EXHIBITION PRESS KIT

BIOS

 

Dr. F. Robert van der Linden
Curator

Dr. F. Robert van der Linden is the chairman of the Aeronautics Division and curator of air transportation and special purpose aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum. He is the curator responsible for the Spirit of St. Louis as well as the Milestones of Flight gallery, the Golden Age of Flight gallery and the Hall of Air Transportation, which houses the "America by Air" exhibition. Among the books he has written are: "Airlines and Air Mail: The Post Office and the Birth of the Commercial Aviation Industry, " "The Boeing 247 - The First Modern Airliner" and "The Nation's Hangar: The Aircraft Collection Of The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian National Air And Space Museum.

Barbara Brennan
Designer

Barbara Brennan is the senior member of the Design Division of the National Air and Space Museum. She has been with the museum since 1980. She holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts and a master's degree in art history from Indiana University, and a master's of fine arts degree in theater/set design from George Washington University. She has been designer of several museum exhibitions including "The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age" and "How Things Fly," for which she was also project manager. Brennan has been an adjunct professor and lecturer on the subjects of design, art history and exhibition development.

Frank A. Florentine
Lighting Design and Project Manager

Frank A. Florentine has been the lighting designer of the National Air and Space Museum since 1985. His responsibilities include the lighting design for all exhibitions within the National Air and Space Museum as well as project manager. He holds a bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from The George Washington University. He has received numerous awards for his lighting designs from both the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and General Electric. He is a Fellow of the IESNA and Lighting Certified by the National Council of Qualified Lighting Professionals.

David Paper
Chief of the Exhibits Production Division

David Paper has been with the Smithsonian Institution for over 28 years starting his career at Office of Exhibits Central in 1979. In 1993 he took the Job as Chief of Exhibits Production Division for the National Air and Space Museum where he has been ever since. Projects David has been associated with range from traveling exhibits for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibits Services, permanent and temporary shows for the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, the Castle, Arts and Industries Building, and other units. At the National Air and Space Museum, he has been involved with: the Udvar-Hazy Center; Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age, Explore the Universe gallery, Business Wings, How Things Fly, Space Race, Enola Gay, Star Wars, Black Wings, 25 years in Space, the Stars gallery, and various art shows. David attended Montgomery College, University of Maryland, where he was associated with the Industrial Arts and Industrial Technology programs.

America by Air Exhibition Press Kit