Afternoon Lectures: Critics & Acquisitions
Who decides what art matters — the critics who write about it, and the museums that choose what to keep. Two lectures, free to members.
Art Critics
By: Marti Seaton
Art critics do more than review exhibitions — they shape the very way culture remembers art. They help define the canon, translate complex ideas for the public, and situate new movements within broader social and historical conversations. Acting as cultural interpreters, critics influence which artists rise to prominence and how audiences learn to see, question, and understand what lies beyond the frame.
In this program, Marti Seaton will unpack the critical lenses that shape these judgments — revealing how critics construct meaning, challenge conventions, and ultimately transform the way we experience art.
Der Kunstkritiker by Ioannis Oikonomou
Museum Acquisitions
By: Laura Wilson
How do museums decide what belongs within their walls? Behind every masterpiece on display lies a story of pursuit, negotiation, scholarship, and sometimes sheer luck. In this presentation, Laura Wilson will reveal the fascinating pathways through which museums build their collections — from donations and bequests to curatorial purchases, long‑term loans, and unexpected discoveries.
She will unpack the guidelines, ethics, and decision‑making frameworks that shape acquisitions today, and share the surprising backstories of several well‑known artworks and how each found its way into a museum’s care.
It’s a rare look behind the scenes at how institutions choose what becomes part of our cultural legacy.
Free to members. Guests pay $10 cash or check at the door.
Doors open 12:30pm
Lectures: 1:00–3:00pm
Refreshments Served
No registration required — just come.
GETTING THERE
Location: Glendale Lakes Golf Club, 1550 President St., Glendale Heights, IL
From the south (Glen Ellyn)
From Geneva Road, turn north on Bloomingdale Road
Turn left on E. Fullerton Avenue
Turn left onto President Street
Pass Glendale Heights Public Library on your left
Glendale Lakes Golf Club is on the right
From the west (Wheaton)
Go north on Main Street, which becomes Schmale Road
Turn right on E. Fullerton Avenue
Turn right on President Street
Glendale Lakes Golf Club is on the right
From all points east
Go west on North Avenue to President Street (2.8 miles west of I-355)
Turn north on President Street for 0.8 miles
Glendale Lakes Golf Club is on the left