Revered Art Critic Arthur Danto Speaks About the Work of William Kentridge in Third Annual Lambert Family Lecture

Danto Also Engages in a Conversation Downtown as Part of Two-Day Visit

The Wexner Center’s third annual Lambert Family Lecture features art critic and philosopher Arthur Danto discussing the work of South African artist William Kentridge, whose whimsical film works are currently on view in the Wexner Center galleries. Danto’s talk will be held Tuesday, April 25 at 7 pm in the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater. Admission is free.

One of the most influential art scholars of our times, Danto serves as art critic for The Nation and editor for the Journal of Philosophy. The Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Columbia University, he is also the author of many well- known books and essays, including After the End of Art, The Abuse of Beauty and Beyond the Brillo Box. His most recent book is Unnatural Wonders: Essays from the Gap between Art and Life. Danto is also a member of the Wexner Center’s International Arts Advisory Council, a distinguished group of artists and arts professionals who convene annually to select the Wexner Prize recipient. Danto’s talk at the Wexner Center will focus on William Kentridge, South Africa’s premier visual artist and a creative force internationally, whose work is now on view at the Wexner Center. That installation, originally seen at the Venice Biennale in 2005, is entitled William Kentridge: 7 Fragments for Georges Méliès and features short film works that pay tribute to French film trailblazer Georges Méliès.

Kentridge’s remarkable body of work over the years has also included collages, prints, and charcoal drawings, with the turbulence in his native Johannesburg a recurring theme.

“We are thrilled to welcome Arthur Danto back to Columbus for our third annual Lambert Lecture,” says Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin. “His personal and professional insights into the work of William Kentridge will offer audiences a rich perspective on the remarkable work of this artist, while demonstrating Danto’s unparalleled command of today’s cultural context.”

This program is made possible by generous support from the Lambert Family Lecture Series Endowment, which was established at the Wexner Center for the Arts through the generosity of Bill and Sheila Lambert. The endowment is intended to provide opportunities for experts to engage with diverse audiences about global issues in art and contemporary culture, and supports an annual lecture in the contemporary arts by a distinguished speaker. Past Lambert Family Lectures have featured prominent art historians T.J. Clark and Ewa Lajer-Burcharth.

RELATED EVENT AT THE METROPOLITAN CLUB APRIL 26

Arthur Danto will engage in a conversation with Helen Molesworth, the Wexner Center’s chief curator of exhibitions, at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on Wednesday, April 26 at noon at the Athletic Club of Columbus, 136 E. Broad St. downtown. The talk is entitled Everything you always wanted to know about contemporary art but were afraid to ask. Tickets to the luncheon are $15–$30; for more information and to register, visit www.columbusmetroclub.org or call (614) 464-3220.