Distinguished Lecture Series

Fall 2010 Semester

All lectures -- free and open to the public -- are at 12 noon in the CM Building on the West Windsor campus.
For additional information, call (609) 570-3324 or e-mail katzj@mccc.edu.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - room CM110
THE PAINTINGS OF BONNARD AND VUILLARD   [details]
Mercer's own esteemed Professor of Art, Mel Leipzig, will discuss the works of two nineteenth century French painters, Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard. Both artists were members of Les Nabis, a group of young artists committed to creating work of a symbolic and spiritual nature. A longtime Trenton resident, Leipzig has exhibited his own artwork in numerous one-man and group gallery shows, most recently at the New Jersey State Museum, the Pearlman Gallery at Drexel University and the Villanova University Art Gallery. His upcoming exhibition entitled Artists, Architects and Others opens on September 16th at the Henoch Gallery in New York City.

Thursday, October 7, 2010 - room CM110
SHOPPING WHILE BLACK:
UNDERSTANDING AND COMBATING CONSUMER RACIAL PROFILING
Dr. Shaun L. Gabbidon, Professor of Criminal Justice at the School of Public Affairs at Pennsylvania State University in Harrisburg, will examine the current state of knowledge as well as the history of consumer racial profiling. He will also share results of recent empirical research on the topic. The lecture includes a discussion of strategies to reduce the prevalence of consumer racial profiling. Gabbidon is a leading scholar in the area of race, ethnicity, and crime, and has authored and/or edited 10 books and 50 peer-reviewed articles.
Recommended by: Professor Cavit Cooley, Department of Criminal Justice

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - room CM109
DESCRIBING ENERGY IN THE PAINTED OBJECT
Artist and writer Ryan Schneider will speak about energy as an emotional or spiritual pulse and vibe that is given off by objects when they are described in paint. Something as mundane as a lamp or a chair can be assigned a whole set of emotional or even human characteristics when reflected in paint. Physical painting technique functions to create an emotional and spiritual atmosphere inside the viewer. Schneider will discuss his own work as well as that of others including Matisse, Cezanne, Hockney, Munch Doig, Morandi, Wood, Schutz and Martinez. Based at his own studio in Brooklyn, NY, Schneider has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Denmark, Germany, London, South Korea and Canada.
Recommended by: Professor Lucas Kelly, Department of Art

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 - room CM109
A SENSE OF WONDER -
THE ROLE OF NATURE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Jeff Hoagland, Education Director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association and Director of Building Environmental Education Solutions, will explore the vital role that nature plays in child development. Just one generation ago, childhood outdoor experiences provided a wealth of lessons about life and place. Today's children are drifting away from all these experiences. He will start with the words of Rachel Carson and finish by examining our own relationship with the natural world.
Recommended by: Professor Laura Blinderman, Department of Biology

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - room CM107
TWO WORLDS, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD:
DOING ANTHROPOLOGY AND NURSING IN THE 'BURG
Dr. Rachel Adler, Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at The College of New Jersey, will discuss her anthropological research done in Trenton's Chamberburg district. She will examine the ethnic transition of the neighborhood, from Italian to Latino, and talk about the effects of recent U.S. immigration policy upon the community. She will also discuss her decision to become a nurse to further engage with the Chambersburg community.
Recommended by: Professor Linda Scherr, Department of History