The Parrish Museum Introduces Brain Food: Conversations on Art With Chief Curator Alicia Longwell

Beginning at noon on Thursday, June 26, the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill launches a new series of lunch time talks, Brain Food: Conversations on Art. The series is to be hosted by the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chief Curator, Alicia Longwell. Brain Food is an informal mid-day gathering that encourages visitors to the museum to listen to and participate in an hour-long illustrated lecture and conversation on current exhibitions, publications, and artists in the collection.

The topics of this summer’s Brain Food series are: the current exhibition, Jennifer Bartlett—History of the Universe: Works 1970–2011 on June 26; the upcoming exhibition, William Glackens, on August 7; and the artist William Merritt Chase on August 21. Each talk begins at noon and will be held in the Museum’s Lichtenstein Theater. Attendees will be seated around tables and invited to eat lunch while Dr. Longwell delivers a digital slide show presentation. A special Brain Food lunch combo of wrap, salad, and beverage for $10 will be available for purchase from the Golden Pear Café at the Museum.

The concept of a lunchtime lecture series—a popular program at the Museum for many years—was reintroduced, according to Dr. Longwell, “to give visitors more information about the exhibitions, artists, and works on view so that they can then explore the galleries with a deeper knowledge and understanding.” The program’s relaxed yet scholarly atmosphere encourages participation from attendees at all levels of art knowledge and backgrounds. According to Andrea Grover, Curator of Special Programs, “These intimate, convivial gatherings add to the variety of educational experiences we offer at the Parrish and allow our visitors direct access to an astute curatorial voice.”

Alicia Longwell joined the Parrish Art Museum in 1984 and has pursued a special interest in the history of the art and artists of Eastern Long Island. Acquisitions for the Parrish collection during her tenure include major works by Ross Bleckner, Mary Heilmann, Elizabeth Peyton, Alan Shields and Joe Zucker. She has organized numerous survey exhibitions and has also curated solo exhibitions on the work of artists Barbara Bloom, Marsden Hartley, Frederick Kiesler, Charlotte Park, Dorothea Rockburne, Alan Shields, Esteban Vicente, Jack Youngerman and Malcom Morley, among others. Dr. Longwell also contributed to the catalogue for the exhibition William Glackens, which was co-organized by the Parrish Art Museum with the Nova Southeastern University Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale and The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia. Her forthcoming publication is dedicated to William Merritt Chase and his works from the Parrish Collection: William Merritt Chase: A Life in Art—Works from the Collection of the Parrish Art Museum (September, 2014).

Brain Food attendees are invited to visit the galleries before or after the talk. The program is included with Museum admission; $10, free for Members, children and students. Advanced reservations can be made by visiting www.parrishart.org.