Hudson Valley MOCA is excited to present Inebriation in Western Art  , the first of a three-part lecture series  led by artist and art historian Marcy B. Freedman. Over the course of one hour, Freedman will expound on the symbolism, meaning, and tradition of alcohol consumption as depicted within the history of Western Art, connecting examples from Ancient Egypt through to the present. Take a journey amongst raucous celebrations within 19th century French bars and Renaissance bacchanalias, the exhausted malaise of Degas’ Absinthe Drinker  and Nan Goldin’s photographs of New York City nightlife. By the end of this dynamic lecture, each visitor will be sure to look at their wine glass through the rich lens of history.

About Art History with a Twist

With a focus on subjects that have been categorized as both deviant and divine, Freedman’s lectures carry an edge that you won’t find in your traditional Art History lecture. Close examinations of alcohol, dance, and bodily fluids in the context of art illustrate the intrinsic connections between the depiction of these acts and the politics and cultural values of the time. By focusing on everyday human experiences, it becomes easy to relate to these depicted cultures in spite of their different time and geographies.

Dec. 9, 2018 ·  3 p.m. · Inebriation in Western Art

Jan. 6, 2019 ·  3 p.m. · Representing Dance in Visual Art

Feb. 3, 2019 ·  3 p.m. · Bodily Functions as Subject Matter