Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Watch as Senior Textile Conservator Catherine McLean carefully sews sequins made from the wings of a beetle onto a 200-year-old textile from India.
Preparing the beetle wing sequins: 00:00
Threading the needle: 02:15
Securing the sequin onto the textile: 03:03
Dealing with challenges: 05:16
Read about how Catherine found these distinctive insect wing sequins and the challenges of securing them to the textile: unframed.lacma.org/2021/07/28/here-come-beetle-wings
Art + Work is an observational documentary showing the care that LACMA conservators put into preserving artworks in our collection. Working closely with LACMA’s Conservation Center, this series highlights the wide range of techniques and tools used by our skilled conservators.
Learn more about LACMA’s Conservation Center: lacma.org/learn/conservation
**Viewing with headphones is recommended**
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About LACMA
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of nearly 140,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.
Connect with LACMA
Subscribe for our latest videos: lacma.org/videos
Explore our collection online: collections.lacma.org
Plan your visit to LACMA: lacma.org/visit
Support the museum and become a member: lacma.org/support
Follow us on social
Facebook: facebook.com/LACMA
Twitter: twitter.com/lacma
Tumblr: lacma.tumblr.com
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Watch as Senior Textile Conservator Catherine McLean carefully sews sequins made from the wings of a beetle onto a 200-year-old textile from India.
Preparing the beetle wing sequins: 00:00
Threading the needle: 02:15
Securing the sequin onto the textile: 03:03
Dealing with challenges: 05:16
Read about how Catherine found these distinctive insect wing sequins and the challenges of securing them to the textile: unframed.lacma.org/2021/07/28/here-come-beetle-wings
Art + Work is an observational documentary showing the care that LACMA conservators put into preserving artworks in our collection. Working closely with LACMA’s Conservation Center, this series highlights the wide range of techniques and tools used by our skilled conservators.
Learn more about LACMA’s Conservation Center: lacma.org/learn/conservation
**Viewing with headphones is recommended**
---
About LACMA
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of nearly 140,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.
Connect with LACMA
Subscribe for our latest videos: lacma.org/videos
Explore our collection online: collections.lacma.org
Plan your visit to LACMA: lacma.org/visit
Support the museum and become a member: lacma.org/support
Follow us on social
Facebook: facebook.com/LACMA
Twitter: twitter.com/lacma
Tumblr: lacma.tumblr.com
Pinterest: pinterest.com/lacma
Instagram: instagram.com/lacma
