The smART Speak Distinguished Artist Series will bring internationally influential artists to Western North Carolina and surround their presentations with discussions, workshops and films.

• The first date in the series is Monday, March 31, 2008 at Asheville Community Theater when the group known as the Guerrilla Girls will use facts, humor and outrageous visuals to expose sexism, racism and corruption in politics, art, film and pop culture. The Guerrilla Girls will also be leading a hands-on workshop at the Asheville Art Museum on Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Space is limited for this event and advance registration through the Museum is required.
• On Thursday, September 11, 2008 Pulitzer Prize winning illustrator Art Spiegelman will speak at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Spiegelman is the creator of Maus, a gripping graphic novel about the Holocaust, and In the Shadow of No Towers, a personal work about his experiences during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He will discuss the history of independent comics and his experiences after more than 40 years in that business.
• Wednesday, November 18, 2008 will see multi-faceted artist Faith Ringgold talk about her work as a painter, textile artist, children’s book author and illustrator exploring the African-American experience at Diana Wortham Theatre.
• The fourth event in the series will feature internationally known artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude speaking at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Thursday, February 5, 2009. The couple will talk about their four decades of work together that includes surrounding 11 islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay with pink fabric in 1983 and placing 7,503 gates made of saffron-colored cloth along paths in New York’s City’s Central Park in 2006.

Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers said these lectures and their associated programs will add to the artistic sensibilities already present in Asheville and throughout Western North Carolina.

“Each of these world renowned artists has made important contributions to American life and culture,” Myers said. “Learning about their work through their words will be exciting and inspirational. Many thanks are due to MetLife for making this series possible.”

The smART Speak Distinguished Artist Series is made possible through a substantial grant from MetLife Foundation and its Museums and Community Connections program. The Asheville Art Museum is one of 13 museums across the country to receive this MetLife Foundation grant to broaden its programming and make art a larger part of everyday life.

“MetLife Foundation has a long history of partnering with museums to support learning and development opportunities for people of all ages,” said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “Museums enrich our lives in many ways, increase understanding of our world and reflect important cultural traditions. MetLife Foundation is pleased to recognize these innovative projects.”

The Buncombe County Public Libraries is a partner with the Asheville Art Mus eum in obtaining this grant. The Asheville Art Museum, Pack Memorial Library and several of the branch libraries will be locations for smART Speak programs including book discussions, films and workshops.

“We are pleased to partner with the Asheville Art Museum in these programs,” said Ed Sheary, Library Director for the Buncombe County Public Libraries. “We know this series will benefit not just residents of Asheville and Buncombe County, but all of Western North Carolina and the southeast.”

Additional partners in this series include UNC-Asheville and the Asheville School. In-kind support comes from the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, Haywood Park Hotel, Malaprops Bookstore / Cafe and Fugazy Travel.