Seth Irwin
27 years old
What year are you?
I consider myself a sophomore in chemistry. UNM considers me a ninth-year senior. There is a bit of an identity issue between what UNM and I consider myself.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Where are you from?
I don't know. I honestly don't know anymore. I moved here from Santa Fe in June, and before that, I lived in New York City. Before that, Houston. Before that, Annapolis. Before that, New Jersey. So, where am I from?
Why did you move around so much?
Well, I got my first bachelor's in New York and moved out here to get away from New York and moved to Santa Fe five years ago, where I was going to UNM-Los Alamos, where I ran out of things to take. So, I came here to finish it off.
Finish what off?
I am meeting my prerequisites to get my master's in art conservation.
What would you do with that degree?
Work at a museum or private conservator doing art restoration.
Are there jobs in that field?
There is in Santa Fe. Unfortunately, there are only four schools that offer the degree, so I am just meeting the science prerequisites, so I can apply in January to the schools. Just to apply, you need a full BFA degree, a full year of general chemistry, a full year of organic chemistry and a year and a half of conservation work - just to apply.
What school do you want to attend?
Wherever I get in. I want to go to the Canadian school. They typically turn you down for the first couple years just to make sure you are serious. They average about 50 or so applicants per year. The domestic schools only take 10 applicants a year, and the Canadian school only takes three. They keep it small purposely. Delaware is free tuition. It is subsidized, and you get a stipend on top of it. It's a very small community. Santa Fe only has five conservators for the whole town. It is the largest art community outside of L.A., New York and Chicago, and they only have five. I can't even find one in Albuquerque.
(Talking to photographer)
I should warn you, my head is reflective. You're going to get a lot of glare. When I was in studio class for my first degree, they always made me sit in for the lighting panels, and they would put glasses on me. They would say that if you could light a bald guy with glasses, you could light anyone.
Where did your hair go?
I didn't lose it. I shaved it off, and I don't want it to come back.
What do you want to work with as a conservator?
My background is in paper. So if, for example, you had a photograph that had faded away, rusted or stained, that's what I do. I am going to be trying to work with a painting conservator in Santa Fe for a while.
-Joshua Curtis
