Christine Isabelle Oaklander, Ph.D.
19 S. Franklin Street
Allentown, PA 18102
EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
9/92-5/99 Ph.D. in art history; major, American art, 1780-1940, minor, European art 1800-1930 100% merit-based fellowship; department nominee for annual university award for best humanities dissertation. Advisors: Drs. William Innes Homer and Wayne Craven.
Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art, Williamstown, MA
9/88-6/90 M.A. in art history courses in museum studies, American and European art, and art conservation 50% merit-based scholarship both years. Seminars on art conservation, Winslow Homer, Folk Art, Renaissance Art.
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
1981 B.S. in general studies College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
EMPLOYMENT
Christine Isabelle Oaklander, Art Consultant
5/2006-present: Art Consultant: Consultant to organizations, institutions, dealers, and private clients in buying/selling American and European contemporary and historical art and in researching, exhibiting, and publishing on a range of art topics. Clients include Art Institute of Chicago, Morgan Library & Museum, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Brandywine River Museum, Allentown Art Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Woodmere Art Museum, American Antiquarian Society, Arkansas Art Center, Nichols House Museum, Minnesota Historical Society, Baum School of Art, Hermitage Museum & Gardens, Avery Galleries, Hawthorne Fine Art, Debra Force Fine Art, David David Gallery, Liz O’Brien, Betty Krulik Fine Art, Bernard Goldberg Fine Art, David Schorsch/Ellen Smiles, Victaulic Corporation. In 2018 given Linny Award for philanthropy in the arts, Greater Lehigh Valley, PA.
Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA
7/2006-11/2013 Arts Coordinator: Founding director of arts program for three-hospital nationally-ranked health network and largest employer in the region. The program was devoted to collecting, interpreting, and exhibiting contemporary regional art, to reduce stress and promote healing. Established a thriving program that earned glowing reviews from patients, staff, visitors, artists, and the community. Acquired, interpreted, and installed about 300 works of art from 60 mainly regional living artists, expanding the installations from one hospital campus to three and to regional health centers. In 2011, awarded Allentown Arts Ovation Award for outstanding service to the Lehigh Valley arts community.
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA
2/2001-3/2006 Director of Collections and Exhibitions: Director of the curatorial department in AAM-accredited museum founded in the 1930s. The Allentown Art Museum is the largest art museum in eastern Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. Acquired many artworks through purchase and donation. Extensive patron and board contact. Extensive advocacy and outreach in the regional and national museum world, contemporary art scene, and art market, leading to a higher national profile for the museum.
11/2001-7/2002 Interim Co-Director: Assumed leadership responsibilities following departure of long-time director. Represented the museum in broadcast and print media and at public events. Proactive and principal museum liaison with volunteers, patrons, donors, artists, and regional museums.
Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA
9/1999-10/2000 Research assistant for Milk and Eggs: The Tempera Revival in American Art, a major traveling exhibition mounted in 2002.
1997-98 Guest curator John Wolcott Adams: American Life and History, the first exhibition about this illustrator.
Summers 1994-96, 2000 Free-lance research on the permanent collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art and illustration. Acquired an excellent knowledge of American illustration and its associated publications.
Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Art, New York City
4/92-8/92 part-time Cleaned/sorted glass fragments and jewels for Tiffany lamps in the largest private collection of Tiffany glass in the country. Developed good knowledge of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s life and career.
Spanierman Gallery, New York City
4/87-8/88 Executive assistant to proprietor of one of most prestigious galleries specializing in American art, 1780-1950. Became familiar with the network of museums, collectors, galleries, artists, and auction houses integral to American art market. Proactively increased my knowledge of the field by reading professional publications.
The New-York Historical Society, New York City
11/84-4/87 Administrative/research assistant in one of the oldest art museums in the country, with a collection devoted to American art and history. Acquired a thorough knowledge of American art to 1900 and its research methodology. Department point person for all exhibitions and collections administrative work.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
(Unless otherwise noted, all are Allentown Art Museum)
Let’s Have a Ball: Wood Gaylor and the New York Art Scene, 1913-1936: 2019-20 Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. Consulting curator, catalogue essayist, lecturer. Secured lead sponsor.
Carol Front and David Haas: Poetry of the Industrial and Rural Landscape: November 2016, Corpora Gallery, Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, Bethlehem, PA. Two dozen black-and-white photographs by contemporary regional artists. Organized show, wrote text panel and introductory statement, lectured.
