CHRISTINE ISABELLE OAKLANDER, Ph.D.
dr.cioaklander@gmail.com
EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
9/92 - 5/99 Ph.D. in American art; minor, modern European art, 100% merit-based fellowship; departmental nominee for an annual university award for best humanities dissertation.
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
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
1981 B.S., general studies College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
EMPLOYMENT
Oaklander Art Consulting
5/2006 - present
Consultant to organizations, institutions, and private clients in buying and selling American and Europeancontemporary and historical art and in researching, exhibiting, and publishing on art, artists, and art patrons. Clients include Art Institute of Chicago, Morgan Library & Museum, Lafayette College, Hermitage Museum & Gardens, Lehigh University, Brandywine River Museum, Allentown Art Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Woodmere Art Museum, American Antiquarian Society, Arkansas Art Center, Minneapolis Historical Society, Avery Galleries, Debra Force Fine Art, David David Gallery, Liz O’Brien, Betty Krulik Fine Art, Bernard Goldberg Fine Art.
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 is devoted to collecting, interpreting, and exhibiting contemporary regional art, to reduce stress and speed healing. Established a thriving program that earned glowing reviews from patients, staff, visitors, artists, and the community. Acquired about 300 works of art from 60 artists, expanding the installations from one hospital campus to three and various outpatient clinics. In 2011 won Allentown Arts Ovation Award for outstanding service to the 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 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 existing and potential patrons, donors, and regional museums.
Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA
9/1999 - 10/2000 Research Assistant
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 the foremost galleries in the country specializing in American art, 1780-1950. Became familiar with the network of museums, collectors, galleries, and auction houses integral to American art market.
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.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Carol Front and David Haas: Poetry of the Industrial and Rural Landscape
November 2016 : Corpora Gallery, Charter Arts High School, Bethlehem, PA
Two dozen black-and-white photographs by contemporary regional artists. Guest curator and speaker
Theo Anderson and Christine I. Oaklander: In Cahoots
2015 : Corpora Gallery, Charter Arts High School, Bethelehem, PA
Two dozen digital photographs by Allentown artist Theo Anderson. Guest curator and speaker
Contradiction and Classicism: Arthur B. Davies
Autumn 2014 : Lehigh University Art Galleries
Exhibition of about 20 prints, drawings, and small sculptures by this pivotal modernist artist and arts organizer. Wrote essay for foldout and extended text labels, performed docent training and delivered public lecture
Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso: 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
Henry Fitch Taylor: Cos Cob’s Surprising Modernist
2005 : Greenwich Historical Society, Cos Cob, CT
Guest curator for the first scholarly exhibition on this pioneering Impressionist and modernist painter and Armory Show organizer. Assembled exhibition, designed installation, wrote catalogue, 6 panels, and 30 labels, lectured
Charles Ramsey: Father of New Hope Modernism
2003 : Allentown Art Museum, 2003
Site curator, designed installation, wrote labels, co-edited catalogue
Augustus-Saint Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture
2003 : Allentown Art Museum
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 : Allentown Art Museum
Curator: working with Esherick family and the Wharton Esherick Museum, selected works, designed installation, wrote 20 labels and foldout text.
All That is Glorious Around Us: Paintings from the Hudson River School
2002 : Allentown Art Museum
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 : Allentown Art Museum
Site curator: supervised installation, lectured
John Wolcott Adams: American Life and History
1998 : Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, PA
Guest curator: organized exhibition and wrote catalogue and 60+ labels for first retrospective on this illustrator.
Reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
“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 Sketchbook by Tompkins H. Matteson Rediscovered”
Maine Antique Digest, April 2017, section B pp. 10-14.
“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: section C, 15-18
“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 Taylor2005
Greenwich Historical Society, Cos Cob, CTcatalogue author
Charles F. Ramsey, Father of New Hope Modernism 2004
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PAcatalogue 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, PAcatalogue 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
“Rediscovery: Henry Grant Plumb,” WLVT PBS 39, autumn 2016, 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,” Allentown Art Museum, March 2016
“Henry Grant Plumb: Rediscovered Master of Arts and Letters,” National Arts Club, NYC, January 2016
“Rediscovery: Henry Grant Plumb, Master of Arts and Letters,” 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 SocietyDec. 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, NYOctober 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 CityMay 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 SocietyApril 2007
“Cos Cob’s Surprising Modernist: Henry Fitch Taylor,” lecture accompanying exhibitionOctober 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 LibraryApril 1999
“John Wolcott Adams: American Life and History,” Brandywine River Museum1998