These are days made up of two or three sessions and thus permit a closer examination of a chosen theme or topic. They also tend to be more informal with more audience participation than is usually possible in a lecture.
The Shakers of North America has proved to be my most popular Day of Special Interest and I provide a tentative outline timetable below:
The Shakers: Their beliefs, architecture and artefacts
There will be three sessions of approximately one hour with ample time for questions during the day.
10.30 – 11.30 Session 1:
‘Who were the Shakers and what did they believe?’
In this lecture I provide an illustrated history and the background to the Shaker movement, from their humble beginnings in Lancashire to their expansion and heyday in North America in the nineteenth century.
11.30 – 11.45 Coffee
11.45 – 12.45 Session 2:
‘Shaker architecture, furniture and artefacts’
In the second lecture we explore in detail some of their amazing architecture and buildings before examining examples of their exquisite furniture and other artefacts.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.15 – 15.15 Session 3:
Video presentation and discussion
In the final session of the day I shall share with you some interviews with some of the last remaining Shakers and discuss their unique and lasting contribution they have made to style and design both here and in the United States.
15.30 – Departure
Other suggestions for Days or Half days of Special Interest
Children’s Book Illustration
This would combine my lecture on Children’s Book Illustration with a second lecture focusing upon the ninety plus illustrators of Kenneth Grahame’s masterpiece: The Wind in the Willows REVISITED through its illustrators
Reading Pictures: Are you Visually Literate?
This includes a lecture on Visual Literacy and a lecture about Norman Rockwell: Great Artist or Mere Illustrator? – as so many of Rockwell’s wonderful paintings tell us amusing and whimsical stories.
Colour and Illusion
This includes a lecture on ‘Visual Illusions‘ and a lecture on ‘Colour and How we see it‘ We will examine the importance of both illusion and colour in our appreciation of art.
A Wine Related Day
This includes my popular lecture entitled ‘Art Inspired by Wine‘ and my lecture on ‘Wine Antiques and Corkscrews: Wine Accessories from the past‘
For more details of all the topics referred to here, please see the individual entries under ‘My Lectures‘
Most of my lectures can be developed into two and sometimes three sessions and can be tailored to meet the interests and expectations of the society. Please feel that you can get in touch to discuss further.