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Cover Story - Spanish Version

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For the Love of Art

Taking care of "freedom," the nearly 20-foot-tall bronze statue atop the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is a monumental task. Just ask Jackie and Cameron Wilson. The Wilsons wash Freedom, remove bird nests and other debris, check for damage and even have its lightning rods sharpened. "We take care of it, because the public loves it," says Jackie.

The Wilsons don't do this work for love alone: The federal government hired them to make Freedom shine! Jackie and Cameron are art conservators. They specialize in preserving three-dimensional objects of art. Museums, universities, government agencies and art collectors pay them to spiff up and maintain statues, sculptures and smaller items.

The Wilsons own Wilson Conservation in Brooklyn, New York. While they work mostly in New York City, they take care of art in other states too. They clean and maintain historic and modern art sculptures. They also work on antiques, ceramics and, currently, a Japanese samurai suit.

Jackie studied art restoration in art school. Cameron learned about art history and chemistry. For more than 10 years, they worked separately as apprentices. They began working together in 1996 and got married one year later. Jackie does a lot of finishing, coating and painting. Cameron handles much of the welding and machine work.

The job can be demanding. The couple must follow strict guidelines set by their profession. It can also be dangerous. They wear safety gear to block out harmful chemicals and fumes from cleaners, paints and varnishes. A huge reward for these risks: seeing Freedom and other artworks in top shape. Says Jackie: "It gives us a real sense of pride." --By Laura C. Girardi

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