One of the most prominent writers and critics of the contemporary American art and craft movements will share her insights with West Virginia University on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Janet Koplos will deliver the Cynthia Myerberg Lecture in Art & Design at 5 p.m. Thursday in Bloch Learning and Performance Hall, 200A Creative Arts Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Koplos served as senior editor at the seminal Art in America magazine for 18 years, and continues to serve as a contributing editor. Founded in 1913, Art in America concentrates on the contemporary art world in the United States, with profiles of artists and genres.
Koplos has also served as guest editor at American Craft magazine. In addition to her periodical work, Koplos has authored or coauthored several books, including “Makers: A History of American Studio Craft” and “Three Visions in Glass.” Her broad expertise encompasses architecture, design, American craft and folk art, contemporary Japanese art, Japanese folk art, and contemporary Dutch art.
“Not only is Janet Koplos one of the most distinguished art critics ever to speak at WVU, she has made it the mission of her extensive career to bring attention to art that has long been treated as marginal to the fine arts, especially material-based, hand-crafted work and ceramics,” said Kristina Olson, associate director of WVU’s School of Art & Design and an associate professor of art history.
“She’s also fought to turn the attention of the art press to artists working outside of the traditional centers of New York and Los Angeles,” Olson added. “I think the Morgantown community, with its many craft artists and regional ties to folk traditions, will be interested to hear from this advocate for art produced away from the mainstream.”
Koplos’s visit to WVU is made possible through the generous support of Cynthia and David Myerberg.
Cynthia Myerberg received her M.A. in studio art from WVU in 1999. She is an award-winning artist who works primarily in fabric, making art quilts. Her work has been juried into national and international exhibitions and she is the co-author of two books on fabrics and quilting. David Myerberg practices law in Morgantown with Jackson and Kelly PLLC. He was formerly associate professor of pediatrics and attending neonatologist at WVU Hospitals.
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CONTACT: David Welsh, WVU College of Creative Arts
304-293-3397; David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu
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