Art Appreciation   

Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner helped establish the New York School of painting, more commonly known as Abstract Expressionism, a movement that made postwar America the center of the art world. This fall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will mount a major retrospective of these two artistic giants, husband and wife, who redefined painting and created a visual vocabulary that had never been seen before. This presentation will provide an understanding of the artists’ individual importance, as well as their place in the broader context of Abstract Expressionism, a manifestation of the United States as an emerging political, economic, and cultural superpower.

Celebrated by a three-venue travelling exhibition in 2025, Caillebotte’s version of Impressionism was a sensation in his day. However, his refusal to exhibit after age 34 and his early death at age 46 contributed to his fading from memory until the late 20th century. By diving into his work, we will also be diving into the then newly emerging modern-urban life, the visual wonders of the newly designed city of Paris, and the already nostalgic views of the countryside.

Discover the life, music, and lasting legacy of the true architect of rock and roll. We will explore how Chuck Berry fused country, blues, and rhythm and blues music to create the definitive sound of a generation. Through vintage performance clips and audio recordings, we will trace his journey from a St. Louis cosmetology student to a global superstar. Learn the stories behind timeless anthems like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Maybellene," analyze his iconic "duckwalk" showmanship, and examine how his innovative guitar riffs shaped the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and everyone who followed.

Have you ever dreamed of experiencing the festive atmosphere of European Christmas markets? Save the airfare! Instead, we invite you to join Nancy as she shares her first-hand knowledge of delightful pre-Christmas traditions in German-speaking countries. Come taste a sampling of traditional Christmas market foods and learn about the artisanal wooden and glass decorations sold at the markets. Practice the German names for these specialties and a few basic German phrases to have in your back pocket if you go to a Christmas market.

No knowledge of German is necessary for this class.

The places we call home reflect who we are in all kinds of ways, from the deeply personal to broader cultural and socio-economic identities. In this presentation, we will explore how artists have depicted these most intimate spaces across historical and cultural contexts from the Roman murals of Pompeii to Vermeer’s sunlit interiors, from the palaces of kings to the tenements of New York City, from Japanese scrolls to contemporary photography. How do depictions of home reveal class status, cultural identity, and gender roles? What is shared and what is kept private? How do we construct and assert who we are within the places we inhabit? Thomas Wolfe said you can’t go home again, but maybe we can try.

Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock met as emerging artists in New York City, marrying in 1945 and remaining entwined personally, artistically, and professionally until Pollock’s untimely death in 1956. While Pollock’s reputation historically eclipsed Krasner’s, both artists are considered central to innovations in modern and contemporary art. Join Page Knox for an exploration of this major show at the MET (opening on October 4, 2026), which reevaluates the relationship and considers the full arc of their careers together.