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American Pictures Distinguished Lecture Series

March 8, 2008

On Saturday, March 8, the inaugural event of the American Pictures Distinguished Lecture Series was held in Washington, D.C. The series, which is sponsored by Washington College, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery, pairs a series of renowned speakers with powerful images from American art and portraiture. Each of the four lectures invites the audience to step inside the frame of a single picture and lose themselves there, much as readers sometimes lose themselves in the pages of a great book.

Saturday's inaugural speaker was novelist Allan Gurganus, acclaimed author of Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All and other books, who spoke on Thomas Eakins's 1887 portrait of Walt Whitman. The event was held in the same building where the poet famously nursed wounded soldiers during the Civil War.

Later speakers this spring are musician/performance artist Laurie Anderson on March 15, historian/critic Garry Wills on April 26, and actress/playwright Anna Deavere Smith on May 10. A free bus from Chestertown is running to the Smithsonian for each of the events, through the generosity of Valliant & Associates LLC. Tickets are very limited; anyone interested should contact Joan Smith at jsmith7@washcoll.edu or 410-810-7165. Please visit starrcenter.washcoll.edu or reynoldscenter.org for more info.

Click to enlarge photos.

The Smithsonian's Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, where the "American Pictures" series is being held.
The Smithsonian's Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, where the "American Pictures" series is being held.
Washington College guests gather in the museum's courtyard. Left to right: alumnus Brendan Cunningham '04, Barbara Gillin, Professor Frank Creegan, Professor Richard Gillin.
Washington College guests gather in the museum's courtyard. Left to right: alumnus Brendan Cunningham '04, Barbara Gillin, Professor Frank Creegan, Professor Richard Gillin.
Heather Spurrier '00, Judie Barroll '88, and Joan Smith welcomed guests of the College.
Heather Spurrier '00, Judie Barroll '88, and Joan Smith welcomed guests of the College.
Lorraine '69 and Tom Polvinale '70 with Professor Emeritus Colin Dickson.
Lorraine '69 and Tom Polvinale '70 with Professor Emeritus Colin Dickson.
Thackray '69 and Jean-Francois Seznec '70.
Thackray '69 and Jean-Francois Seznec '70.
A full house in the museum's large auditorium included many visitors from Washington, D.C., and beyond.
A full house in the museum's large auditorium included many visitors from Washington, D.C., and beyond.
The Starr Center's Adam Goodheart, who is series director of the "American Pictures," introduces the speaker and the series. "In effect, we're commissioning a brand-new work, a new composition, from each of the four speakers—the lectures you will hear in this room are not anything that's been spoken or published before," he said.
The Starr Center's Adam Goodheart, who is series director of the "American Pictures," introduces the speaker and the series. "In effect, we're commissioning a brand-new work, a new composition, from each of the four speakers—the lectures you will hear in this room are not anything that's been spoken or published before," he said.
Allan Gurganus's talk was more of a performance than a lecture, as he dramatically evoked the rapport between Whitman and Eakins, using the two men's own words.
Allan Gurganus's talk was more of a performance than a lecture, as he dramatically evoked the rapport between Whitman and Eakins, using the two men's own words.
"This image founded their friendship," Gurganus said.
"This image founded their friendship," Gurganus said.
"A mania for spiritual and bodily liberation linked these two stubbornly un-suave artists."
"A mania for spiritual and bodily liberation linked these two stubbornly un-suave artists."
"Eakins's portrait became the poet's favorite. Whitman swore 'it comes nearest being me.' Eakins made the poet a gift of the work. It glows with a Santa-sized humanity often missing from Eakins's crimped commissions."
"Eakins's portrait became the poet's favorite. Whitman swore 'it comes nearest being me.' Eakins made the poet a gift of the work. It glows with a Santa-sized humanity often missing from Eakins's crimped commissions."
After the talk, Gurganus and Goodheart pose with Marc Pachter, who recently retired as director of the National Portrait Gallery.
After the talk, Gurganus and Goodheart pose with Marc Pachter, who recently retired as director of the National Portrait Gallery.
The post-event reception for Washington College alumni, faculty, and students was hosted at Poste Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco, across the street from the Reynolds Center. Here, the Seznecs chat with Steven Clemons. President Emeritus John Toll, and Professor Michael Harvey.
The post-event reception for Washington College alumni, faculty, and students was hosted at Poste Brasserie in the Hotel Monaco, across the street from the Reynolds Center. Here, the Seznecs chat with Steven Clemons. President Emeritus John Toll, and Professor Michael Harvey.
Young alumni Peter Anderson '02, Courtney Hanson '04, and Julia Myers LoBosco '04.
Young alumni Peter Anderson '02, Courtney Hanson '04, and Julia Myers LoBosco '04.
Student Elizabeth Clay '08 enjoys the party with her parents, John and Molly Clay, and trustee Eric Wentworth P '97.
Student Elizabeth Clay '08 enjoys the party with her parents, John and Molly Clay, and trustee Eric Wentworth P '97.
Elizabeth Clay '08 with Allan Gurganus.
Elizabeth Clay '08 with Allan Gurganus.
Erik Kreifeldt, Professor Andrew Oros, Steve Clemons, and Professor Jessica Gerrity.
Erik Kreifeldt, Professor Andrew Oros, Steve Clemons, and Professor Jessica Gerrity.
Brett Kopay Reardon '95 with Alumni Board chairman Jay Marchant '63.
Brett Kopay Reardon '95 with Alumni Board chairman Jay Marchant '63.
Former Washington College first lady Debby Toll with Professor Janet Sorrentino.
Former Washington College first lady Debby Toll with Professor Janet Sorrentino.
Seth Miller Gabriel '01 and Dick Fitzgerald '60.
Seth Miller Gabriel '01 and Dick Fitzgerald '60.
Professor Donald McColl greets his former student Brendan Cunningham '04.
Professor Donald McColl greets his former student Brendan Cunningham '04.
Dr. Toll chats with friends.
Dr. Toll chats with friends.
Oros, Goodheart, Gurganus, Clemons, Pachter, and McColl enjoy the party.
Oros, Goodheart, Gurganus, Clemons, Pachter, and McColl enjoy the party.
Donna McGee and Starr Center program manager Michael Buckley.
Donna McGee and Starr Center program manager Michael Buckley.

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