Volunteer Perspective on Fire Recovery Clinic Experiences

Presentation authors: Ronel Namde and Elyse Driscoll

Blogpost Summary by Joelle Yang

In the aftermath of the Palisades, Eaton, and Altadena fires, there was no end in sight to the havoc that was wrecked. The task of recovery seemed overwhelming and insurmountable but nevertheless, LA conservators were quick to volunteer their knowledge and care to the objects that could be saved from the fires. Community conservation clinics were organized by Art Recovery LA (ARLA) and the LA County Department of Arts & Culture to assist anyone and everyone who had objects that sustained damage from the fires. The clinics offered free consultations, treatment, and housing for their clients’ objects. Having participated in all four of the clinics organized, photograph conservator Ronel Namde, and paper conservator Elyse Driscoll, shared their perspectives on how these conservation clinics could mend both an object and a community. 

Namde and Driscoll were equipped for the task with previous experiences in disaster response and community outreach. However, it didn’t make the heavy burden of loss associated with these objects any easier to carry. An object that once brought a client’s memories to life now had a painful reminder of the fires from the damage it endured. With how significant these objects were to the clients, and how harrowing the events that brought them here were, Namde and Driscoll emphasized the importance of building trust. They explained how walking clients through the entire treatment process helped ease the worry and stress of the situation to make the experience as pleasant as it could be. Namde and Driscoll also explained how having a high standard of care ensured that clients knew they were in good  hands. When a client saw professionalism and reverence towards their objects, it helped them understand that the objects were just as precious to conservators as they were to them. 

Although the technical aspects of the work are critical, Namde and Driscoll stressed that the most paramount goal in remediation was supporting and connecting with a community. While conserving an object would fix the damage, providing a space for trust and shared stories is what would truly heal a community.