University College at Fairfield University presents Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) speaker, Director of the National Gallery in Washington, D. C. Earl A. Powell III on Monday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. in the Quick Center for the Arts. The lecture is presented through a Collegial Partnership with the Art History Program in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

An expert in 19th and 20th century European and American art, Powell became the fourth director of the National Gallery of Art in 1992. No stranger to institutional innovation, under his leadership this world-renowned collection has increased by 12,000 works of art, his team has established an award-winning Web site, a visitor-friendly interactive Micro Gallery and has attracted children and families to this prominent destination through the creation of exciting family-friendly programs and a 6.1-acre Sculpture Garden. Future plans center on the Gallery's goal of exploring new ways of using technology to make the collection more accessible to all Americans.

With this flourish of successes and new challenges on the horizon, Powell, also known as "Rusty," will focus his OVF talk on the "Art Museum of the 21st Century." Using vivid visual examples, Powell will share his experience, knowledge and vision for the future of the art museum.

Joining Powell onstage for a post-lecture discussion and audience questions and answers, will be OVF director Dr. Philip Eliasoph who is also professor of art history, Dr. Diana Mille, director of the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery and a faculty member in the art history program and Dr. Jill Deupi, interim director of the Bellarmine Museum and visiting assistant professor of art history.

In recognition of Fairfield's continuing commitment to the visual arts - and prior to the lecture - University President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. will present the Gerard Manly Hopkins, S.J. Award to artist Robert Vickrey, whose exhibition, "The Magic of Realism" opens at the Thomas J. Walsh Gallery earlier in the evening. The gallery will remain open after the lecture until 10:00 p.m. to enable audience members to visit the Robert Vickrey exhibition.

Tickets are $45 and are available by calling the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396.

Posted On: 03-05-2009 10:03 AM

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