Art on Thursdays at the Chelmsford Public Library

Have you heard about Art on Thursdays and wonder what that is? Each month, on the last Thursday, there is a VIRTUAL program on a different artist, or style, or art related topic. The best part about this program, is that if you register, but cannot make it- the recording will be shared with registrants! If you are curious, check out the program tomorrow night – to get into the glittery spirit of the holidays.

Austrian painter Gustav Klimt is associated with a number of artist movements including Art Nouveau and Symbolism, but in the end he developed a distinctive style all his own. This program introduces audiences to the idiosyncratic artist and reviews his famous gold paintings as well as his lesser known works. Image: Gustav Klimt, Judith (detail), 1901. Belvedere Gallery, Vienna.

About the presenter:

Jane Oneail (pronounced OH-neel) is the founder of Culturally Curious, a company that curates and presents art appreciation. Jane holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in NH, she has worked at some of the state’s most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as Executive Director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she held the role of Senior Educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University. For more information visit iamculturallycurious.com

Here is the schedule for 2024. Please use the links under each month to register on zoom and receive the link. If you register for them now, zoom will send you a reminder the week before!

2024 Featured Monthly Programs:

January 25th at 7pm – Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Pop artist Andy Warhol famously elevated everyday objects – like soup cans – to works of fine art. His paintings, silkscreens and photography often focused on American consumerism, not just of products, but of celebrities and images themselves. This program will look at the abbreviated life, artwork and enduring legacy of the artist who predicted “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes.” Image: Andy Warhol, Campbell Soup Cans, 1960s.

February 29th at 7pm- Kehinde Wiley: Color & Splendor

Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama cemented his status in the contemporary art world as an artist that mixes Grand Manner portraiture traditions, intricate patterns and designs, and a vibrant, technicolor palette. His paintings, which most often depict contemporary African American subjects, examine visual codes for power and challenge expectations. This program explores the artist’s life and provides an overview of his works and inspiration. Image: Kehinde Wiley. Barack Obama (detail), 2018. Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.

WEDNESDAY (Not Thursday) March 27th at 7pm- Fierce Females: Women in Art, Part II

Women have been barred from meaningful participation in the arts for centuries. This program celebrates the stories of an array of women artists (from the 1500s to today) who have overcome obstacles to achieve recognition and success. This program can be presented independent of Fierce Females, Part I. Image: Dorothea Lange. Migrant Mother, 1936. Museum of Modern Art.

April 25th at 7pm- Claude Monet: Impressions from Nature

Claude Monet was the founder of French Impressionism, a revolutionary style that involves working outside and rapidly executing sketchy paintings to capture momentary effects of light and shadow. Monet returned to familiar outdoor subjects throughout his career, culminating with his beloved series on the water lilies in his garden in Giverny. This program traces the artist’s life and career and includes many of his most beloved works. Image: Claude Monet. Nympheas, 1919. Musee Marmottan.

May 30th at 7pm – Maxfield Parrish: Myth & Whimsy

Working in the first half of the 20th century, the NH artist Maxfield Parrish skyrocketed to success as an illustrator with his distinct saturated hues and neoclassical themes. His prolific career helped to shape the Golden Age of Illustration in the US and his fantastic landscapes and ethereal figures transported audiences to other realms. This program provides an overview of the artist’s life, inspiration, and artistic output. Image: Maxfield Parrish. The Lantern Bearers, 1908. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

June 27th at 7pm – Frida Kahlo: Love, Pain and Painting

Frida Kahlo has become a household name in recent years, with movies, books and countless products dedicated to her art and likeness. This program will go beyond the artist’s famous facial hair and penetrating stare and explore her life and her work, particularly as it relates to the trolley accident she survived as a teen and her passionate and often tumultuous marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera. Image: Frida Kahlo. Self-Portrait with Monkey (detail), 1940. Private Collection.

July 25th at 7pm- Defining America: Illustrators and the Saturday Evening Post

The iconic Saturday Evening Post magazine reached millions of homes each week, featuring illustrated covers that spoke to the experiences of the modern American nuclear family. Explore the styles and themes of beloved illustrators including Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth and John Philip Falter. Image: Norman Rockwell, Rosie the Riveter, 1943. Crystal Bridges Museum.

August 29th at 7pm – Downeast Connections: Artists Inspired by Maine

Maine’s remote, rocky shoreline has been a beacon to American artists for generations. This program will survey the work of some of the most celebrated artists inspired by the state’s distinct landscape and way of life. The program features work by artists including Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, and Ashley Bryan. Image: Frank Weston Benson, Calm Morning, 1904. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

September 26th at 7pm- Leonardo da Vinci: Invention & Creation

Leonardo da Vinci is a name synonymous with genius. His ideas and his work helped to define the High Renaissance in Italy and they still mesmerize audiences worldwide today. This program provides an introduction to the artist and some of his most celebrated works including The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. Image: Leonardo da Vinci. Lady with an Ermine, 1491. Czartoryski Museum, Krakow, Poland.

October 24th at 7pm – Art History’s Best Dressed

Satins, silks, velvets and furs – through the years, artists have flattered their subjects with beautiful clothes rendered with awe-inspiring detail. This lighthearted program reviews some of the great fashions throughout the history of painting (with a few wardrobe malfunctions thrown in for good measure!).Image: John Singer Sargent. Mrs. Carl Meyer and her Children (detail), 1896. Tate Britain.

November 21st at 7pm- Rembrandt & Vermeer: Masters of the Dutch Baroque

The Dutch Golden Age of Painting was ushered in by a prosperous middle class and a new demand for images like still-lifes, portraits and genre scenes. The undisputed masters of the era were Rembrandt and Vermeer. This program provides an overview of the artists’ careers and an introduction to some of their most famous works. Image: Johannes Vermeer, Girl with the Pearl Earring, 1665. Mauritshuis, Den Haag, Netherlands.

December 19th at 7pm- Snowy Scapes & Celebrations: The Artist’s Holiday

Through the years, artists have created works both grand and intimate, religious and secular in response to the “most wonderful time of the year.” Enjoy this special overview of the variety of ways artists have captured the magic of the season. This program includes works by Grandma Moses, Salvador Dali, and Andy Warhol. Image: Grandma Moses. Christmas, 1958. Smithsonian Institute.

All that Glitters is Gold: Gustav Klimt