Stream: Treatment 
Specialization: Paintings 
Areas of Interest: Ancient East Asian art, contemporary mixed-media art on canvas, Conservation ethics.

Justina Hoi-Nam Yu graduated with distinction from OCAD University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing & Painting, and a minor in Art History in 2022. Her thesis focused on themes of storytelling, mental landscapes, and using materials to convey narrative. She completed chemistry courses at Toronto Metropolitan University and Queen’s University while working as an Archivist for Toronto Artist JJ Lee. Justina’s role as an archivist allowed her to polish skills in technical photography, database creation and organization, condition assessment, and communication with other key players in JJ Lee’s exhibition, “In My Yesterday.” Outside of Art Conservation, Justina is a competitive Taekwondo athlete on the Canadian National Team, and coach at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC).

Research Interests

Aaron has wide ranging research interests related to the scientific analysis of art and archaeology.  He has ongoing research towards the development of non-destructive techniques of analysis including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), hyperspectral imaging, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy.  Aaron ongoing research interests include historic artist’s pigments and their degradation pathways, and inorganic material sciences as applied toward the study of ancient metallurgy, ceramics, glazes, glasses.  He also is interested in the technical history of artifacts and their manufacturing processes. 

Biography

Aaron received his honours H.B.A. in Anthropology and Law & Society from York University and his M.S. in Archaeological Materials from The University of Sheffield. Aaron received his Ph.D. in Archaeometallurgy from University College London.  He co-directed the Archaeometallurgy Laboratory at Lehigh University, was a guest scientist at NIST, and a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution.  He serves on the Scientific Vetting Committee for TEFAF and as a forensic materials export for the Court of Arbitration for Art.  Aaron was the Mellon Foundation Professor in Conservation Science at Buffalo State University, and he is currently the Bader Chair in Art Conservation at Queen’s University. 

Stream: Treatment
Specialization: Paintings
Areas of Interest: Italian baroque art, materials analysis for authentication and exploration of forged works, conservation ethics

Tailor Choquette graduated from Niagara University in 2023 with a BA in Art History with Museum Studies and a minor in Chemistry. Through a campus work study position and an internship, she worked at the Castellani Art Museum where she was able to assist with collections cataloging, art installation and storage, and other clerical duties to grasp institutional experience. Prior to her acceptance to the MAC program, Tailor was fortunate to gain pre-program experience through Aurora Art Conservation, West Lake Conservators, and unDunn Art Services.

Stream: Treatment
Specialization: Paintings
Areas of Interest: Technical art analysis, sustainability in conservation, 19th century European art, history of materials and techniques, wall paintings.

Sophie Morris graduated from the University of Victoria with an Honours BA in Art History and Visual Studies in 2023. Prior to her undergraduate degree, she received a diploma in Arts and Sciences from Cégep John Abbott College where she was able to explore the interconnection of knowledge across various disciplines. During her studies, Sophie volunteered at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria where she was introduced to collections care and assisted with the condition reporting of various historical paintings and drawings. With this experience, during the final year of her studies she participated in an undergraduate research fair where she presented her knowledge and observations on condition reporting and its significant connections to conservation. She continues to explore her own artistic practice, where she focuses mainly on acrylic, watercolour and gouache landscape paintings.

Stream: Treatment
Specialization: Artifacts
Areas of Interest: Contemporary arts and crafts, modern materials.

Sonia Gaiess is an art historian, appraiser and emerging Conservator. She graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 2022 with the Gold Medal for Achievement in the Honours History of Art and Architecture Program. She has been working in the heritage field since 2019, with collection management, exhibition development and public programming at various institutions. She has also had the opportunity to mentor students and volunteers through her work in these settings. Sonia has been an active member of the Winnipeg arts community for many years and has enjoyed serving as a board member, advisor, collaborator and volunteer with a cross-section of groups and artists.