The Birth of American Art

Tues., July 14, 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Location: Online

Cost: $30

With Julie Alderson, Art Historian

As we celebrate the U.S. semiquincentennial, we will examine the very beginnings of American Art. Focusing particularly on the immediate aftermath of the American Revolution and continuing through the mid-19th century, we will look at the variety of ways that America began to visualize and understand itself through art. Works will include history paintings of important revolutionary battles, early images of the American landscape, and genre paintings of everyday life in the new nation, as well as sculptures honoring George Washington and architectural designs for early governmental buildings such as the Virginia State Capitol building. Through these varied examples, we will learn about the earliest visions America created of and for itself.

This class will be recorded with Closed Captions for future viewing.

Registration opens for OLLI members on May 27. Non-members may register starting May 29.

Julie Alderson

Julia Alderson's specialization is in the area of American and European Art, 1860 to the present. Her research interests include topics in sculpture, public art, and Land Art, as well as museum methodology and theory. She is current faculty in the Cal Poly Humboldt Dept. of Art + Film.