News + Events

Thursday, March 26
6:00pm
Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum

In China, for well over a millennium, selected natural rocks known as Scholar's Rocks have been admired for their aesthetic and spiritual qualities. Like animate beings, these stones possess vital energy and breath. Collected by emperors and scholar-officials, large rocks placed in gardens served as focal points to engender thoughts about perfecting oneself and attaining immortality, and for contemplation about nature and travel through mountains. In miniature form, rocks on a scholar's desk brought the cosmos within hand's reach. Their visual power is reflected in the Chinese saying that a garden without rocks is not beautiful and a room without rocks is not elegant. This lecture discusses cultural meanings of rocks and the artistic criteria by which they were judged, as well as how they were displayed, including in contemporary times. Rocks themselves and their presentation in paintings and other art media will be addressed.

Friday, March 27
10:00am
Conference Room, Carlos Hall

What does a lifelong curatorial career feel like? How does one prepare for it? What makes a good curator in today's art museum? If resources were unlimited, what would your ideal exhibition look like? Bring your creative ideas and career questions to a conversation with Jan Stuart, who brings decades of curatorial experience from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art and the British Museum. 

Open to graduate students and aspiring undergraduates.