Try doing a text search for your program, or browse our programs using the calendar and program type filters.
Best known for her mesmerizing wire sculptures that blur the line between drawing and sculpture, Ruth Asawa created a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. A second-generation Japanese American, Asawa endured incarceration during World War II and emerged with a lifelong commitment to the transformative power of art and education. Art historian Jennie Hirsh traces Asawa’s journey as an artist, activist, and educator. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
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 19th-century French artist James Tissot’s painting Journey of the Magi and poetry across time, explore the notion of epiphany—those transformative moments in life that spark change and understanding.
Insects are the most abundant animals on the planet, numbering in the quintillions. Oddly enough, they are also the least observed. Naturalist Eric R. Eaton aims to inspire you to watch more bugs and shares what you can do to keep these critters thriving. He highlights the basic tools for watching insects with all five senses, suggests best habitats and circumstances for seeing the most diversity, and offers tips for attracting desirable insects to your yard and garden.
The name John Hay may not be a familiar one, but his impact on American history is profound. He moved from being a confidant of Abraham Lincoln to Secretary of State under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt to negotiator of the treaties that granted the United States exclusive rights to build the Panama Canal. Historian Ralph Nurnberger examines the remarkable life and legacy of a key architect of American power whose diplomatic vision propelled the nation onto the world stage.
Complementing the exhibit "Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600–1750" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, a lecture by art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine highlights Dutch and Flemish women’s contributions to 17th- and early 18th-century art. From renowned painters to lesser-known printmakers and sculptors, women shaped the artistic culture of the Low Countries. Despite social constraints, many built successful careers, proving their creative worth in a male-dominated world. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Few national cinemas offer as compelling a mirror to social transformation as Italy’s. In the decades following World War II, Italian filmmakers shaped a legacy of innovation, reflection, and artistry that still resonates on the global stage. In a four-part series, art historian Jennie Hirsh explores pivotal moments in Italian cinema, from the birth of Neorealism to the bold experimentation of contemporary filmmakers, and how they captured—and questioned—their time. This session focuses on Italian filmmaking from the 1990s to today.
Throughout the history of Western music, men have claimed most of the spotlight and accolades as performers, composers, teachers, impresarios, patrons, and instrument makers. Less attention has been paid to the scores of brilliant creative women who played these roles—along with many others—and who were relegated to the less brightly lit corners of the musical word. In a four-session series, speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin brings these women and their often-untold stories to life, showcasing them with live piano performances and historical and contemporary media clips.
Beginning students explore watercolor techniques and learn new approaches to painting through demonstration, discussion, and experimentation.
Photography burst onto the scene in the mid-19th century and has since become one of the enduring forms of art. Art historian Matthew Palczynski traces the development of the earliest photo images, examines how Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen helped photography become a recognized art medium, surveys some of the most notable Pulitzer Prize–winning photographs, and examines the widespread role photography has played in the last 50 years. (World Art History Certificate elective,1/2 credit)
Refamiliarize yourself with the fundamentals of color theory while learning an approach to mixing color that relies on color harmonies. Gain a deeper understanding of complementary color relationships to more intuitively mix colors and harness color harmonies to better express depth as well as the contrast between light and shadow.
