More than any single living cartoonist, Dean Haspiel has presented slivers and full looks at both his life and others through his work. The master of the “semi-autobio” comic, Dean has presented his life directly in Opposable Thumbs, partially in Street Code, and through the lens of a fictitious avatar in his successful comic book and digital strip Billy Dogma. Dean’s work has also graced the biographies of authors Harvey Pekar (American Splendor), Jonathan Ames (The Quitter), and Inverna Lockpez (Cuba). This presentation chronicles the cartoonist from his early days as an assistant in the industry to his current position as a digital comics pioneer.
Request ProgramSpeakers on the Arts
Archived Lectures. Some no longer available. Please visit the Statewide Faculty page for up-to-date listings.
VMFA Speakers on the Arts lectures are an excellent complement to programming at partner sites. They can also introduce new areas of art to Partner audiences and enhance community events and celebrations. A wide selection of topics and speakers is available for VMFA Statewide Partners. See Booking Speakers on the Arts for information about requesting a lecture.
Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics
Irving performs a reading of his book with Seth Kushner, accompanied with a slideshow of comic book creator portraits that starts with Captain America co-creator Joe Simon and ending with emerging comics talent. Irving conveys verbal snippets of the history of the American comic book, straight from the mouths of the creators themselves. Subjects include Stan Lee (Marvel Comics, Spider-Man), Frank Miller (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), Art Spiegelman (Maus), Chris Ware (Building Stories), Harvey Pekar (American Splendor), and Dennis O’Neil (Batman).
Request ProgramIt’s Your Art
Docents and members of the Council of VMFA take the museum into the community by presenting a very visual introduction to its history, services and facilities. Speakers interpret images from the permanent collection and preview coming exhibitions. Service clubs, church fellowships, women’s clubs and senior citizen groups will find that this FREE program at your location provides an excellent enrichment program and prepares the audience to visit VMFA, a world-class museum that belongs to all Virginians.
Request ProgramPrinting on the Kitchen Table
This lecture covers four distinct “low tech” printing processes that are fun, easy and produce amazing prints. Ms. Belle will discuss how to adapt these techniques for classroom application by addressing the issues of practicality, cost, the “messiness factor”, low cost supply alternatives and age appropriateness. Physical examples of supplies and prints will be examined and a handout with pertinent highlights is included for easy recall. This lecture can include a hands-on element if desired.
Request ProgramWhat a Relief: How Prints are Made
Join artist and the Thomas C. Gordon Jr. Director of the VMFA Studio School Mary Holland as she shares examples of original relief prints from her extensive print collection. She will also show the step-by-step process of image design, transfer, carving the plate, inking the plate, and printing. The history of relief prints, the oldest method of the printmaking processes, will be covered. This is a great lecture/demonstration for students, artists, and people who want to learn more about how art is created.
Enrollment limit: 20
Request ProgramStranger than Fiction: Great Art Heists in History
Discover what Japanese gangsters, bear spray and daring boat getaways have in common with noteworthy art thefts. In this lecture, you will travel the globe learning why museums from Amsterdam to Zimbabwe have been targets for thieves and what tools they used to elude detection. Find out who got caught…and who did not
Request ProgramArt Looted in the Nazi Era: An Opening Journey to Resolution
Issues of looted art and restitution, particularly of art misappropriated during the World War II era, continue to be very prevalent topics in art news coverage and remain important concerns for museums worldwide. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ Karen Daly provides a historical overview of art looting in the Nazi era and the subsequent response of the museum community. Furthermore, she considers how recovery and restitution efforts have evolved to the present day including a discussion of VMFA’s experiences in resolving two art restitution claims.
Request ProgramFaking it – a Look at the History of Art Forgery
The motives behind forging art are simple. Art objects are often worth a great deal of money, and those who want to buy them can’t always recognize the difference between an original and an imitation. Some of the most interesting and outrageous episodes in the history of collecting art have been instigated by forgers and their victims. This lecture outlines forgery from ancient Rome until modern times. Recounted are scandals involving artists as famous as Michelangelo, and stories of forgers who bested some of the great collectors and museums of modern times.
Request ProgramCollecting Photography for Beginners
Photography is one of the most popular art forms today making it easy and rewarding to collect. Learn about the various formats of photography and how to source photographs for your own collection. The speaker will bring examples from his own collection to share, give you tips on how the photo market works, and discuss methods of caring and displaying photographs. Whether you spend a few dollars, or a million, there are photographs waiting to be found that can beautify your home.
Request ProgramCareers in Art
Identify various careers in the art world. Achieve a better understanding of a specific profession’s job duties. Learn the necessary academic paths and experience needed to earn a career of your interest. Get a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of the inner workings of a fine arts museum.
(This lecture is intended for high school and college level participants)
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