with Bartholomew F. Bland, Curator, Writer, and Executive Director of Lehman College Art Gallery, The City University of New York

$12 (Members 10% discount)

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Join Bland for an enchanting journey through American art history’s most beloved bovine muse – the cow. This lively, entertaining talk explores how cattle have captivated artists’ imaginations from bucolic 19th-century landscapes to provocative contemporary installations. Discover how Hudson River School painters used cows to domesticate wild vistas, while modernists like Warhol and Lichtenstein transformed these creatures into pop culture icons. Experience the unexpected artistry, humor, and profound symbolism embedded in America’s artistic love affair with cattle through this visually stimulating presentation.

The talk will examine how the cow’s symbolic presence evolved alongside America’s shifting relationship with agriculture and nature. The lecture will also showcase highlights on view in the Cow Tales exhibition, revealing surprising artistic approaches from pastoral idylls to pointed environmental commentary. From Thomas Hart Benton’s romanticized rural scenes to Gloria Houng’s poignant meditations on animal ethics, these works invite reflection on our cultural relationship with these gentle creatures.

Image: Don Nice (b. 1932), Longhorn Steer, Western Series, American Predella #6, 1975. Oil on canvas, 71 x 120 inches. Collection of the Delaware Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and contributions

Cow Tales is on view at the Florence Griswold Museum through September 14.

This exhibition is made possible with the generous support of HSB, John and Barbara Hazeltine, Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts, as well as donors to the Exhibition Fund and the Annual Fund.

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Educational & Travel Program Refund Policy
No refunds for Broadway bus trips or Miss Florence’s Teas after transaction is complete. Refunds for programs over $20 are subject to a $20 cancellation fee. Refunds (less $20 fee) are offered for cancellations made prior to a program’s noted refund date. Programs without a refund date can be cancelled one hour prior to event. No refunds after program takes place. To request a refund or to transfer program fee into a donation, please email david@flogris.org. (Updated February 2022)