Tuesday Talks

September 22, 7:00 pm: Celebrating the Pioneering Art of Bill Christenberry

Sandy Christenberry in conversation with George Hemphill on the work of renowned artist Bill Christenberry.

Two options to join the event: DC Public Library YouTube Livestream, or DC Public Library Facebook Livestream

Sandra Deane was born and raised in Michigan and attended Memphis State University where she met William Christenberry. A year after they married in 1967, they moved to Washington where they both worked at the Corcoran School of Art — Sandy served as assistant dean of admissions until the birth of their first child, and Bill was a professor for the next forty years. Bill had a long and distinguished career as an artist, teacher, and mentor to hundreds of students. Bill’s own work expressed his deep love of his native Alabama, notably Hale County made famous by James Agee and Walker Evans in Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. Bill was a multi-faceted artist — painter, photographer, sculptor, story teller, and educator about the South, including that part which he abhorred – racism, as exemplified by the Ku Klux Klan. Bill died in 2016 at the age of 80 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Bill was not only an internationally renowned artist but a beloved citizen of Cleveland Park where he and Sandy moved in 1972.

George Hemphill was educated in Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas. As a curator, lecturer, consultant and gallery owner, George has long been a presence in the Washington art scene, first at Middendorf Gallery and, since 1993, as president of Hemphill Fine Arts. He has overseen hundreds of exhibitions (including one on Christenberry’s Wall Constructions) and has participated in numerous publications, including being the editor of William Christenberry: Works on Paper, published in 2005. He has served on the boards of the DC Art Center, Hand Print Workshop International, Washington Project for the Arts, and FotoWeek DC and was a member of the Art Advisory Committee for George Mason University’s School of Art.

October 20: It’s All Happening at the Zoo!

National Zoo animal keepers Kathryn Juliano and Amanda Bobyack will discuss conservation breeding with endangered species and elephant social dynamics and cognitive abilities.

Two options to join the event: DC Public Library YouTube Livestream, or DC Public Library Facebook Livestream

Every zoo visitor loves to see adorable baby animals, but few know about the years of work with experts from across the country that is needed to produce healthy babies. Kathryn will detail the process of breeding highly endangered tiger species, from selecting mates to caring for cubs. The talk will also include some discussion about the role of zoos in our modern society and the differences between facilities (including everyone’s quarantine favorite, Joe Exotic).

Kathryn Juliano is an animal keeper who works with large carnivores including lions, tigers, and Andean bears, among other animals. In her eight years at the zoo she has worked with more than 50 different species from giant anteaters to electric eels. Kathryn began as an intern and volunteer at the zoo in 2012 while studying at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she received a degree in Animal Science in 2014. Kathryn also received a Master of Natural Resources from Oregon State University in 2018. She spends time each year traveling to Central and South America where she participates in keeper education programs for Latin American animal keepers.

 

Amanda will describe how elephants in zoos help us understand social dynamics among related and non-related individuals as well as the elephants’ immense cognitive and emotional repertoire. She will discuss the differences in social structures between African and Asian elephants and how these relate to their wild counterparts. She also will share the results of cognitive studies in which the National Zoo has participated.

November 17: Hot off the presses!

Politico’s Jake Sherman provides his usual insightful analysis of the November 3rd election.

Two options to join the event: DC Public Library YouTube Livestream, or DC Public Library Facebook Livestream

Jake Sherman is a senior writer for POLITICO and co-author of POLITICO’s Playbook, the nation’s leading political newsletter. He also is the co-author of New York Times and national best seller, “The Hill to Die On: The Battle for Congress and the Future of Trump’s America,” which was published by Crown in 2019. Jake is an NBC and MSNBC political contributor. 

Since 2009, Jake has chronicled all of the major legislative battles on Capitol Hill, and has also traveled the country to cover the battle for control of Congress. 

Jake is a Connecticut native, and a graduate of The George Washington University — where he edited The GW Hatchet — and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Jake lives in Washington with his wife Irene, son and daughter, and listens to an unhealthy amount of Grateful Dead and Phish.

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