Events for: Whistler House Museum of Art

In a lecture themed “Dynamics of Movement and Dwelling: Whistler’s Sense of Home,” Shirland explores various aspects of James McNeil Whistler’s life and art through various meanings of a “home” (residence, environment, country, household, birthplace, etc.). Shirland’s lecture will be part of the Whistler House’s 200th anniversary celebrations in 2025. Dr. Shirland received his Master’s and PhD in Art History from University College London. His doctoral work examined constructions of masculinity in British art c.1880-1914. Among his publications are articles in the journals, Art History, Visual Culture in Britain, and Aries. He has taught at the University of York and Lasell College, and served as the curator of Public Programs at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. He is also visual arts director and lead curator for the project Violence Transformed.

Like his contemporaries Twain and Whitman, Homer captured the landscape of a rapidly changing country with an artist’s probing insight. His tale is one of America in all its complexity and contradiction, as he evolved and adapted to the restless spirit of invention transforming his world. In Winslow Homer: American Passage, William R. Cross reveals the man behind the art. It is the surprising story of a life led on the front lines of history.

ATTENTION: This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for fall 2020, please check back later for more information. David and Judith will be doing a PowerPoint presentation on A.T. Hibbard with an emphasis on the pieces currently in the collection of the Whistler House Museum of Art. Judith will be speaking on the various stages of Hibbard’s career, while David will be explaining the difficulties of plein air painting and using the images to show what made Hibbard such a great painter and consummate designer. Judith is a freelance writer specializing in art-related themes and is curator of the Rockport Art Association and Museum’s permanent collection. David and Judith live on Cape Ann, where Judith is a regular contributor to the American Art Review.

Steven Hancoff will take you on a journey to see how Johann Sebastian Bach, a poor, unappreciated and tormented orphan transformed himself into the greatest virtuoso of his time. Half of the presentation is devoted to the historic story of Bach, his family, Felix Mendelssohn’s contribution to rescuing and resurrecting the music of Bach, and Pablo Casals almost miraculous discovery of the Cello Suites. With video, music and pictures, Hancoff will describe how it became his mission to transform these treasures into guitar pieces.

Shade plants are not created equal!” Shade Revealed, a talk abundantly illustrated with beautiful photography, focuses on what makes some shade plants belter performers than others. She also presents a clear approach to designing your shade garden for the best chances of long term success. Download the Handout: "Recommended Plants"

A Boston native, Stephen A. Kurkjian spent 37 years as an editor and reporter for The Boston Globe before retiring in 2007. During his career, he shared in three Pulitzer Prizes and won more than 20 regional and other national awards. Kurkjian was a founding member of The Globe’s investigative Spotlight Team, and its editor for 1979-1986. In 1986, he was named chief of The Globe's Washington Bureau and for six years oversaw the work of the paper's 10 reporters in Washington. In addition, while at the bureau he covered the Supreme Court, the Justice Department and the Bush White House during the first war in Iraq. His 2005 article of the theft of 13 pieces of artwork from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is regarded as the most complete account of the still-unsolved crime. In his retirement, he is working on a book on the art theft as well as working on investigative articles and freelancing for The Boston Globe.

An evening remembering Lowell educator and community leader Peter Stamas. Throughout his life, Peter S. Stamas was known as a man with many hats. Through his many varied roles as an educator and community leader, the former LHS headmaster and co-founder of both the Human Services Corporation and the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, lived a life dedicated to helping others, especially in his hometown. This November, ten years after his passing, Peter’s family, friends, colleagues and other interested Lowellians will join together to remember a man who truly set an example that celebrated both community and service in Lowell. The evening’s program will consist of several segments including speakers, panels, and a brief film, related to Peter’s work in the Lowell Public Schools, the Model Cities program, the Human Services Corporation, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and other community initiatives.. Co-sponsored by the Hellenic Heritage and Culture Society and the Lowell Heritage Partnership.

Join Aaron on a tour of Spanish history, geography, language and poetry through Spanish classical and flamenco music. Lively stories, dialogue, guitar techniques and musical interactions introduce 400 years of classical music from exotic Spain and Latin America. Ole!

Guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan performs exotic dances, tangos, and serenades by Isaac Albeniz (Spain) and Astor Piazzolla (Argentina), New Lullabies by New England composers, and a prelude and fugue or two by Bach.