is devoted to the long-term preservation of art works and objects of historical and artistic value. Even if difficult, it has always been tremendously rewarding to have the opportunity to influence the environments and details of people’s lives in a subtle way. I am an immense enthusiast of art and have always been sensitive to the fine beauty I could find at a museum…
However, it is even more incredible what art people have in their homes, and it is especially these pieces that I love to restore to preserve their history and beauty. Allowing for their owners to have a greater appreciation for these decorative elements that may be destroyed and poorly aged and don’t do their original state any justice is always my goal. This is perhaps what I am most proud of in my company and my team of conservators, that ability to truly bring out the original state and artists’ intent in any work of art. Years of experience and various specializations give us an opportunity to work on the many different and unique art works clients bring us, and we always strive to do it as best as we possibly can. This includes the conservation and restoration of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, furniture, and gilding. Though it’s a time consuming process, we believe that our quality makes it worth it. We particularly take pride in our gilding, which after having placed down thousands and thousands of gold leaves, we have really mastered the process and have developed our own techniques and secrets which give our work a distinguishable quality.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
It is definitely my frequent travels through Europe with my grandparents, when we endlessly wandered over museums, galleries, and old churches.
Contact Info:
- Address: 820 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304
- Website: Www.theartobjects.com
- Phone: 773 814 3257
- Email: margaret@theartobjects.com
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