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A Nature Art Preserve

By Mary Klest

It’s autumn and migratory birds are making their annual sojourns to warmer, more hospitable environs. Plants and flowers are fading and many furry creatures ready for hibernation. Yet, these beautiful creations can still be viewed through the works of renowned nature artists.

Barrington Hills resident Joel Oppenheimer has been collecting, selling, and preserving original antique natural history art since 1969. In the last decade he’s expanded his business market by collaborating with several prestigious museums to create limited edition prints.

The Oppenheimer gallery, located at 410 North Michigan Avenue (at street level in the Wrigley Building), emphasizes the works of John James Audubon, one of the greatest of 19th-century artists. Audubon’s work remains distinctive because it shows birds in their actual life size within natural habitats. “We carry antique, tried and true, proven collectable artists,” says Oppenheimer.

He formed a partnership with the New York Historical Society to recreate Audubon’s Fifty Best Watercolors. The New York museum allows public viewing of 40 of the 435 original Audubon watercolors each year. That’s only six weeks of viewing time every decade. It is the first-ever printed edition of these watercolors, called the New-York Historical Society Edition. Limited to 200 numbered actual-size sets, sales from the prints help support the museum’s original collection.

Oppenheimer also allied with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, one of the world’s greatest botanical libraries. A limited edition of these fine art botanic prints is available for the first time to individual collectors. Artists featured include Maria Sibylla Merian, Dr. Robert Thornton, Clara Maria Pope, and Margaret Mee.

As for furry creatures, the Oppenheimer gallery holds a collection of Audubon’s Quadrupeds created between 1845 and 1848. The Northern Hare, Black American Fox, and Canada Lynx can be seen as originals and as prints created through a partnership with Chicago’s Field Museum.

The gallery’s studio experts use the latest advancements in processing to match the originals in size, color, and paper quality. The museum directors enthusiastically support the Oppenheimer editions.

Joel Oppenheimer first trained with the conservator for the Department of Prints and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago. He serves as a board member at the Barrington Historical Society. Another role he enjoys is educating people on the intricacies of collecting and preserving natural history art. “There is an opportunity for people to own something of value at all different price levels. They can spend $500 on a worthless reproduction or on something of value. All that’s needed is a little guidance and education to know the difference between those two things,” says Oppenheimer.

The Company’s 40th Anniversary Edition 2009 catalogue is beautiful, with loads of information and illustrations. As caretaker of so many valued works of art, Oppenheimer employs a staff of experts to provide museum quality archival framing, as well as conservation and restoration services. Owners become stewards, relying on future generations to value and preserve what may be available to them only through the eyes of long-ago artists.

Preserving Personal Documents

Q: How should I store old letters and heirloom documents such as birth and marriage certificates?

A: Lay them flat, unfolded in a storage box away from sources of heat and light where the environment is not too humid or dry. Do not put them in your attic, bathroom, or basement where temperature and humidity can damage them. Don’t allow dust or insects to penetrate the storage box.

Q: My stuff is yellowed, ripped, and ruined. What do I do?

A: Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s amazing what can be done to restore paper, canvas, and photographs. Call an expert who specializes in paper conservation and restoration.

Q: What’s the difference between conservation and restoration?

A: In conservation, experts can stop any progressive deterioration of the object. Restoration requires a cosmetic treatment to return the object to its original appearance.

Q: How can I make sure my current documents will be preserved?

A: Write using archival ink on acid-free paper. Store the documents in an airtight container such as an acid-free alkaline box or a polyester film folder. Also, let family members know where it is and why you think it is important to keep.

Q: I’d rather be safe than sorry. What can I find now to keep these documents in?

A: If it’s valuable and important to you, inquire about the Oppenheimer heirloom box. It measures 17"H x 12 5/8"W x 3"D and is hand-crafted by professional conservators.