Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by Judith Leyster’ Self-Portrait.
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by Hale Woodruff’s Georgia Landscape.
Over the course of the last century, the work of two architectural giants, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, responded to nature in very different ways influencing other architects as well as builders and clients. In a three-part series, architectural professionals examine how contemporary architecture draws on the legacies of these groundbreakers in structures that integrate nature and eco-friendly considerations into their designs. This session highlights Frank Lloyd Wright. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Essdras M. Suarez—a native of Panama—leads a visual tour that explores the country’s interplay of commerce, culture, and biodiversity in images that capture the deep connection between its inhabitants and their environment. Whether a trip to Panama is on your wish list or you’re simply curious about one of the Western Hemisphere’s most culturally and geopolitically critical nations, Suarez offers a personal and powerful picture of his homeland.
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by Hughie Lee-Smith's Confrontation.
Bordeaux is all about the blend. Sommelier Erik Segelbaum explores the grapes of region and leads tastings through classic wines including white Bordeaux, reds from selected Left- and Right-Bank appellations, and even a few surprises. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by Mary Cassatt’s The Boating Party.
How did the Miss America pageant survive for more than 100 years despite scandals, shifting cultural tastes. and changing expectations for women? Washington Post journalist Amy Argetsinger, author of There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America, explores the pageant’s story, beginning with its start in 1921. Following her lecture, attendees get to see objects from the National Museum of American History’s Miss America collection that are not on public display, hear from curators Ryan Lintelman and Jane Rogers about collecting the objects, and meet former Miss America titleholders, who tell stories about the pieces.
Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural experts lead a series of three virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as far-flung as Morocco, New Zealand, Israel, Belgium, and the East Coast of the United States. In vibrant visuals they explore how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. This session focuses on gardens located in Morocco and Israel.
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This writing session is inspired by Berthe Morisot’s The Mother and Sister of the Artist.
Get those pin-hole projectors and proper viewing glasses ready: On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will occur across the United States, and amateur astronomers and eager “umbraphiles” are already planning to be positioned somewhere along its path from Mexico to Maine. Kelly Beatty, senior editor for Sky & Telescope magazine, presents an overview of the nature of solar eclipses and helpful advice for seeing the next event safely and successfully.
Do you know the stories behind delectable Chinese American dishes—such as the connection between scallion pancakes and pizza? Drawing on her new book, Chinese Menu, Newberry and Caldecott honoree Grace Lin shares the tales behind favorite Chinese American food, from fried dumplings to fortune cookies. Rooted in history and folklore, the delightful stories are filled with squabbling dragons, magical fruits, and hungry monks. Journalist Lisa Ling joins Lin to uncover the rich histories of these dishes. Although Lin’s book is for young readers, this delicious conversation is for foodies of all ages.
Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural experts lead a series of three virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as far-flung as Morocco, New Zealand, Israel, Belgium, and the East Coast of the United States. In vibrant visuals they explore how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. This session focuses on gardens located in Belgium and Pennsylvania.
Food historian Francine Segan gets to the scrumptious center of our love affair with chocolate as she traces the origins and colorful history of this beloved treat, exploring its remarkable transformation from a grainy, bitter brew to the irresistible delicacy we all adore today. Afterward, treat yourself to a sampling of chocolates by Venchi, Italy's artisan makers, and take home chocolate-infused recipes
The geologic time scale is fundamental to our understanding of how the face of our planet has changed over 4.5 billion years. Geologist Kirt Kempter offers a unique approach to making this complex topic approachable: He condenses billions of years into a single calendar year as he traces the evolution of life and land in North America beginning at the start of the Paleozoic Era.
Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by paintings of the visionary Belorussian-born French artist Marc Chagall and by poetry across time, take the opportunity to slow down, look closely, and reflect to explore love as an animating force in our lives. Designed for writers of all levels, the workshop invites you to look outward at paintings and poetry and to look inward through writing.
