ART YOUR SERVICE

1.     Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

How many times do we look at a calendar or poster hanging on a wall and see a painting by Monet or Van Gogh?  Why are we so attracted to the beautifully colored and textured paintings by the artists of the time?  Join in a presentation and discussion on the two artistic movements arising in mid Nineteenth century France and learn about their similarities, differences, and the works of art and artists who are so deeply admired today.

2.    Tutankhamun:  Still An Enduring Power

One hundred years ago British archeologist, Howard Carter, unearthed a legend and today we are still piecing together new revelations.  Who was Tut and why is he so famous, and what are the mysteries and superstitions surrounding him?  Take an extraordinary journey back to ancient Egypt and join in a presentation and discussion about the young warrior king. 

3.     Great Masters of the Italian Baroque:  Bernini and Caravaggio

Following the High Renaissance of the Sixteenth Century, the Baroque period begins and is nowhere more prevalent than in Italy itself.  The presentation focuses on two revolutionary artists, Gian Lorenzo Bernini in sculpture and Caravaggio in painting, both moving away from the art of the preceding period and setting the stage for art moving forward.

4:   The Life and Works of Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo, known as a Twentieth Century surrealist and magical realist and symbol of strength and resiliency, was a Mexican painter inspired by nature and popular culture of Mexico.  She explored themes of identity, gender, class and race in Mexican society.  The presentation will focus on the artist’s fascinating works with strong autobiographical elements mixed with realism and fantasy.

 
5.  The Cradle of Civilization:  Ancient Greek Art and Architecture

Have you ever wondered why Greek male statues are portrayed without clothes and the Parthenon, the great Greek temple of the Fifth Century BCE and 2500 years old, is still standing?  Ancient Greek civilization was much shorter lived than that of Ancient Egypt (3000 years) or Ancient Rome (1000 years), but its art and architecture are among the most spectacular in the history of art.  The wonders of Ancient Greek civilization will both enlighten and inspire you on this journey back in time.

6.    Art Movements of the Twentieth Century

The first half of the Twentieth Century was a period of significant upheaval worldwide.  Between 1900 and 1945, the major industrial powers fought two global wars; witnessed the rise of Communism, Fascism, and Nazism; and suffered the Great Depression.  These decades were also a time of radical change in the arts where painters and sculptors challenged some of the most basic assumptions about the purpose of art and what form an artwork should take.  An artistic revolution emerged with artists exploring new directions.  Fauvism, Cubism, German Expressionism, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art are some of  the art movements that speak to these changes.

 
7.     Wonders of Ancient Egypt

The civilization of ancient Egypt, with its rich history and enduring mysteries, stands as a testament to human achievement and ingenuity.  Spanning over three millennia, Egypt’s unique culture and remarkable accomplishments continue to captivate our imaginations today.  Embark on a journey through time to explore the wonders of ancient Egypt from the time of the Great Pyramids in the Old Kingdom through King Tutankhamun in the New Kingdom and beyond.

 
8.    The Three Geniuses of the High Renaissance:  Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael

 
Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael were all active during the High Renaissance, which was an intense period of creativity in  Italy and beyond from the 1480s into the first decades of the Sixteenth Century in Rome, Florence and Milan.  The presentation will focus on the three great masters, specifically their artistic styles, individual masterpieces, and the  rivalry that existed between them.