Artist and award-winning author Leslie Sills will present her lecture on Thursday at the D'Amour Museum of Art, in Springfield.
Artist and award-winning author Leslie Sills will present her lecture “Inspirations: Stories about Women Artists” on Thursday at the D'Amour Museum of Art, in Springfield.
The hour-long talk, which begins at 12:15 p.m., will focus on several female artists, their extraordinary lives and significant careers plus stories from personal interviews conducted by Sills for her books.
Attendees will learn more about American painters Mary Cassatt, Georgia O'Keeffe and Alice Neel, as well as Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, African American painted story quilter Faith Ringgold, and British sculptor Mary Frank.
“I interviewed both Ringgold and Frank for my books, Inspirations Stories About Women Artists and Visions: Stories About Women Artists. I also met Alice Neel and spoke with her at a conference on art by women in the 1980s shortly before her death,” said Sills.
Leslie SillsSills noted how the work of Frida Kahlo is the sometimes-curious favorite among audience members.
While Sills does not have a favorite female artist, all the women that she has researched, including the many who have influenced her own work as a ceramic sculptor, have taught her something about perseverance and staying true to one's own vision.
“Women artists, although exhibited more frequently than in the past, are still not on equal par with men in terms of museum shows or sales or sale prices. It continues to be a struggle,” said the Brookline artist and teacher.
Sills will show images of the artists’ work and touch on the history behind some of the pieces that can be found in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.
The Springfield Museums own the works of several leading female artists. After Sills lecture, the art educator will speak with docents about the women artists in the collections, particularly Mary Frank and Georgia O'Keeffe.
“Leslie Sills’ upcoming lecture will be a wonderful addition to our lecture line up. It is important to discuss and highlight the creativity and contributions that women artists have made past and present,” said Sarah Gogal of the Museum School at the Springfield Museums.
The lecture is part of Museums à la Carte programming at the Springfield Museums, a weekly event that brings an assortment of lecture topics to audiences about art appreciation, history, science and local themes for the Pioneer Valley.
The program, sponsored by Big Y World Class Market, is casual and visitors are invited to bring a lunch to enjoy during the talk. Cookies and coffee will also be provided.
Sills has presented before at The Springfield Museums. She is looking forward to answering questions about women in the creative fields and also about her books, which can be ordered through Amazon.com and found in libraries across the country and throughout the world.
“Inspirations: Stories about Women Artists” will take place on The Thursday, October 25, from 12:15 - 1:15pm. Admission cost is $4 and $2 for members of the Springfield Museums.
The D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts is located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in downtown Springfield. Free onsite parking is available. For more information about Museums à la Carte, call 413-263-6800, ext. 488 or visit springfieldmuseums.org.