Art Appreciation   

Spring skies were full of birds in the Middle Ages just as now, and each had symbolic properties recorded in lavishly illustrated bestiaries. But the medieval mind also pondered hosts of angels and skyborne demons populating the ether. Beginning with a look at the relationship between the earth and heavens in the Middle Ages, we will tour through the bestiaries to learn why the "anthus" bird mimicked a horse's whinny, why the mythical harpy was so treacherous, and how falconry was bound inextricably to courtly culture. Join us as we fly through history alongside these winged creatures of all varieties!

Come explore the evolution of the styles of two of the most famous and influential artists of the 20th century. Matisse was the colorist; Picasso, the master of form and line. Fauvism (“Wild Beast”) or Cubism—two groundbreaking artistic movements--how did each play out? Both of these extraordinary creators made their homes in Paris first, then the South of France. Which one do you relate to? There is no wrong answer!

Step behind the curtain of one of Hollywood’s most beloved classics in this captivating lecture on The Wizard of Oz (1939). Discover the untold stories that shaped the magic, the on-set accidents and near-disasters, the surprising cast replacements, the unseen footage, and the behind-the-scenes intrigue that brought Dorothy’s journey to life.

Every reel of this Technicolor masterpiece hides astonishing secrets: from toxic makeup and blazing costumes to the mysterious fate of the Tin Man’s first actor. Packed with rare insights and fascinating trivia, this session will make you see The Wizard of Oz as you’ve never seen it before, where movie magic met real-life mayhem on the yellow brick road.

Raphael, one of the world’s most beloved artists, will be the subject of a once-in-a-lifetime retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this spring. Despite living only to the age of 37, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino is considered by many art historians to be the apotheosis of Italian Renaissance painting, unifying all of the accomplishments that came before him in the 14 th and 15th centuries, as well as creating a roadmap for the future of European painting. In this presentation, we will examine Raphael’s most important works within the context of his contemporaries and occasional rivals, Leonardo and Michelangelo. Highlights of the Met show will be discussed to enrich the experience of anyone planning to see it.

“All art is propaganda,” Diego Rivera famously pronounced. In this presentation, we will look at how art has been used to inspire people in bringing about social change and upending oppressive power structures. Our investigation will span from the call for liberté, egalité et fraterité in the French Revolution with artists such as David, Gros, and Delacroix, to the anti-war and anti-authoritarian messages of Goya, Picasso, and Kollewitz, to the socialist aspirations of the Mexican painters, Rivera, Kahlo, Orozco, and Sequeiros, and finally to some recent artists such as Barbara Kruger, David Wojnarovicz, Kehinde Wiley, and Ai Weiwei. By the end of the evening, maybe we will all be inspired to make a better world.

Johannes Vermeer, the 17th century Dutch artist, has given us mesmerizing and enigmatic paintings. Yet, several paintings attributed to him are problematic to say the least, even though they all have the right provenance. Some look like an amateur’s work, others are emotionally powerful while technically inferior. We will explore the enduring mysteries, including the theory that Vermeer’s daughter became his apprentice.

Held 100 years to the day after his death, this lecture commemorates Antoni Gaudí’s enduring legacy and explores his most ambitious architectural undertaking in extreme detail. Still unfinished after 143 years, the wondrous cathedral of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona recently became the tallest church in the world. Full of surprises at every turn, it awes with innovative engineering and wildly creative design. Its architect, Antonius Gaudí, became an international icon with a cult-like following, his many buildings in and around Barcelona defining the city’s unique character. We will explore his extraordinary achievements in depth, uncovering the ideas, innovations, and symbolism that make La Sagrada Familia unlike any other building in the world.