Fairfield University and the Westport Arts Center offer art, politics and legal issues lecture series to examine art world | Press Releases

University College at Fairfield University and the Westport Arts Center are presenting an art, politics and legal issues lecture series to examine many of the most interesting and challenging issues confronting today's art world.

The lectures will take place at the Westport Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. The series kicks off with "Legacies and Legalities: The Spoils of War," on Wed., Feb. 5. Lecturer Elisabeth Clark will consider the restitution of displaced art and archives to their rightful owners.

Ms. Clark, the daughter and granddaughter of art dealers, grew up in Paris and New York. She has a Law degree from the University of Paris and a graduate degree from New York University Law School as well as a degree from the School of Political Science in Paris. She is a member of the New York State Bar. She is not currently practicing law but has been involved for several years with the recuperation of works of art and archives stolen during World War II.

Track the trends of the art world with Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D. He will present "Scholars, Critics and Collectors," on Wed., Feb. 19.

Dr. Eliasoph is Professor of Art History at Fairfield University where he was founding director of the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. His doctoral dissertation, "Paul Cadmus: Life and Work" was the basis for a national retrospective tour which contributed to a revival for the classical figurative style of the artist. He has given lectures on the intersection between Italian Renaissance art and theory and the American egg tempera masters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Art Gallery, and the New York Academy of Art.

What is cultural property? Alan Neigher will try to answer that question in the third lecture in the series, "Modern Technology vs. Copyright," on Wed., March 5.

Mr. Neigher is a partner in the Westport firm of Byelas & Neigher. He specializes in media, entertainment, first amendment and trade regulation law. Currently, he serves as a Special Master for the Bridgeport seat of the United States District Court.

On Wed., March 19, David Rubinstein, Ph.D., will examine the issue of establishing standards in the art world in "Have You No Decency? Art, Politics, and Censorship."

Dr. Rubinstein holds a Ph.D. in History and Art History from New York University. Until recently he was on the faculty of Adelphi University, College of Arts and Sciences and was the director of Artistic and Cultural Affairs for the university. He currently serves as the Visual Arts Chairman for the Westport Arts Center, the president of the Westport Public Library, and the co-chairman of the Westport Arts Advisory Committee.

The final lecture in the series will take place on Wed., April 2, and will consider art and free expression in an Islamic Society. A title and lecturer are yet to be announced.

Tickets for the series are $150 and are not sold separately for individual lectures. Members of the Westport Arts Center receive a 10 percent discount. For more information and to register, please call University College at Fairfield University at 203-254-4307.