Who are the Crypto-Jews of the American Southwest? The answer may well surprise you as much as it did them: They are mostly Catholic Hispanics who only recently learned of their presumed Jewish ancestry. Ori Soltes, a professor of religion at George Washington University, explores how members of this population became aware of that ancestry in the 1990s and how the questions it raises are linked to larger issues of human identity today.
Few books have had as much impact on American culture as Harper Lee’s legendary To Kill a Mockingbird from 1960. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, explores how Lee’s novel probes racism and its pernicious effects, represents life in the South, and creates some of the most memorable characters in American literature.
Armed with rubber tanks, fake artillery, and more than a few artistic tricks up their sleeves, a handpicked group of young GIs created a traveling road show of deception on the battlefields of Europe, with the German Army as their audience. Author and documentary filmmaker Rick Beyer tells the story of the most curious and creative group of soldiers deployed in the Western theater of war.
Like a majestic ocean liner or a grand hotel, the Victorian-era Sutro Baths dazzled visitors with its over-the-top opulence and its many attractions: seven swimming pools, museum exhibits, restaurants, tropical plants, promenades, and seating for thousands of spectators, all covered by more than 100,000 square feet of glass. Historian John Martini dives into the fascinating story of a vanished but enduring piece of San Francisco history.
In the heart of the Renaissance, love and marriage were celebrated with unparalleled fervor, resulting in the creation of some of history's most iconic artworks. Bonds of love of another sort were represented during this period as well in erotic drawings and prints. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo illuminates the tradition of commemorating love and marriage through masterpieces by artists including Giulio Romano, Lorenzo Lotto, and Titian. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Arts journalist Richard Selden leads a visit to Baltimore to experience “Ethiopia at the Crossroads” at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. The special exhibition celebrates the artistic traditions of Ethiopia and is the first major art exhibition in America to examine Ethiopian art in a global context. After an authentic Ethiopian lunch, visit an Ethiopian Orthodox church to explore this ancient culture more deeply. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural experts lead a series of three virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as far-flung as Morocco, New Zealand, Israel, Belgium, and the East Coast of the United States. In vibrant visuals they explore how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. This session focuses on gardens located in New Zealand and Virginia.
Weaving fascinating stories of what it was like to work on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos and the challenges the scientists encountered as they raced to get an atomic bomb before Hitler’s Germany did, historian Allen Pietrobon explores what made physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer famous. But not all Americans celebrated him or the devastating weapon he and his colleagues created.
As a painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec found rich subjects in the colorful whirl of Paris during the Belle Époque. Its streets, theaters, and cabarets inspired a significant collection of provocative images of his modern—and often decadent—times. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar surveys Lautrec’s paintings and posters within the context of life in Montmartre which attracted Lautrec and many other artists for its bohemian freedom. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Did you know that your morning cup of coffee has the power to protect birds—or to destroy their habitat? Ruth Bennett, a Smithsonian research ecologist, journeys south to the coffee farms responsible for migratory songbird survival, exploring why some farmers are actively protecting bird habitats by growing coffee under native shade trees, while others are eliminating their winter habitat by cutting down cloud forest to grow more coffee. She also reports on how the Smithsonian is creating a market for coffee brands carrying its Bird Friendly certification.
The Rhône Valley is home to some of the world's most iconic appellations such as Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As sommelier Erik Segelbaum leads tastings of multiple expressions from across the region, learn why wines from this beautiful area of France are food-friendly favorites of sommeliers the world over. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
Over the course of the last century, the work of two architectural giants, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, responded to nature in very different ways influencing other architects as well as builders and clients. In a three-part series, architectural professionals examine how contemporary architecture draws on the legacies of these groundbreakers in structures that integrate nature and eco-friendly considerations into their designs. This session highlights Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The disenchantment of modern times is often reflected in art that mires the spirit in darkness. But artists of other eras chose to confront the dark side of their world with the compelling force of wonder despite the inequality, poverty, and violence that surrounded them. Art historian Liz Lev highlights how creators like Giotto, Bernini, and Monet wrestled with their own catastrophic times to instill hope and spark amazement. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
As a framework for negotiations between Israel and Palestine, the 1993 Oslo Accords were intended to last five years. But grim conflicts have persisted for more than three decades, with genuine peace remaining elusive. Historian Ralph Nurnberger unravels the intricate web of secret diplomacy, alternating periods of hope and despair, and the conflicting goals and objectives among supporters and opponents of the Oslo Peace Process.
