Mariana Carpinişan
Romanian Sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi: Combining Elegance and Sensitivity
An artist whose work shaped the birth of modern sculpture, Constantin Brâncuşi (1876-1957) also influenced modern concepts of form in painting and industrial design. Art critic and independent curator Mariana Carpinişan of Washington, D.C., will discuss Brâncuşi's career beginning with his years in Paris – where he initially fell under the influence of Rodin – and his subsequent rejection of realism in favor of graceful, sophisticated shapes inspired by memories of Romanian legends, fairytales and the philosophy of Milarepa.
Among the sculptures which Ms. Carpinişan will highlight is "The Kiss," the groundbreaking work in which Brâncuşi first achieved a balance between recognizable forms and the integrity of the stone block. Another is the "Endless Column," one of the world's most famous World War I memorials, which in recent years has been restored through the financial assistance of the World Monuments Fund and the World Bank.
In addition to lecturing for the Smithsonian Institution, Georgetown University and various museums in Europe, Mariana Carpinişan is a study leader for Smithsonian Journeys and is fluent in five languages. In 1998 the Smithsonian honored her for her work as an educator and, in particular, for effectively carrying out its mission to further the "increase and diffusion of knowledge."
Born in Romania and educated in Europe and the United States, Ms. Carpinişan is a former Curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where she organized exhibitions and developed an interdisciplinary (art and music) curriculum. She also taught at Case Western Reserve University and in the early 1990s gave art history lectures on television in Canada.
When and where to enjoy Mariana Carpinişan's program on Constantin Brâncuşi: Thursday, February 14, 2008, at 10 a.m., Lakeview Museum, 1125 West Lake Ave., Peoria, Illinois.
Other programs in the Fine Arts Society's 2007-2008 lectures series: "The Guitar in Art" with Dr. Lily Afshar, "Glass and Light" with Christopher Ries, "The First and the Last in Rembrandt's Prints" with Dr. Paul Crenshaw, "Beauty or Blasphemy: Representations of the Virgin Mary in Contemporary Art" with Dr. Sarah Glover, "Special Exhibitions: Behind the Scenes" with Dr. Sidney Goldstein and "On High Ground: The Documentation of Buddhist Art in the Indian Himalayas" with Dr. Rob Linrothe.
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Last updated on July 14, 2008.
