CLU Art Programs and Events

Profile

Christine Petra Sellin specializes in the religious art, literature, and narrative imagination of the early modern northern Netherlands. Sellin completed her Ph.D. in art history at UCLA and B.A. degree in English literature at UC Berkeley. 

In addition to articles, Sellin has produced several books: Fractured Families and Rebel Maidservants: The Biblical Hagar in Seventeenth Century Dutch Art and Literature (Continuum Books/T&T Clark, 2006); Crossing Boundaries and Transforming Identities ( Nodus Publikationen, 2011); and From Unholy to Holy: the Four Female Ancestors of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, (Ruth Mellinkoff Publications, 2010). 

Sellin was recently elected a research associate of UCLA's Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and an editorial board member of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Netherlandic Studies. She has served as President of the American Association for Netherlandic Studies (2008-12), board member and president of the Renaissance Conference of Southern California Association, (2007-12), and board member for the Netherland-America Foundation (NAF-SCC, 2006-12). 

Sellin's academic studies build on expertise in several realms of visual culture: arts journalism, museum administration, and professional filmmaking (motion pictures, television, music videos, commercials). She has produced major visual effects projects, involving digital, video, and traditional techniques: blue screen/green screen; cel, computer and video animation; pyro-technics; matte painting; stop-motion and motion-control photography; models and miniatures; and film restoration. Film and computer-generated elements were composited optically (traditionally) and digitally; film formats included IMAX, 65mm, Vista Vision, 35mm, and 16mm. Sellin's screen credits include Ghost (1990), Batman Returns (1992), and Pee Wee's Playhouse (seasons 1986-87), among other projects. 

Sellin is the university's faculty athletic representative for intercollegiate athletics and faculty mentor for the Regals' basketball team. 

Education

2003 Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, UCLA

• Dissertation Thesis: "’Uitgedreven en door Godts Engel geredt’: The Biblical Hagar and Ishmael in 17th Century Netherlandish Painting and Literature"
• Major Specialization: 17th Century Netherlandish Art
• Minor Specialization: Italian Renaissance Art
• Advanced to Candidacy 2/26/01. Degree award date: 4/28/03.

1999 Masters of Arts in Art History, UCLA

• Master's Thesis: “Portrayals of the Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael in 17th Century Dutch Painting”
• Major Specialization: Baroque/Renaissance Art
• Minor Specializations: Southeast Asian; contemporary art.

1983 Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, UC Berkeley

• Senior Thesis: “Art, Women, and Creation in James Joyce’s "Ulysses'”
  (nominee, English Department annual senior thesis award, Spring 1982)
• Member, Alpha Mu Gamma Honor Society (1981-83)
• Member, "1,000+ Point Club" (total career points scored), Cal Women's Basketball Team; starting center 1979-82; team captain 1980-81. 

Publications

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

2012

(Book Review) Matthias Hüning, Jan Konst, Tanja Holzhey (eds.), Neerlandistiek in Europa. Bijdragen tot de geschiedenis van de universitaire neerlandistiek buiten Nederland en Vlaanderen.BMGN - Low Countries Historical Review, North America, vol. 127, March.

2011

Editor (with M. Lacy Bruijn), Crossing Boundaries and Transforming Identities,(History in Dutch Studies,Publications of the American Association for Netherlandic Studies), Munster: Nodus Publikationen.

Guest editor, Dutch Crossing: A Journal of Low Countries Studies, Association for Low CountriesStudies, Great Britain and Ireland, UK: Maney Publishing, Nov. Issue.

Guest editor, Dutch Crossing: A Journal of Low Countries Studies, Association for Low CountriesStudies, GreatBritain and Ireland, UK: Maney Publishing, July Issue.

(Translation) Yvonne Bleyerveld. “Prints as a Perfect Means of Communication: Allegorical, Moral and Religious Messages Invented by Willem van Haecht”. Christine P. Sellin (transl.), in Bart Ramakers (ed.), Understanding Art in Antwerp. Classiciszing the Popular, Popularising the Classic (1540-1580),Groningen: Groningen Studies in Cultural Change 45, pp. 93-107.

2010

From Unholy to Holy: The Four Female Ancestors of Jesus Christ In the Gospel of Matthew, (invited co-author, with Ruth Mellinkoff),Ruth Mellinkoff Publications, Los Angeles.