For nearly a century, Hollywood has been captivated by the allure of the Broadway musical. Most of the Great White Way’s biggest hits have made the transfer to the movie theater, though sometimes the journey has yielded damaged goods. Media historian Brian Rose looks at this colorful history, including glorious reinterpretations like Milos Forman’s Hair and Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story.
During the 1830s, many thousands of Native Americans were expelled from their homelands in the Southeast and forced to migrate to land west of the Mississippi. An estimated one-fourth of the 16,000 people on the 800-mile journey of the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma died, one reason the Cherokees remember the “Trail of Tears.” Historian Rowena McClinton discusses the chain of events behind this forced removal.
Is it possible that Neoclassicism, with its focus on order and the enduring values of Greece and Rome, can co-exist with Romanticism, with its emphasis on exotic scenes, and studies of sublime nature? Yes it can—and did—in the 18th- and 19th-century art world. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar explores the artistic and cultural highlights of Neoclassicism and Romanticism from the Enlightenment to the Age of Revolution and the movements’ lasting impact on Western artists. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The name Bloomsbury conjures up an image of early 20th-century bohemia whose literati included Virginia Woolf. But artists also were in the circle, and Woolf’s sister Vanessa Bell, critic and painter Roger Fry, Duncan Grant, and Dora Carrington formed the nucleus of visual Bloomsbury. Curator Nancy Green delves into this tight-knit group of artists and friends and their place in the pantheon of 20th-century Modernism. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Few novels have captured the American imagination as strongly as Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man from 1952, a searing account of a young Black man’s quest for identity as he moves from the segregated South to New York, where he becomes involved in the violent world and social upheaval of political activism. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, guides participants through a discussion of Invisible Man’s sophisticated literary techniques, memorable characters, and artful narrative elements.
During the Cold War, novels, essays, and poems could win the hearts and minds of those caught between the competing creeds of capitalism and communism. They could also lead to blacklisting, exile, imprisonment, or execution for their authors if they offended those in power. Cultural historian Duncan White introduces the key literary conflicts that animated the Cold War from the beginning of the Spanish Civil War to the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
What do Richard the Lionheart, Henry VII, and Queen Elizabeth II have in common? They came to the throne after the deaths of their fathers—and with mothers eager to be involved in the running of the country. Tudor and Renaissance scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger examines the relationships of kings and queens and their mothers from the 12th century to today, illustrating that although they didn’t hold official public positions, the women who rocked the royal cradle changed the course of English history.
There’s no better way to sweep away winter than with an overnight escape to the horticultural paradise that’s the Philadelphia Flower Show. And with a theme of “United by Flowers,” the 2024 edition is sure to provide plenty of color and extravagance. Horticulturist Chelsea Mahaffey leads the tour.
The oeuvre of pioneering French Modernist Henri Matisse—created across more than five decades—includes a wide range of materials and styles, from exquisite tiny etchings to enormous cast-bronze sculpture to designs for religious vestments and stained-glass windows. Art historian Nancy G. Heller examines how all of Matisse’s diverse output shares certain critical elements of his aesthetic philosophy and why his work continues to fascinate today’s creative minds. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The American victory over British forces at Saratoga in September 1777 stunned the world and changed the course of the War of Independence. Kevin J. Weddle of the U.S. Army War College analyzes the strategic underpinnings of the historic Saratoga campaign, considers why events unfolded as they did, and offers a new interpretation of George Washington’s role in the American success.
