Curator Conversations

Norton curators provide insight and context to exhibitions they have organized and art and artists they have studied and admire. 


Curator Conversation / Dragons, Commanders of Rain

Friday, August 23 / 6PM

Stiller Auditorium

Laurie Barnes, Elizabeth B. McGraw Senior Curator of Chinese Art, invites you to join her to discover why Chinese court robes and a Japanese print depict dragons, the heavenly sovereigns petitioned to bring rain in ritual ceremonies. She will discuss the three works on view in the exhibition “Dragons, Commanders of Rain” while making connections to used by Chinese rulers who engaged in divinations asking for life-giving rain over 3000 years, and rain-making dragons illustrated in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, written in the 4th - 1st century BCE.

Space is limited; online registration required.

Cost: Museum Admission/Members FREE

Support for this program was provided by the Gayle and Paul Gross Education Endowment Fund.

Holiday Hours Alert

The Norton will not be hosting Art After Dark this week in observance of the holiday.

However, we will be open during the day on Friday, July 4, from 10 am until 5 pm, making it perfect for a relaxing visit before your evening plans. Our regularly scheduled programming of tours, art activities, and more will return next Friday as usual.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Independence Day!