'Pioneering American Art Colonies, Part 3: Taos, New Mexico' Webinar

Across the 19th and 20th centuries, communities of American artists broke free from urban convention and formed tight-knit circles in unexpected places, where creative experimentation and communal living gave rise to bold, new artistic identities. It's time to step inside these legendary enclaves and uncover how friendship, landscape, and shared vision helped shape the course of American art.

Join New York Adventure Club for a four-part series that delves into the fascinating history of American art colonies — vibrant communities where artists lived, worked, and inspired one another far from the commercial pressures of city centers. In Part Three: Taos, New Mexico, we’ll explore how the sweeping desert landscape and enduring Indigenous traditions sparked a wave of artistic innovation that drew some of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century.

Led by Sylvia Laudien-Meo — art historian, museum educator, and NYC tour guide — this art-centric virtual journey will feature:

• An introduction to Taos Pueblo and its Indigenous art traditions, whose aesthetic and cultural richness deeply influenced visiting artists
• Founding the Taos Society of Artists, and how its members captured the frontier's light and spirit through modern visual language
• The 'Three Taos Pueblo Painters', blending native subject matter with emerging modernist techniques
• Mabel Dodge Luhan, the visionary patron who turned Taos into a cultural gathering place for avant-garde artists, writers, and thinkers
• Profiles of modern masters drawn to Taos, including Georgia O’Keeffe, John Marin, Marsden Hartley, and Maynard Dixon
• The artistic partnership of Paul Strand and Rebecca Salsbury, and the creative symbiosis that grew from their relationship
• The arrival of D.H. Lawrence, whose controversial presence added literary weight to the Taos narrative
• A spotlight on Ansel Adams and Nicolai Fechin, whose work helped bring Taos’s dramatic landscape to national prominence

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Sylvia — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Sylvia

Sylvia Laudien-Meo is a freelance Art Historian who works in and around the city in various capacities, specializing on Modern and Contemporary art, with a strong focus on Public Art. She teaches art history at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been working as a museum educator at MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum for over many years, engaging visitors in conversation based, interactive art experiences of permanent collections and changing exhibitions.

For the Municipal Art Society, UFT, Brandeis Univ., and private clients, she has been touring the city for over 20 years, exploring art and architecture, parks, neighborhoods and history. Working in various different capacities gives her a unique opportunity to make intriguing connections and weave together the complex perspectives that make out the tapestry of our fascinating city.

SLM holds a Masters Degree in Art History (with minors in History and American Studies) from the Joh. Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, as well as a Tourism degree from the EST in Paris France.

Pioneering American Art Colonies Series

Part 1: Women Sculptors in Rome (Thursday, September 18)

Part 2: Cornish, New Hampshire (Thursday, September 25)

Part 3: Taos, New Mexico (Thursday, October 2)

Part 4: Black Mountain College (Thursday, October 9)

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Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment