Ann Frisina
Minnesota Historical Society Conservator
Golden Valley, MN
Ann Frisina began her career at the Textile Conservation Workshop in 1989 where she spent three years under the guidance of Senior Conservator, Karen Clark. While at T.C.W. her work focused on flat 2-dimensional textiles ranging in sizes from small samplers, to larger quilts. Moving on to work at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Textile Conservation Lab, the next five years were spent focusing on large European tapestries and rugs. Graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum Studies Program, in 1997, her textile conservation studies focused on to upholstery and soft furnishings. Upon graduation Ann was awarded a Kress fellowship to work under Nancy Briton of the Sherman Fairchild Objects Conservation Lab at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A short stint at the Society of Preservation for New England Antiquities allowed her to focus solely on upholstery conservation. Moving to the Upper Midwest 18 years ago Ann took the position as a general textile conservator for the Minnesota Historical Society where she remains today working to preserve their broad-based textile collection for both the museum and multiple historic sites. This year Ann was fortunate to participate in the 65th Attingham Summer School program as a James Beard Awardee.