"Getting" Contemporary Art: Fall 2020 Series

Wednesday Class Series: November 4, 11, 18, December 2 and 9; 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is thrilled to announce the return of the popular series “Getting” Contemporary Art this fall exploring a new roster of exhibitions and artist ideas. This 5-session virtual course provides a roadmap to central themes and ideas that have influenced artistic practice since the 1960s. Designed to be intimate, dynamic, and thought-provoking, participants will build skills to analyze, interpret, and discuss contemporary art while looking closely at the Museum’s current exhibitions. This course includes a unique behind the scenes opportunity to meet with exhibiting artist Judith Eisler virtually and explore her studio and practice on December 2. “Getting” Contemporary Art is led by Danielle Ogden, M.A., Ed.M., Adjunct Professor at Fairfield University and Museum Specialist, Adult Learning at The Aldrich.

All sessions will be recorded with lecture materials emailed after each class.

November 4: Re-writing the Rules: Learn new approaches to art history and looking at contemporary art. In this class we will survey a diverse range of issues that motivate artists and uncover the various ways they consider and comment on the world we live in.

November 11: “We are All Made of Stars”: This class will explore contemporary art as an interdisciplinary practice and dive into the star motif exhibited in Frank Stella’s Stars, A Survey and art inspired by the sky, astronomy, geometry, and more.

November 18: The Art of Reflection: What is the relationship between art and healing? Can works of art be transcendent? In this class we will investigate how artists such as Mark Rothko, James Turrell, and exhibiting artist Rudy Shepherd have used art as a vehicle for deep reflection, healing, and transformation.

December 2: Virtual Studio Visit: Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit with Twenty Twenty artist Judith Eisler in her studio in Vienna, Austria and a discussion on her work on view at the Museum, including portraits of women captured by media in profound public appearances such as Nancy Pelosi captured during President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address and an essential health care worker wearing a double layer of mask and visor during the pandemic.

December 9: Absurdity, Surrealism and Pop Art: This class will use the themes, techniques, and processes in Dada and Surrealism as a lens to explore Genesis Belanger’s exhibition, Through the Eye of a Needle.