Art created during the Great Depression years
Vicki Cunningham
The SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild is pleased to present a series of free lectures in partnership with the University of Arizona Museum of Art during January, February and March 2015. These lectures will focus on the importance of art in our country’s history as well as the importance of art in our personal lives. All lectures will be presented in the Mesquite Grill in HOA 2.
Kicking off the series is a lecture entitled A New Deal for Artists: Creating Art During the Great Depression and will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Docent Jacquelyn Feller will provide an illustrated presentation of artwork created by artists during the Great Depression. Between the years of 1933 and 1945, the Federal Government hired hundreds of artists who collectively created more than 100,000 works of art. Some were commissioned to create art for public spaces, depicting specific themes, while others were free to use their imagination.
The second lecture entitled Concrete Commentary will focus on the evolution and growth of cities across America and the story of its people as seen through the art work of various early and mid-twentieth century artists. Docent Tammy Bearden will present this on Tuesday, February 3 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The final lecture will be entitled Art and Soul and will be presented on Tuesday, March 3 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. by docents Fleurette and Marc Wallach. They will explore the importance of art to our personal and emotional lives and respond to questions like: “Does art exist only for art’s sake?” “Why should art matter to me?” “Is art medicine for the soul?” These two lecturers will reveal to the audience how an individual can enjoy works of art through personal and emotional lenses. When art is successful it provides a mirror through which we see beauty and understand more about ourselves.
Please mark your calendars and plan to come early to this series of informative and fun lectures because seats will fill up fast. Remember, they will all be in the Mesquite Grill and admission is free!