2:24 p.m., Aug. 21, 2009----I have been lucky enough to spend my summer internship in Hawaii -- at Doris Duke's Honolulu estate, aptly named Shangri La. This unique 1930s home was influenced by the Eastern architectural styles Duke adored and houses her extensive collection of Islamic art and artifacts. My classmate LeeAnn Barnes and I have spent our summer working with one of the highlights of the Shangri La collection - an Islamic interior from 18th-century Damascus, known as “The Turkish Room.” Originally constructed for an affluent Syrian home and reinstalled at Shangri La, the room is composed of interlocking wooden panels heavily ornamented in intricate floral and geometric patterns that dazzle the eye. Unfortunately, the painted and gilt surfaces exhibit cracking, flaking and loss due to a combination of natural deterioration and exposure to Shangri La's harsh tropical environment.

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Our work this summer has focused on the Turkish Room ceiling and includes examination and documentation to establish a benchmark to track future deterioration. Working from a scaffold, I am applying BEVA gel and Aquazol 500 using syringes and small brushes to consolidate flaking surfaces. I love this work, and as a painted surfaces major, this summer has provided me with the opportunity to work with a large-scale architectural interior, develop a familiarity with decorative surfaces and their deterioration and become proficient with methods of digital documentation that I will continue to use throughout my career. The project, the staff at Shangri La and the island of Oahu have all been wonderful, and I am so grateful to have had this amazing experience.