NORTH ADAMS, MA—As part of its “Unlikely Conversations: From Art to Impact” series, The MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities will host cartoonist Liza Donnelly for a virtual conversation from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21. This event is part of MCLA’s third annual Day of Dialogue, a virtual day of events, workshops, and webinars on the theme of creating change through community, action, and organizing. This event is produced in collaboration with the Norman Rockwell Museum, one of MCLA-IAH’s 2020 community partners.
This event is free and open to the public. Unlikely Conversations and other Day of Dialogue sessions will be held virtually at https://mcla.instructure.com/courses/3033709.
Embracing social change, “Unlikely Conversations: From Art to Impact” will address ideas of activating one’s art to foster critical thought in viewers and catalyze active change in the community. The discussion will be facilitated by MCLA-IAH Intern and Graphic Designer Drew Thomas ’21. Thomas is a senior design major at MCLA with an interest in graphic design and animation. He and Donnelly will engage in a discussion about their work, their objectives as artists, and how they advance a social agenda through this work.
The Unlikely Conversations Series is a three-part virtual program produced by MCLA-IAH and the Institute's communications and administrative intern, Declan McDermott. The series prioritizes holding the difficult and “unlikely” conversations in the arts industry—discussions that many people may typically avoid. These conversations create an opportunity to promote future discussion and effect societal and industry-related change. The next two conversations will take place in November and December, and will feature more Berkshire arts and culture organizations and professionals.
More about the Unlikely Conversations Series and MCLA-IAH available at https://mcla.instructure.com/courses/2283576/pages/unlikely-conversations-series.
About MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities (MCLA-IAH)
The MCLA Institute for the Arts and Humanities (MCLA-IAH) is a grant-funded initiative, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Institute works to strategically promote equity-centered change on campus and in the community by (1) expanding access to area arts and humanities resources, (2) catalyzing opportunities for interdisciplinary engagements, and (3) advancing experiential teaching and learning practices in higher education.
About Liza Donnelly
Liza Donnelly is a writer, visual journalist, and award-winning cartoonist with The New Yorker Magazine, where she has been drawing cartoons and writing about culture and politics for forty years. She is also a contributor for CBS News and CNN, and writes for The New York Times and CNN Opinion pages. She is a designated top writer and cartoonist for Medium in politics and feminism where she writes and draws a regular column. A self-described feminist, Donnelly is the author of Funny Ladies: The New Yorker’s Greatest Women Cartoonists and Their Cartoons. She is also known for her popular TED Talk, “Drawing on Humor for Change”, and many appearances covering political conventions and debates, award shows, and more. Liza most recently had a solo exhibit, Comic Relief, which was on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum through September 2020. For more about Liza Donnelly, view her website at www.lizadonnelly.com.
About the Norman Rockwell Museum
The Norman Rockwell Museum illuminates the power of American illustration art to reflect
and shape society, and advances the enduring values of kindness, respect, and social
equity portrayed by Norman Rockwell. Founded in 1969 with the help of Norman and Molly
Rockwell, Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell’s
work and his contributions to society, popular culture, and social commentary. The
Museum, which is accredited by the American Association of Museums, is the most popular
year-round cultural attraction in the Berkshires. The Museum houses the world’s largest
and most significant collection of Rockwell’s work, including 998 original paintings
and drawings. Rockwell lived in Stockbridge for the last 25 years of his life. Rockwell’s
Stockbridge studio, moved to the Museum site, is open to the public from May through
October, and features original art materials, his library, furnishings, and personal
items. The Museum also houses the Norman Rockwell Archives, a collection of more than
100,000 items, including working photographs, letters, personal calendars, fan mail,
and business documents.
