Exploring the French Presence in Africa and the African Presence in France

(BLACK PR WIRE) CHICAGO (May 25, 2010) — Exploritas is pleased to offer a Taste of Exploritas – Exploring the French Presence in Africa and the African Presence in France in Chicago. The world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago will be host to the evening program on Tuesday, May 25, from 6-8:30 p.m.

Exploritas is the name for the programs developed and offered by Elderhostel, Inc., the not-for-profit world leader in lifelong learning since 1975. The Taste of Exploritas program committee was chaired by Isabel Stewart, chair of the Leadership Advisory Committee of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Karen Lowe Graham, director of Multicultural Community Outreach of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Art Institute of Chicago to present this special Taste of Exploritas,” says Kathy Taylor, associate vice president of community development at Exploritas. “This evening is a sampling of the high-quality educational programs that we offer to promote the benefits of lifelong learning and keeping mentally engaged. The program promises to be a special opportunity to explore African influences on Modern art.”

A Taste of Exploritas features discussions by Amina J. Dickerson of the Leadership Advisory Committee of the Art Institute of Chicago, and curator Stephanie D’Alessandro.

Ms. Dickerson will discuss how ventures to African countries such as Morocco can enhance an understanding of European Modernist art. She will highlight the ways in which artists such as Picasso and Matisse journeyed to Morocco and borrowed from the forms and aesthetics of African art to inform their work.

Ms. D’Alessandro will discuss Matisse’s monumental painting, The Moroccans, with special attention to the artist’s Moroccan travels that he also captured in sketches, letters and postcards, and how he was inspired to create one of the most important paintings of his career — rich with experimentation, color and radical modern form.

The Taste of Exploritas is part of a national outreach initiative created by Elderhostel to build awareness of its educational programs in the African American community.



About Exploritas
Exploritas (pronounced ek splôr´ i tahs) is the name for the programs developed and offered by Elderhostel, Inc., the not-for-profit world leader in lifelong learning since 1975. Our mission is to empower adults to explore the world’s places, peoples, cultures and ideas, and in so doing to discover more about themselves. A fellowship of learning and the joy of discovery are the hallmarks of the Exploritas experience.

Exploritas programs bring together instructors and participants from diverse backgrounds to foster dynamic interaction, engaging discourse and warm camaraderie. In a world that seems to shrink smaller by the day because of technology, we believe that true insight and understanding are still sparked by hands-on experience and open discussions that stimulate the senses, energize the body and challenge the mind. We are committed to continually developing new program destinations, topics and formats to reflect the shifting realities and emerging trends of our ever-changing world.

About the Speakers
Amina J. Dickerson
Member, Leadership Advisory Committee of the Art Institute of Chicago
Ms. Dickerson holds a master’s in arts management from the American University in Washington, D.C. and has a rich professional experience in cultural programming. She was senior director of global community involvement for Kraft Foods and previously held executive posts with the National Museum of African Art and Chicago’s DuSable Museum of African American History.

Stephanie D’Alessandro
Gary C. and Frances Comer Curator of Modern Art
Co-curator of the exhibition Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913–17, Stephanie D’Alessandro received her master’s and Ph.D. with honors from the University of Chicago. She is currently at work on a comprehensive catalogue of the museum’s European modern art collection.