This autumn I’m doing a series of talks to coincide with London’s major exhibitions, and am hosting these in ‘The Den’ in Black’s Club in Soho, with breakfast and coffee on Tuesday mornings from September to November. The space is cosy and relaxed for a salon style atmosphere and there will plenty of opportunity for informal discussion alongside the lecture.
I’m doing four talks, starting with Georgia O’Keefe, Dorothea Tanning and the Language of Flowers on 20th september,which explores not only these artists who are currently on show in London but also how these modernist women challenged the tradition of flower painting as a stereotypically feminine past-time. I’ll also be talking about one of my favourite topics which is still-life painting and the range of political meanings and symbols behind seventeenth-century flower painting, as well a look at Cy Twombly and other twentieth-century flower paintings.
The next talk is on Caravaggio and Beyond, on 11th October and takes a look at the dark arts of Caravaggio and how his influence has been felt not only by the subsequent generation of European painters but also in Neo-Realist cinema of the post-war period and by contemporary artists and fashion photography. The National Gallery exhibition opening in October promises to be a blockbuster and I discuss what is it that makes Caravaggio so universally appealing at this moment.
November sees two talks, one on the 15th Nov looking at Rodin and Dance to coincide with the Courtauld Gallery exhibition devoted to the artist’s late sculptures exploring movement. I will also be considering the relationship between dance and art in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, from Degas’ depictions of the dark underworld of the Parisian ballet, to Matisse, Chanel and Picasso’s involvement with the Ballet Russes.
The last session is on 29th November and is a special end of year double bill looking at two themes, the first half will look at Abstract Expressionism to explore the themes and context behind the Royal Academy’s autumn extravaganza. The second half will cover a subject that I’m thrilled is being well represented this autumn which is the Feminist Avant Garde, to coincide with two shows, one on 1970s photography at The Photographer’s Gallery, and the second is a look at the agitational work by the Guerilla Girls, on show at the Whitechapel Gallery.
All sessions run from 10am-12pm at Black’s Club on Dean St. in Soho and include a buffet-style breakfast of coffee, pastries, granola and yoghurt plus an in-depth lecture and discussion with images, that is both informal and informative. This is also a chance for non-members of Black’s to experience the environment of one of London’s iconic private members’ clubs.
Cost per morning is £60, or bring a friend and get two tickets for £100. This includes breakfast, the lecture and handouts to take home.
To book a place please email cath.mccormack@gmail.com
Catherine McCormack 