Crocker Art Museum x Common Knowledge: How Artists' Rivalries Fuel Innovation

The Crocker Art Museum & Common Knowledge are teaming up to bring you this art history lecture

Title -  The Gentle Art of Making Enemies: How Artists' Rivalries Fuel Innovation

Speaker - Hunter Kiley, Art Historian & Lecturer

Location - Bike Dog Brewing, Broadway Location: 915 Broadway Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95818

Artistic rivalries have shaped the art world since antiquity. Some feuds were sparked by competition for commissions, others were stoked by critics, and some were ignited by scandal, affairs, and stolen muses. One American artist became so notorious for his public feuds that it nearly eclipsed his career as an artist during his lifetime: James McNeill Whistler.  

As an artist associated with the late-nineteenth-century Aesthetic movement, Whistler's work was devoted to the pursuit of beauty and harmony. Yet, in his personal life, Whistler was in near-constant discord with his enemies, many of whom were formerly his friends. When these rivalries came to a boil, he’d take to the papers to lampoon his adversaries in writing. However, three rivalries cut so deep he put down his pen and picked up his brush instead. This lecture unpacks the events, writings, and artworks associated with Whistler's infamous feuds with fellow artist Gustave Courbet, art critic John Ruskin, and his former patron F. R. Leyland. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how malice can be translated into art, and trace the development of Whistler’s venomous visual language of vendetta.

Hunter Kiley is an art history lecturer, curator, and researcher based in the greater Sacramento region. Hunter’s research interests include late-nineteenth century British and American art, the material culture of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, and the intersection of art history and new media/game studies. Outside of her work as an art historian, Hunter is an avid gamer, knitter, and local pinball tournament champion.

The Crocker Art Museum's mission is to promote an awareness of and enthusiasm for human experience through art. The Crocker museum has three floors and 15 unique gallery spaces to explore, discover a diverse collection of art that spans centuries, continents, and cultures. There is always something surprising to find at the Crocker! 

Bike Dog is located at 915 Broadway Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95818. They serve a wide selection of beers and non-alcoholic beverages. Food will be available to purchase as well.

*Note that there are 3 different Bike Dog locations in Sacramento, please make sure you go to the Broadway location*

All Common Knowledge events are 21+

Schedule:

6pm - Doors Open - grab a drink and mingle. We'll have trivia questions on the screen and some surprises

6:45pm - Program begins with an intro & prize giveaway

7pm - Lecture begins

7:45pm - Q&A

8pm - Mingle, discuss the lecture, meet the speaker

9pm - You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

What to Expect:

Common Knowledge is Sacramento's premiere bar lecture series. 

At Common Knowledge we believe that learning something new is the most rewarding and fun thing you can do. We're about bringing diverse people and ideas together to have a great time.

Seating is first come, first serve so come at 6pm to to grab a drink and a seat. Before the lecture we'll have music and trivia questions on the screen. We'll also have a fun, low pressure "side quest"  so you can win a free drink. 

The lecture will last for 45 minutes and are made for an intelligent, general audience so you don't need any specialized background to have a great time. After the lecture, there will be 15 minutes for Q&A and then the bar will be open for another hour to hang out, meet the speaker, and discuss the ideas you just heard.

The bar will close at 9pm.

Parking: There is a large parking lot in front of Bike Dog. 

Public Transportation: Bike Dog Broadway is near the Broadway & 10th Street Bus Stop.

Seating:  is first come, first served - please consider arriving early to grab your preferred spot, especially if you’d like to sit together as a group!

Policies:

All Common Knowledge events are 21+

No hidden ticket fees. The price you see is the price you pay. Period.

Change your mind? Cancellation is easy. Just hit the "manage tickets" button on the top right corner of this page. You may cancel your ticket for a full refund up to 48 hours before the event.

We treat our guests like family so if there is anything you need, just get in touch: hello@cklectures.com

Accessibility: We strive to make all of our lectures 100% accessible for everyone. If you would like to ask for a specific accessibility accommodation, please email us at least 72 hours ahead of the lecture to plan to attend: hello@cklectures.com

Students! We offer a student discount - just email hello@cklectures.com from your university email address and we'll send you a discount code.

Common Knowledge is for everyone! If you want to attend an event but can't afford a full price ticket we have you covered. Just email us at hello@cklectures.com and we'll help you out.

Way to go, you know everything there is to know about this event. So what are you waiting for? Buy a ticket already!