Arts Council has two free art series in July

In July, the theme is “East meets West” for the Doña Ana Arts Council (DAAC). Two online art-history series will be offered free of charge for those who register on the DAAC website. 

While many COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lifting, DAAC organizers believe it’s important to continue free on-line opportunities for those who wish to stay at home. These “Feed Your Mind” classes are a gift from DAAC and art historians Kathleen Key and Nicholas Dahle, both instructors in UTEP’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program.

Dahle will teach an eight-week series on “Buddhist Art: The Art of Enlightenment” via Zoom from 5:30-7 pm. Mondays, July 6-Aug. 24. 

For more than 2,000 years, Buddhism has spread throughout Asia and inspired some of its greatest works of art. Buddhist art was transformed by the many cultures who adopted it, creating a fantastic array of visual iconography. Class one: India and Pakistan; class two: the Himalayas; class three: China; class four: China continued; class five: Korea and Mongolia; class six: Japan; class seven Japan continued; class eight; Southeast Asia. 

The other July course is about art of the West, primarily European and American. “Twentieth Century Art” is a five-session series presented by Key via Zoom from 1:30-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 7, 9, 14, 16 and 21.

“The 20th century is 100 years of great artists and great artwork,” Key said, including the works of “Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe, Cindy Sherman, Donald Judd, Maya Lin, Judy Chicago and many more phenomenal artists.”

Her five-part lecture series will provide “stimulating and lively art and discussion” of 20^th century art.

There is no charge to participate in either course, but registration is required at www.daarts.org/classes-workshops/. Registered students will receive a Zoom invitation prior to the first class.

Contact DAAC at 575-523-6403. Visit www.daarts.org.