Press Releases |
| NEXT AIA LECTURE, THE WESTERN GREEKS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS, IS FEBRUARY 9TH Contact: Prof. Michael Hoff, Professor of Art History, UNL, 472-5342, What: Archaeological Institute of America, Public Lecture Presenter: Dr. Barbara Barletta, University of Florida Date: Thursday, February 9, 2006 Where: Richards Hall, Room 15, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Time: 7:30 PM The Lincoln - Omaha Society of the Archaeological Institute of America announces its fourth lecture of the 2005 - 06 season. Dr. Barbara Barletta, of the University of Florida, will speak on the Greece colonies in South Italy and Sicily established beginning in the 8th century B.C.. The colonists came primarily from mainland Greece, the area that comprises most of the modern country. It is generally assumed that their artistic heritage was also derived from the Greek homeland. This is supported especially by the architecture of the western colonies, which was usually constructed in the Doric style of their homeland. Yet when the colonies were founded, many of the traditions of Greece were themselves only in the process of formation. Temples were just beginning to be built and the architectural orders had not yet appeared. Sculpture was generally on a small scale. Thus, instead of bringing already-established traditions with them, the colonists must have evolved many of their ideas on-site. These were certainly influenced by contacts with other parts of the Greek world, such as the Cycladic Islands and Asia Minor, as well as with their neighbors in Italy. This lecture explores the diverse influences on the early art of Western Greece and elucidates the impact from particular regions of the Greek and non-Greek worlds. It looks at architecture, for which the area is so well known, as well as sculpture and painting. An explanation is found for such correspondences as the result both of trade and of common approaches to art, materials, and to some extent even religion. Dr. Barletta is a Professor of Art History at the University of Florida, received her Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology. Her focus of research is the art and archaeology of ancient Greece, particularly Western Greek sculpture and architecture. She also specializes in the interactions between Greeks and non-Greeks in Italy. She has served as a visiting professor at Brown, Tulane, and the University of Missouri. Her newest book, The Materials and Techniques of Greek Sculpture, was released in 2002. For more information on the Midwest Archeological Center, visit http://www.cr.nps.gov/mwac/. Future AIA Lectures: March 23 Simon James, University of Leicester Thurs., 7:30 PM "Isle of Druids and Celtic Warriors: Britain on the Eve of Roman Invasion " Abbott Lecture Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, 2201 Dodge Street, Omaha April 2 Paul Demers, University of Nebraska Sun., 2:00 PM "Hitting the Road: Archaeological Investigation of Nebraska's Historic Trails" Abbott Lecture Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, 2201 Dodge Street, Omaha 01/23/2006 |
