Serrano helps Lassie house

(CNS): The restoration expert that helped to restore the Old Jail in the Cayman Islands National Museum building is now using her expertise to assist the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) with the preservation of art work at Miss Lassie’s House. Professor Elisa Serrano will be advising on the restoration of the art on the windows, doors and walls of Miss Lassie’s house as well as evaluating the CNCF’s collection of paintings.

Since Miss Lassie’s death in 2003, time and weathering have deteriorated the art that she painted on her house. Dr. Serrano will advise how best to arrest further deterioration and work on preserving the widows and doors in their current state. The original windows and doors will be removed and placed on exhibit at the property.

Replicas built by Steve Hawley with the art copied by local artists will replace the original windows and doors. Murals on interior walls will be repaired and preserved. Dr. Serrano is an expert in the conservation of pictorial heritage and mural art with 35 years experience in the conservation and restoration of paintings on wood, canvas, ceramics and stone as well as murals. One of her most outstanding works is the restoration of the 163 square metre ceramic mural by Cuban artist Rene Portocarrero that won her praise from the Laboratories of the Museums of France. She also worked on the restoration of Ernest Hemingway’s original writings on the walls of his Havana villa and the restoration of mural paintings at Caracas’ 19th century Municipal Theatre.