Theo Anderson and Christine I. Oaklander: In Cahoots: 2015, Corpora Gallery, Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School, Bethelehem, PA. Two dozen digital photographs by Allentown artist Theo Anderson. Organized show, wrote text panel and introductory statement, lectured.
Contradiction and Classicism: Arthur B. Davies: Autumn 2014 Lehigh University Art Galleries. Exhibition of about 20 prints, drawings, and small sculptures by this modernist artist and Armory Show organizer. Wrote essay for foldout and extended text labels, performed docent training and delivered public lecture.
Gabriela Gonzalez Delosso: Symbolism & Romance: 7/2014 Baum School of Art exhibition of oil and pastel paintings by this contemporary New York City artist and teacher at the National Academy School. Secured lead sponsor.
Susan Opie: Big Bronze Bugs: 2006 exhibition of sculpture, jewelry, and precious objects by this Bucks County artist. Organized exhibition, wrote text for labels and gallery card, lectured.
Ranzo Faggioli: Nature and Tradition: 2005. Survey of this Lehigh Valley ceramic sculptor-teacher’s career. Organized exhibition, wrote text for labels and gallery card, lectured.
Henry Fitch Taylor: Cos Cob’s Surprising Modernist: Greenwich Historical Society, Cos Cob, CT 2005. Guest curator for the first scholarly exhibition on this pioneering Impressionist and modernist painter and Armory Show organizer. Assembled exhibition, designed installation, wrote catalogue, text panels and labels, lectured.
Charles Ramsey: Father of New Hope Modernism: 2003. Site curator, designed installation, wrote labels, co-edited catalogue
Augustus-Saint Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture: 2003. Site curator: redesigned installation, edited/supplemented text panels, wrote 50+ labels, lectured. My labels were requested for use by curators at subsequent venues. Reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Wharton Esherick: Woodcuts, Wood Engravings, and Whimsical Wood Toys: 2003. Curator: working with Esherick family and the Wharton Esherick Museum, selected works, designed installation, wrote labels and foldout text.
All That is Glorious Around Us: Paintings from the Hudson River School: 2002. Site curator: designed installation, wrote 60 labels, 7 sectional text panels, and introductory panel, which were used by later venues for the show. Reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Light Screens: The Leaded Glass of Frank Lloyd Wright: 2002. Site curator: supervised installation, lectured.
John Wolcott Adams: American Life and History: Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA 1999. Guest curator: organized exhibition and wrote catalogue and labels for first retrospective on this illustrator. Reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
PUBLICATIONS
“Jonathan Sturges: Peerless Patron of American Art,” essay for a forthcoming book published by the Frick Center for the History of Collecting, Frick Collection, New York, NY
“Art and Antiques in Crisis: The Metropolitan Fair of 1864,” Maine Antique Digest, July 2020
“Wood Gaylor: Consummate Cheerleader for Modernist Art,” in Let’s Have a Ball: Wood Gaylor and the New York Art Scene, 1913-1936 Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 2020
“John Lockwood Kipling Bas-Relief Found at Estate Auction” Maine Antique Digest, April 2018
“Manigault Bowl, Found at Show, Goes to Art Institute of Chicago” Maine Antique Digest, March 2018
“Rediscovery of Rare Portrait by Henry Pelham” Maine Antique Digest, November 2017
“Morristown Antiques Show Discovery Sheds New Light on Chase Family Portraits” Maine Antique Digest, October 2017
“Rosetta Stone Tompkins H. Matteson Sketchbook Discovered” Maine Antique Digest, April 2017
“Monumental Emanuel Leutze Painting Rediscovered in Pennsylvania Masonic Temple,” Maine Antique Digest, October 2016, section D pp. 30-31.
Footprints: The Art and Life of Gary Erbe, two catalogue essays, Butler Institute of American Art, 2016
“Unravelling the Mystery of Thomas Cole’s Final Unfinished Series, The Cross and the World,” Maine Antique Digest, January 2016, section B pp. 29-33.
