Conservators Mike Ruzga and Helen Mar Parkin have been working intermittently on cleaning the Faig murals in the Engineering Library since summer 2000.  The murals, dating from 1915, are generally in excellent condition but very dirty.  Canvas by canvas, Mike and Helen Mar are cleaning off dirt, removing yellowed varnish, and revarnishing.  They are also repairing and touching up deteriorated spots.  The work is done very slowly, a small area at a time.  It is easy to see the before/after contrast in these pictures.  For more information on the murals and their history, see our history page developed by Lucy Wilson for this College Centennial year.

Mike Ruzga in front of a mural with a center  stripe yet to be cleaned.

Varnish has been removed left of the line above Mike's hand.

Note two vertical areas where Helen Mar Parkin has cleaned dirt off.
 

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5/16/01