About The Book

"Dwell Time" is a compelling debut memoir by Rosa Lowinger, an esteemed Latina figure in the field of art and architectural conservation. The book delves into her challenging upbringing within a Cuban Jewish family marked by intergenerational trauma. As she navigates her way through various cities worldwide, engaging in art conservation, she finds herself on a profound journey of familial and personal repair. Organized like Primo Levi's "The Periodic Table," the memoir takes readers through different materials, offering insider accounts of conservation intertwined with the healing narrative of her immigrant family.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does Rosa Lowinger's experience of familial trauma shape her approach to art conservation?

2. In what ways does the author's journey of familial repair mirror the process of restoring damaged objects?

3. How does the author's identity as Cuban, Jewish, American, and Latinx influence her perspective on life and work?

Key Takeaways:

1. The intimate link between the restoration of physical objects and personal healing.

2. The significance of understanding the origins of damage in both personal relationships and material conservation.

3. The power of embracing one's cultural identity and heritage as a catalyst for personal growth and understanding.

Inspirational Quote from the book:

"How, I wondered, was it possible that no one in my family had ever told me that Havana, the place where we were from, was so closely aligned to my work? More importantly, how had I managed to reencounter this ornately decorated, sagging city at the precise moment when I was beginning to see a link between restoration of the material world and personal healing?"