ART MEETS HISTORY AT LUNCH ’N LEARN: Florida Gateway College history professor Sean McMahon brought the Revolutionary Era to life at the Gateway Art Gallery’s monthly Lunch ’n Learn, exploring how America’s earliest artists reflected the times they lived in. Through an audience-participation exercise, attendees examined paintings from the late 1700s and discovered telling clues: portraits dominated, colors were restrained, figures appeared more two-dimensional, and Puritan ethics discouraged displays of wealth. Many works were painted anonymously because art was rarely considered a viable profession. Following independence, American art grew more grandiose, with heroic figures, battle scenes and wealthy patrons commissioning celebrated artists to create more detailed portraits and family groupings. The program was part of the Gallery’s year-long America250 celebration.
UP NEXT: The Gallery’s next America250 presentation will be Saturday, Sept. 12, when Gallery artist Benjamin Ragland presents the story of “Lady Columbia,” the symbolic image of America during Revolutionary times. The free, 30-minute presentation, open to the public, will be offered at 1 and 3 p.m. The program coincides with Columbia County and the City of Lake City’s celebration of the installation of copies of significant historic documents for permanent display at Olustee Park.