Thursdays at 5:30 pm; Dee Dee and Jon R. Stuart Classroom

Get acquainted with the museum’s permanent collection during these 45-minute talks featuring works including in the exhibition American Artists from the Russian Empire.  Light refreshments will be served. 2008 Press Release

Sept 4        Intensity of Color:  Nicolai Fechin (1881 – 1955)

The area of Taos reminded Fechin of the Russian Caucasus and the Pueblo’s Indians recalled the nomadic Mongols and other ethnic tribes in Russia.  

Sept 18      A Life of Adventure:  Leon Gaspard 1882 – 1964)

Although he settled permanently in Taos, Gaspard traveled extensively through Asia and North Africa, and his paintings reflect these adventures.

Oct 9         Painting as Social Dialogue:  Ben Shahn (1898 – 1969)

Best known for his works of Social Realism and his leftist political views, Shahn dealt with the political concerns of his time in his paintings and lithography.

Oct 30       The American Scene:  Raphael Soyer (1899 – 1987)

Soyer depicted people in contemporary American settings, such as the streets and subways.  However he avoided subjects that were critical of society.

Nov 13      Interior Landscapes:  Pavel Tchelitchew (1898 – 1957)

In 1943, Tchelitchew began painting “interior landscapes,” which displayed the body’s interior workings while simultaneously depicting its external features.

Dec 4        An Intuitive Approach to Art:  Max Weber (1881 – 1961)

In 1916, Weber published Essays in Art, a book that emphasized an intuitive and spiritual approach to the creation of art.