The Sublime: Art and Heritage Conservation at Industrial Sites

What does “sublime” mean to you? Join us for an art history-meets-heritage conservation episode with recent graduate Ryan Holcomb. Like many of our students, Ryan fused seemingly disparate interests with heritage conservation in his thesis, Ponderous, Romantic and Awful: Tracking the Sublime within the Interpretation of Industrial Landmarks. He puts a name to that feeling we get—that mix of awe, wonder, even terror—from certain overwhelming experiences. He shares the role of the sublime in three case studies: Lowell National Historical Park’s Boott Mill in Massachusetts, Pittsburgh’s Carrie Blast Furnaces, and Ford’s River Rouge Plant near Detroit. Ryan tells co-host Cindy Olnick how he came to this unusual thesis subject, how the sublime affects our experience of industrial sites, and how it serves heritage conservation through emotional connection. See episode page for photos, resources, and transcript.Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!