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 03/31/2008
Former Metropolitan Museum of Art director to speak, sign books at SCAD
Andrew Wyeth, The Director (Portrait of Thomas Hoving), drypaint, 1993. Courtesy of Thomas Hoving.
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SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Savannah College of Art and Design presents "A Conversation with Thomas Hoving" April 23, 7:30 p.m., at Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., followed by a reception and book signing at Red Gallery, 201 E. Broughton St. Both events are free and open to the public.
The presentation is in a conversational format with Hoving, celebrated former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Neda Ulaby, National Public Radio’s arts and culture reporter.
Hoving presided over the Metropolitan Museum of Art's expansion and renovation from 1967-77, led the acquisition of masterpieces such as the "Portrait of Juan de Pareja" by Velázquez, and initiated the concept of "blockbuster" shows, which altered the landscape of modern museums.
A specialist in medieval art, Hoving earned his Ph.D., Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Princeton University after a stint as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1953-55. Since his tenure at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he has served as an independent museum consultant, editor in chief for Connoisseur magazine from 1971-81, an arts correspondent for ABC news magazine "20/20" and author of numerous popular works on the art world. He is president of Hoving Associates Inc., a museum and cultural affairs consulting firm. Drawing on his decades of experience looking at and handling thousands of artworks, Hoving shares his insights on art in engagingly written articles and books.
Among his best-known books are New York Times bestseller "Making the Mummies Dance: Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art," "Tutankhamun: The Untold Story," "King of the Confessors," "False Impressions: The Hunt for Big-Time Art Fakes," "American Gothic: The Biography of Grant Wood’s American Masterpiece," and "Master Pieces: The Curator’s Game." He also is completing a much-anticipated autobiography.
Hoving's awards include the Order of Distinguished Service (Egypt, 1979), the Woodrow Wilson Award (Princeton University, 1977), the Elsie de Wolfe Award (American Institute of Interior Designers, 1967), the Park Association of New York City Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Parks of New York City (1967), Distinguished Achievements (The Advertising Club, 1966) and the Bronze Medal (Citizen's Budget Commission, 1966), as well as France’s highest honor, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (1970).
He has received honorary doctorates from Middlebury College, New York University, Princeton University, Pratt Institute and Hofstra University.
The evening is co-sponsored by the SCAD Museum of Art, the Earle W. Newton Center for British and American Studies, and the Trustees Theater Lecture Series. Each year more than 8,000 graduate and undergraduate students are enrolled in art history and architectural history courses at SCAD, which offers degrees in both areas, as well as arts administration, and a minor in museum studies.
For more information, call 912.525.5225. Media inquiries may be directed to 912.525.4745.
Named one of Kaplan's "25 cutting-edge schools with an eye toward the future," the Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., and in Lacoste, France. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs also are offered online through SCAD-eLearning. The college offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Urban Design degrees.
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