2009

"Chin-Chucks and Transparent Veils: The Biblical Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38) in Early Modern Netherlandish Art and Literature,"History in Dutch Studies, ed., M. Lacy (Publications of the American Association for NetherlandicStudies),Münster/Germany: Nodus Publikationen, pp.209-219.

2008

"Abraham as ‘Polygamist'?: Theological, Literary and Artistic Developments in 16th and 17th century Netherlandish Culture," (solicited) History in Dutch Studies, ed. M. Lacy (Publications of the American Association for Netherlandic Studies), Münster/Germany: Nodus Publikationen, pp. 201-212.

2006

Fractured Families and Rebel Maidservants: The Biblical Hagar in Seventeenth Century Dutch Art and Literature,TrinityPress/Continuum Books, New York/London, 2006.

2003

"The Biblical Hagar and Ishmael in Seventeenth-Century Netherlandish Painting and Conceptions of Family and Community,"History in Dutch Studies, (Publications of the American Association for Netherlandic Studies), Lanham: University Press of America, pp. 181-196.

1997

"The Making of 'Che!': The Demythification of an Icon," inChe Guevara: Icon, Myth and Message. Los Angeles: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, pp. 98-103.

ARTS JOURNALISM(published articles--non-academic--on film, television, and art. Note: below is only a partial listing)

“Curator Brings Spiritual Background to Exhibit: Puerto Rican Ritual Objects on Display”, UCLA Today, March 24, 1994, p. 8.

“Humor/Dialogue Director Tom Radtke Signs with Northstar: Seattle-based Production House to Represent Director Bicoastally”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Feb. 12, 1993, pp. 7, 13.

“Film Community Unites for Rebuild L.A. PSAs”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Feb. 12, 1993, pp. 12, 17.

“Animated Antics” (special report on subject: best choices for hybrid commercial projects – cel animation, digital post-production graphics and computer animation), Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Jan. 29, 1993, pp. 17, 26-28, 30-31.

“Four Directors Kick the Habit for 24 Anti-Smoking PSAs: DeCerchio, Gorman, Story and Usher Shoot Livingston & Keye Campaign for Calif. Dept of Health Services”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Feb. 26, 1993, pp. 10, 14.

“POP Goes the Changes: Facilty Expands in Telecine, Sound and Personnel”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Mar. 5, 1993, p. 21.

“Quick Cuts: Muppetized Dickens” (subject: dir. Biran Henson’s musical adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol), Cinefex: The Journal of Cinematic Illusions, Feb. 1993, vol. 53: pp. 9-10.

“Supply and Demand” (feature story) Directors’ Winter Edition, supplement to Backstage SHOOT newsweekly, Feb. 5, 1993, pp. 20, 22-26, 28 30, 34

“Digital Magic Acquires Selluloid Group, Renames the Facility Visual Magic”,Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Feb. 5, 1993, pp. 1, 21.

“Klasky Csupo Adds Coronado As First West Coast Rep”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Jan. 22, 1993, p. 6, 9.

“Dir./Designer Cliff Boule Joins Pacific Data Images”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Jan. 15, 1993, p. 6.

“Rhythm & Hues Signs Animation Dir. Anderson, Slated to Embark on Coke Project via CAA”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Dec. 11, 1992, pp. 1, 46-47.

“Rhythm & Hues Signs Directing Team of Patterson and Reckinger”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Dec. 18, 1992, p. 7.

“Dir. Van Rijn Steers Lexus Through Treacherous Forest: Car’s Suspension System Innovativey Showcased in “Spikes” Spot Via Team One Advertising”, Backstage SHOOT Newsweekly, Dec. 4, 1992, p. 1, 46.

“MetroLight Studios, Dir. Scott Miller Put Best Faces Forward for Unocal: Visages Turn Into Cars in “Morphy” Spot Out of Leo Burnett”, Backstage SHOOT newsweekly, Nov. 20, 1992, p. 1, 20-21.

“Commercial Spot: Dodge Blocks” (subject: BBDO’s Dodge Trucks campaign and Praxis Film Works), Cinefex: The Journal of Cinematic Illusions, Aug. 1992, vol. 51, p. 75.