April 30, 2026
WILLIAMS COLLEGE GRADUATE STUDENT PRESENTS
THE 2025–26 JUDITH M. LENETT LECTURE AT CLARK ART INSTITUTE
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Monday, May 18 at 5:30 pm, the Clark Art Institute hosts Lenett Fellow Charlie Kong (Williams College M.A. Class of 2026) for its annual Judith M. Lenett lecture and reception. Kong presents the conservation and art-historical research he undertook during his fellowship, which focused on a nineteenth-century water cooler produced by the United States Pottery Company. The free lecture takes place in the Hunter Studio at the Lunder Center at Stone Hill.
The object chosen for assessment and treatment was a flint enamel ware water cooler from the collection of the Bennington Museum. Created using a mold, the vessel is octagonal, with each exterior side decorated with a full-length figure of an apostle. After researching the history of the company, locating similar examples of its production, and consulting with conservators and curators familiar with this manufacturer’s production, Kong worked with Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center (W+AACC) conservator Lindsay Ryder to analyze the Bennington water cooler to better understand its structure and materials, including its glazing. Kong’s hands-on conservation work focused on stabilization and aesthetic reintegration, including surface cleaning, the removal of earlier repairs, consolidation of unstable areas, and the infilling and inpainting of losses.
Each academic year, the Judith M. Lenett Memorial Fellowship is awarded to a select second-year student interested in exploring issues of conservation in the field of American art. Working closely with conservators from W+AACC, each Lenett Fellow pursues a project to research and conserve an American art object.
Free. A reception follows the event. For accessibility questions, call 413 549 0570. For more information, visit events.clarkart.edu.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March. From April through December, admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+), $10 for young adults (18–25) and college students, and free for all visitors under 18. Admission is free year-round for Clark members. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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