Lafayette Campus News (www.lafayette.edu), December 5, 2007 — Robert Mattison, Marshall R. Metzgar Professor of Art, has been appointed curator-at-large for modern and contemporary art at the Allentown Art Museum.
Mattison’s responsibilities will include organizing special exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, developing installation plans for the modern and contemporary art galleries in the museum’s proposed facilities expansion, and developing a five-year plan for the museum’s display and collection of modern and contemporary art.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Mattison on the curatorial team,” says Lee A. Vedder, Allentown Museum’s director of collections and exhibitions. “He brings a wealth of scholarly expertise and passion for modern and contemporary art and has been a long-time contributor to the museum’s exhibition program as guest curator. We couldn’t be more pleased to have him on board.”
Mattison has organized over 30 scholarly exhibitions, including several recent exhibitions in New York City, and “Andy Warhol” (2006), “Pop Goes the Press” (2006), and “Edward Weston: Life Work” (2003) at the Allentown Art Museum. He has authored four books, among them Robert Raushenberg: Breaking Boundaries (Yale University Press, 2004), and over 60 articles and catalogue essays.
Mattison’s position is one more link in Lafayette’s ongoing relationship with the Allentown Art Museum. Diane Ahl, Rothkopf Professor of Art History, is a member of the Acquisitions Committee at the museum. Ida Sinkevic, associate professor of art, served as organizing curator for the major exhibit Knights in Shining Armor: Myth and Reality, 1450-1650 earlier this year.
Curlee Holton, professor and head of art and director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute (EPI), has also been involved with the museum. He has served as guest curator for the Faith Ringgold: A View From the Studio exhibit and has involved works from EPI in exhibits. The Allentown Art Museum also acquired his work Dream of the Slave as a part of their permanent collection.
Several Lafayette students have also participated in internships at the museum.
Mattison hopes that his position at the Allentown Art Museum will continue to bring the College and the museum together.
Next semester, Mattison is planning on teaching a contemporary arts seminar that will work in conjunction with an exhibit at the museum. Students will have the opportunity to work with museum staff and be involved with the stages of planning and setting up an exhibit. Mattison also hopes to involve students in research at the museum through independent studies.
“The Allentown Art Museum is one of the real cultural centers in the Lehigh Valley and Lafayette has one of the finest art departments in the valley. I think this position will serve as a great connecting link,” says Mattison.
