Jennifer Park Phelps
About Jennie
My Journey Toward Conservation
- • Looking back over my life I can see how historic preservation, and more broadly the value of preserving our material heritage, has always been part of my life. It hasn’t always been easy – at age three, I was convinced that the sky was falling, as an adult I can see that those acoustic ceiling tiles really needed to come down; they certainly didn’t belong in the living room of a Victorian house. I have lived in historic homes for most of my life, lived through several renovations, and contributed my own sweat equity to them. While in college I attended a lecture by amateur archaeologist George Hedges, about his explorations in Oman. I recognized that archaeology combined many of my interests – history and ancient civilizations, science, art, languages, working with my hands, and the importance of preserving the past. As I explored my interest in archaeology, I discovered that I am passionate about artifacts. I love the immediacy of history that you get working with historical objects. Artifact conservation offers the great combination of hands on physical work that is also intellectually challenging. I find it satisfying that transforming a jumble of broken pieces into a well-reconstructed artifact contributes to our understanding of the past and the preservation of mankind’s cultural heritage. I feel very strongly that conservation is not only about physically preserving our material culture but also about enabling people to better interpret, understand and interact with the objects we conserve.
Hobbies
- • Many of my hobbies contribute directly or indirectly to my professional skills.
- • I am an avid reader, mostly of fiction – historical fiction, fantasy (contemporary, historical, and constructed worlds), and science fiction. I love the way fantasy and science fiction allow the author to imagine what life would be like if… My book collection is constantly growing. I came home from grad school once to find that my sister had stored an empty bookcase in my closet. I promptly proceeded to fill it with books – because you can never have too much shelf space.
- • I enjoy playing board games – especially strategy and resource management games like Settlers of Catan, Agricola, Libertalia, and Hive – and working puzzles.
- • I’ve been an archer since 2005. I enjoy the process and competing against myself – seeking to improve my form, aim and scores. It is also great stress relief, because to shoot well you have to focus solely on what you’re doing. I’ve learned how to ‘put aside’ what ever topic has been occupying my mind and not think about whatever has been stressing me out for at least the duration of my practice session. I use an Oneida Hawk bow (a lever limb compound bow) and shoot ‘bare-bow’ (finger release, no sight, no stabilizer).
- • Creative expression has been part of my life for as long as I can remember – drawing, building models, needlepoint, candle making. I taught myself how to make both round and flat complex cords. I enjoy beading, making both on a bead loom and various off-loom techniques. For my bead loom projects, I do everything in the process from the initial drawing, to creating a chart, to looming the beads – using a bead loom I designed and built with my father.
A selection of my books – one from each shelf.
Favorite games and puzzles.
Archery practice with my mom.
Initial drawing for a bead loom project
Chart for a bead loom project
The bead loom project in progress, with 20 of 160 rows completed.
The completed bead loom panel.
Other bead projects
Set up for a cording project.
A round cord project in progress.
Cording project in hand.
Selection of finished round and flat cords.