Astrophysicist and author Mario Livio examines the intimate link between Leonardo’s art and his scientific experiments and observations. As he explores how he used his science to advance his art, and his art to inspire and to present his science, Livio brings together all Leonardo’s facets to create a portrait of the quintessential Renaissance Man. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Two days before Academy Awards night, Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell focuses on all things Oscar, from Academy Awards history to this year’s nominations and behind-the-scenes stories. He sorts through the story lines, rumors, and gossip, so that when the telecast begins, you'll be the most knowledgeable guest at your Oscar party.
Did you know that there is a top-of-the-food-chain predator likely living in your neighborhood? This animal moves silently at speeds of 20 to 40 miles per hour and eats animals twice its size. Not a bear or mountain lion or coyote, it’s a Great Horned Owl, found in every state except Hawaii and in almost every habitat you can imagine. Naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw takes a close look at these magnificent creatures.
The Bargello Museum houses what is arguably the world's greatest collection of Renaissance sculptures. Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero delves into the history of the 13th-century building that houses the collection as well as the sculptural masterpieces that it contains. Among them are works by Michelangelo, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Verrocchio. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Since the beginning of motion pictures, making audiences laugh has been one of the film industry’s biggest box office attractions. Media historian Brian Rose looks at major highlights of screen comedy over the last 125 years, illustrated with more than 40 examples from Hollywood’s funniest films.
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights is one of the most celebrated novels in 19th-century literature. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, reveals the novel’s defining qualities and characteristics, with a focus on its Romantic elements, dazzling mix of the supernatural and natural, and construction of compelling characters such as Heathcliff and Catherine. Luzzi also discusses Brontë’s different modes of storytelling.
From the 8th through the 19th centuries, Shinto and Buddhist traditions and institutions intermingled in Japan. Buddhism used images to spread its teachings and assimilate with local religions. This practice affected the veneration of kami (broadly defined as spirits of nature) in Shinto, which originally did not use such depictions. Art historian Yui Suzuki describes the synthesis of kami veneration and Buddhist worship. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
In addition to producing incredible and complex wines, Languedoc is a leader in sustainable viticulture and forward-thinking responses to climate change. This delicious exploration of regional wines led by sommelier Erik Segelbaum explores the profound impact Languedoc has had in the global wine world. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
Over the course of the last century, the work of two architectural giants, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, responded to nature in very different ways influencing other architects as well as builders and clients. In a three-part series, architectural professionals examine how contemporary architecture draws on the legacies of these groundbreakers in structures that integrate nature and eco-friendly considerations into their designs. This session highlights 21st-century architecture. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Working primarily in New York City in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, artists George Bellows, William Glackens, Robert Henri, George Luks, Everett Shinn, and John Sloan realistically depicted what they saw. Their paintings didn’t glamorize or prettify but captured the city with its gritty underbelly exposed. Art historian Bonita Billman explores the unvarnished truths they revealed about modern life. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Surprisingly, the last battle of the American Revolutionary War wasn’t fought at Saratoga or Yorktown or anywhere in the emergent United States. It took place on the other side of the globe, as British and French naval forces met at Cuddalore on the Bay of Bengal off the coast of modern-day India. Historian Richard Bell explores the causes, course, and consequences of this climactic encounter to examine India’s connection to the American Revolutionary War.
Arts journalist Richard Selden leads a delightful exploration of New York City’s largest outer borough. Highlights include the site of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs; the Museum of the Moving Image; the Noguchi Museum; the Louis Armstrong House Museum; a sampling of the borough’s international cuisine; and an overnight stay at the TWA Hotel, which celebrates the Jet Age glamour of the 1960s.
Frank Lloyd Wright left an indelible signature on the American Midwest: a legacy of buildings that trace the arc of his career as one of the world’s most significant and innovative architects. This 5-day tour led by historian Bill Keene offers a one-of-kind opportunity for a close-up look at a wide range of Wright’s designs in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as visits to seminal works by other architects of the early and mid-20th century. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)
