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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spotlight: Smithsonian’s Kurin will lecture at MAC

From Staff Reports

The Smithsonian Institution’s Richard Kurin will give a lecture on “History of America in 101 Objects” on Thursday at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

Kurin is the author of a book of the same name and the institution’s under secretary for history, arts and culture.

His book uses 101 objects from across the Smithsonian’s collections to explore the country’s history, from pre-Columbian time to present.

Among the items: the Star-Spangled Banner, Abraham Lincoln’s hat, Harriet Tubman’s hymnal, Sitting Bull’s ledger, the Enola Gay bomber and Andy Warhol’s “Marilyn Monroe.”

In a review, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said, “Kurin provides an engaging way to enhance our knowledge of – and emotional connection to – our nation’s past.”

Kurin’s lecture is a complement to the MAC’s “100 Stories” exhibit. The talk starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, a book signing will follow. It’s free, with a suggested donation of $10.

The MAC is at 2316 W. First Ave. Call (509) 456-3931 or visit northwestmuseum.org for more information.

Lehmann, Poulenc premiered

Baritone Randel Wagner and pianist Yi-chun Chen will perform works by Liza Lehmann and Francis Poulenc in two Spokane area concerts this month.

The program will include Lehmann’s “In Memoriam” written for a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and Poulenc’s “Le Travail du Peintre.”

“In Memoriam,” was written in 1899 by Lehmann, who was the first president of the Women Composers Society. In “Le Travail du Peintre,” Poulenc created music inspired by great painters such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Paul Klee and Marc Chagall.

The works will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Music Building Recital Hall at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, and at 7:30 p.m. March 22 at the Steinway Piano Gallery, 13418 E. Nora Ave., in Spokane Valley. Admission is free.

Art workshop planned

The Coeur d’Alene Art Association is hosting a two-day workshop later this month with animal and nature artist Lee Kromschroeder.

The workshop will be March 26 and 27 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, at Fifth Street and Wallace Avenue in Coeur d’Alene.

Cost is $95 for association members and $175 for nonmembers. Registration for nonmembers begins Thursday. Kromschroeder will demonstrate in oil or acrylic, but class participants are free to use whichever medium they prefer. For more information and online registration, visit www.coeurdaleneartassoc.org.