“Rediscovery: Henry Grant Plumb, Master of Arts and Letters” Maine Antique Digest April 2015
“Fascinating Information Revealed: The Jonathan Sturges Account Books,” Archives of American Art Journal (Smithsonian Institution) 53 (2014): 122-135 (by invitation)
"Walt Kuhn and the Penguin: High Jinks and Experimental Art." Archives of American Art Journal 49 (2011): 50-59 (Smithsonian Institution)
“Jonathan Sturges, W. H. Osborn, and William Church Osborn: A Chapter in American Art Patronage.” Metropolitan Museum Journal 43 (2008, appeared 2009): 173-194 (cover article)
“The Founding of the New-York Gallery of the Fine Arts: An Important Manuscript Discovery.” The New-York Journal of American History 4 (2007): 26-39. (New-York Historical Society, by invitation)
Cos Cob’s Surprising Modernist: Henry Fitch Taylor 2005 Greenwich Historical Society, Cos Cob, CT catalogue author
Charles F. Ramsey, Father of New Hope Modernism 2004 Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA catalogue editor and publication manager
“Arthur B. Davies, William Fraetas, and Color Law.” Smithsonian Studies in American Art 18 (Summer 2004): 10-31
Treasures of the Greater Lehigh Valley 2003 Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA catalogue co-editor, contributing author
John Wolcott Adams: American Life and History Brandywine River Museum, 1998 Catalogue author
Clara Davidge's Madison Art Gallery: Sowing the Seed for the Armory Show." Archives of American Art Journal 36 (1996, appeared 1998) Nos. 3-4: 20-37 (Smithsonian Institution)
"Studios at the Y.M.C.A., 1869-1903." Archives of American Art Journal 32 (1992, appeared 1994)] No. 3: 14-21 (Smithsonian Institution)
"Pioneers in Folk Art Collecting: Elie and Viola Nadelman." Folk Art 17 (Fall 1992): 48-55. (American Folk Art Museum)
LECTURES/APPEARANCES
“Frederic Edwin Church and W. H. Osborn: Art, Patronage & Friendship,’ invited lecturer at Olana State Historic Site, April 2020
“Fabulous Finds,” WLVT PBS 39, 2 segments 1 (of 5 total) November 2017 viewable on YouTube.
“Adventures in Collecting,” Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, October 2016
“Henry Grant Plumb: Rediscovered Master of Arts and Letters,” Baum School of Art, March 2016; Allentown Art Museum, April 2016; National Arts Club (NYC), January 2016; Sherburne Public Library, June 2015
“Arthur B. Davies: Experimentalist, Patron, and Promoter of Modernist Art,” Lehigh University Art Galleries, lecture accompanying exhibition October 2014
“Walt Kuhn and The Penguin: High Jinks and Radical Art,” Invited speaker at international symposium marking the centennial of the Armory Show. Organized by the Musée d’Orsay and the New-York Historical Society Dec. 2013
“From Spanierman Gallery to the YMCA: The Hunt for Thomas Cole’s Cross and the World.” Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill, NY January 2012
“Pioneering Art Patrons: Jonathan Sturges, W. H. Osborn, and William Church Osborn.” Desmond Fish Library, Garrison, NY October 2007
“False Dawn: Pioneering Collectors of Old Master Art 1830-1860.” inaugural symposium organized by the Center for the History of Collecting, Frick Collection, New York City May 2007
“Asher B. Durand and Jonathan Sturges: An Exceptional Relationship.” Invited speaker at a symposium on Asher B. Durand organized by the New-York Historical Society April 2007
“Cos Cob’s Surprising Modernist: Henry Fitch Taylor,” lecture accompanying exhibition October 2005
“Clara Davidge’s Madison Art Gallery: Sowing the Seed for the Armory Show,” lecture at the “Woman Art Patrons and Collectors” symposium, held at the New York Public Library April 1999
“John Wolcott Adams: American Life and History,” Brandywine River Museum 1998
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & PHILANTHROPY
Allentown Art Museum (donor-member since 2006)
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution (donor-member 20+ years)
National Trust for Historic Preservation (donor-member 20+ years)
Thomas Cole National Historic Site (donor-member)
Delaware Art Museum (donor)
Olana State Historic Site (donor-member)
Brandywine River Museum (donor-member)
New-York Historical Society (donor-member)
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (donor-member)
Philadelphia Museum of Art (member)
James Michener Art Museum (donor-member)
Metropolitan Museum of Art (donor-member)
Regional Scholastic Art Awards (donor/advocate)
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (member 20 years+)
Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School (donor-advocate)
Parkland High School Art Department (donor)
Baum School of Art (donor)
David Driskell Center/University of Maryland/College Park (donor)
National Gallery of Art (donor)
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Allentown Mural Commission 2005-2006
Allentown Arts Commission 2006-08
Mayfair Festival for the Arts honorary board 2014-2016
Visual Arts Board of ArtsQuest, Bethlehem, PA 2006-2013
West Park Civic Association 2017- (donor-Chair of Art-in-the Park)