Etel Adnan: Visionary Painter and Poet

Class Description

Originally a philosophy teacher from what is now Lebanon, Etel Adnan did not receive widespread acclaim for her colorful, impressionistic paintings until she was in her late 60s. Thereafter, she became a media sensation and a wildly creative multimedia artist on the Middle Eastern art scene. She worked and exhibited continuously until her passing in 2021 at the age of 96. In addition to her paintings, her essays and interviews never fail to inspire. We will read some of her prose work in this class and look at paintings from different stages of Adnan's career. We will talk about her relationships with other artists and intellectuals in her home cities of Beirut, San Francisco and Paris and appreciate the changes and continuities in the region over the course of her long lifetime.

Ms. Laurel Harig-Khan graduated from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago in 2019 and from Bard College in 2008. She also studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and at the American University of Beirut. She teaches Arabic and courses on the history, culture and politics of the Middle East and North Africa.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual 

Class Capacity: 24 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Recommended (Not Required)

• Kaelen Wilson-Goldie, Etel Adnan. Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd, 2018. ISBN: 9781848222663

A Brief Syllabus

1. Understanding Etel Adnan's Biography, context, Early Writings + Painting
2. Abstract, Impressionistic Work + Landscapes, Multimedia Art, Booklets, Screens
3. Interviews and Influence, Wrap-Up, Art and Life, Appreciation

Cost and Registration

3 Sessions, $175 ($157.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($175), Community Supported ($160), and Sponsor ($190). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.

The views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.

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