New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1981951790157

Long before the pioneers of abstraction revolutionized modern art, a Swedish artist had already created impressive abstract paintings — often monumental — by channeling higher spirits onto canvas. But why was her groundbreaking work hidden from the world for decades? It's time to explore the visionary art of Hilma af Klint, a trailblazer who defied convention and redefined artistic expression.

Join New York Adventure Club as we take a deep dive into the extraordinary work of Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), the Swedish artist and devoted theosophist whose abstract paintings rooted in spirituality and mysticism predated those of Kandinsky, Malevich, and Mondrian by years — yet remained largely unrecognized until the 21st century.

Led by Sylvia Laudien-Meo — art historian, museum educator, and NYC tour guide — this virtual journey through af Klint's incredible career will include:

• The biographical background of Hilma af Klint and her early years in Stockholm, including her professional artistic training
• Her introduction to Spiritualism and how seances sparked her early abstract compositions
• Af Klint’s deep connection to nature and its role in her artistic and spiritual explorations
• The symbolic language of her abstract works, influenced by mysticism, alchemy, and scientific studies
• A closer look at her most significant series and her vision for a spiritual temple on a remote Swedish island
• Her relationship with Rudolf Steiner and Theosophy, and how these shaped her artistic vision
• A comparison with contemporaries like Kandinsky and Mondrian, and how their paths to abstraction differed

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 for one week!
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
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, 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.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1981936626803

Long before the Upper East Side became synonymous with old money and social prestige, it was a frontier for a different kind of New York elite — German-Jewish immigrants who had risen from modest beginnings to become some of the city's most powerful financiers, philanthropists, and cultural patrons. Who were these Jewish titans of the Gilded Age, and how did they balance identity with influence in a world of opulence and exclusion? It’s time to discover the untold story of how they quietly reshaped the city’s power circles — all while navigating the barriers of antisemitism at the heights of New York society.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the remarkable influence of German-Jewish families on the development of Manhattan’s Upper East Side during the Gilded Age — a story of cultural leadership, social navigation, and philanthropic might that helped shape the city we know today.

Led by tour guide and native New Yorker Richard Soden, our virtual exploration through this gilded chapter of Jewish New York will include:

• An overview of German-Jewish migration and upward mobility during the Gilded Age, and how this community carved out space in the city’s social, cultural, and architectural elite
• A profile of powerful German-Jewish families including the Schiffs, Warburgs, Lehmans, and Guggenheims, whose names remain etched into the city's cultural fabric
• A look at iconic Jewish-owned mansions such as the Felix Warburg House, Otto Kahn Mansion, and the long-lost Jacob Schiff residence
• An overview of groundbreaking Jewish philanthropic institutions from the Hebrew Free Loan Society to the Educational Alliance, which supported immigrant communities across New York
• Insight into Jewish women’s leadership in philanthropy and social reform during the Gilded Age, with organizations that uplifted education, healthcare, and housing
• A virtual visit to Jewish cultural landmarks like Temple Emanu-El and The Jewish Museum, which reflect the rising influence and visibility of Jewish New Yorkers during this era

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Richard — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
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
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Richard
"I am a native New Yorker who was born and have lived on the lower east side all my life. I love this city and all its beauty and peculiarities, and I love sharing it with native New Yorkers, newcomers, and returning visitors. I enjoy telling stories which I'll share with you. You’ll learn the many secrets about the city I call 'home.'"

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Gilded Age

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1981951785142

While every street in NYC has a story, the oldest of them all doesn't disappoint. For over four centuries, the Manhattan corridor of the Bowery has taken on many personas, ranging from a Native American trail, to a hub of middle-class entertainment; a shadowland of hard-knuckle saloons to a musical and cultural hotspot. This is the story of one of New York City's most storied neighborhoods, from the good, the bad, and downright spooky.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the history of the Bowery, a 400-year-old thoroughfare through Manhattan that shares a colorful history with New York City — though a history that people of yesteryears preferred to forget.

Led by historian Stephen Paul DeVillo, our digital showcase of the once-notorious Bowery and its curious history will include:

• A historical overview of the Bowery and how it evolved from a rural pathway to the “Boulevard of the Forgotten”
• A deep dive into the Bowery’s often raucous and scandalous history, from infamous saloons to dime museums, and street gangs to places of ill repute
• A look at New York’s early theater scene, and colorful characters such as “Peg Leg” Peter Stuyvesant, Harry Houdini, and others
• Historic photos and paintings illustrating the Bowery’s variegated scene over the centuries, including things that remain, and those long gone
• A discussion around today's Bowery — while it has slowly reclaimed its old heritage as a scene of music and culture, this renaissance is threatened by encroaching hyper-gentrification
• Ghost stories from the infamous stretch

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

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!

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 — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

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

About Stephen

Local historian Stephen DeVillo is the author of The Bowery: The Strange History of New York’s Oldest Street and The Bronx River in History and Folklore. In recent years he had led annual Jane’s Walks for the Municipal Art Society along the Bowery and elsewhere, and the Bronx River Rambles for the Bronx River Alliance. A lifelong walker and urban explorer, he is fascinated by the big histories to be found in small places, and seeks out their obscure and half-forgotten tales, tragedies, and folklore.

Testimonials

"The speaker was engaging and extremely knowledgable about the topic being discussed. Length of the presentation was perfect." -Cindy

"I learned a lot of new things that I wouldn't have expected. Especially liked the anecdote about John Clapp starting the first regular NYC St. Patrick's Day celebration." -Lauren

"Very knowledgeable and touched on both ends of the spectrum, inc ghost stories :)" -Liz

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1981585920832

What if a single museum could tell the entire story of Western art — not just through its paintings, but through its architecture, gardens, and carefully curated interiors? Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art lies a treasure trove of masterpieces that trace the evolution of Western creativity, from the sacred stillness of medieval chapels to the bold energy of modern cityscapes. It's time to embark on an epic visual journey through time as we uncover the hidden narratives, artistic breakthroughs, and cultural forces behind one of the world’s most extraordinary museum collections.

Join New York Adventure Club for a five-part series exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s world-class collection of Western Art — each session highlighting a distinct era and theme within this extraordinary institution. In Part Two: Nature & Landscape, we’ll delve into the rise of naturalism during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when artists began capturing the natural world with unprecedented realism and expressive detail.

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

• Early botanical imagery in religious painting, used as symbolic attributes of gods, goddesses, and saints
• Italian Renaissance landscapes by Mantegna and Carpaccio, setting sacred scenes within rich natural surroundings
• A closer look at Piero di Cosimo’s unique hunting scenes, filled with fantastical creatures and wilderness motifs
• German Renaissance landscapes by Lucas Cranach, framing mythological figures within vibrant forest settings
• A spotlight on Rembrandt’s Saskia as Flora, blending portraiture with classical floral symbolism
• Dramatic compositions by Bruegel, Patinir, and Hobbema, charting the rise of the independent landscape genre
• Watteau’s theatrical garden settings, inspired by music, myth, and leisure
• Still lifes brimming with fruits, flowers, and fauna, showcasing technical mastery and hidden meanings

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!

The Met's Western Art Collection Series
Part 1: The Cloisters (Thursday, February 26 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 2: Nature & Landscape (Thursday, March 5 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 3: The Gilded Age (Thursday, March 12 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 4: Impressionism (Thursday, March 19 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 5: NYC in Modern Art (Thursday, March 26 @ 5:30pm ET)

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.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment