Christine and Reinhard have complimentary skill sets that allow them to research and conserve a wide range of artworks.
Christine Frohnert, Partner
Christine is passionate about research and education and is always up for a good laugh.
Since 2012, Christine is a partner of bek&frohnert LLC. She is also a Research Scholar and Time-based Media Art Program Director of the first Time-based Media Conservation Program in the US at the Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She was the inaugural Judith Praska Distinguished Visiting Professor teaching a seminar course Art with a Plug – The Conservation of Artworks containing Motion, Sound, Light, Moving Images and Interactivity in Fall 2012. Christine continued to teach TBM conservation foundation classes, organized workshops and co-organized the conferences It’s About Time and Reflections and Projections Time-based Media Art Conservation Education and Outreach. Christine was the chair (2008-2012) of the Electronic Media Group at the American Institute for Conservation and initiated the conference series TechFocus. She held the position of Chief Conservator at the Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany, from 2000-2005. Building on her original training as a painting and sculpture conservator, Christine graduated from the Conservation of Modern Materials and Media Program at the University of Arts, Berne, Switzerland (2003).
Reinhard Bek, Partner
Reinhard combines in-depth research with hands-on approach. Even keeled and friendly, he’s not afraid of big projects.
Since 2012, Reinhard is a partner of bek&frohnert LLC. Previously, from 2002 to 2012, Reinhard spearheaded the conservation department at the Museum Tinguely in Basel, Switzerland. In 2008, he was a conservation research fellow with the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Reinhard was part of the European Union conservation research projects Inside Installations and PRACTIC’S from 2003 to 2010. He graduated in 2002 in objects conservation at the HTW, University of Applied Sciences, Berlin. Reinhard is a former fellow at the Swiss Institute of Art Research (SIK) in Zurich, Switzerland (2001), and apprenticed in shipbuilding in Hamburg, Germany (1993-1996).
Eric Dolgins, Studio Manager
A native New Yorker, Eric knows how to manage the day to day tasks and support Christine and Reinhard. As a strong and friendly communicator, he makes sure that everything is on track.
Eric brings to Bek & Frohnert LLC his administrative, project oversight and digital expertise from his many years of managing a digital photographic print production business (1993-2016). He majored in art and minored in art history at Skidmore College (1989). Earlier experiences at both MoMA (1990-1993) and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice (1992) provided him with invaluable exposure to art, artists and the business side of the art world. A number of years ago Eric became very interested in Art Conservation. He began to educate himself, talk to professionals and occasionally assist on some projects. After meeting Christine and Reinhard, he deftly moved from freelancer to Studio Manager. He assists them in the research, documentation and treatment of artworks. Eric’s skills and knowledge of art conservation grow daily with Christine and Reinhard’s mentorship. Additionally, he also has his own creative practices as a ceramic artist and instructor.