Winter Lectures Curator's Lecture
Winter Lectures
Rosecliff-Hangers: Stories from the Rose Garden
Jim Donahue, PSNC Curator of Historic Landscapes & Horticulture
Thursday, January 24
11:00 a.m., Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport
Join us at the newly refurbished Rosecliff rose garden for tales of intrigue and murder, part of the long
and complicated history of the property. Hear about how ‘Rose Clyffe’s’ original owner – noted diplomat, 19th century historian and rosarian George Bancroft – was involved.
Jim Donahue is Curator of Historic Landscapes and Horticulture for the Preservation Society. Mr. Donahue received a Masters Degree in Sustainable Landscape Design and Planning from The Conway School after graduating from The College of the Holy Cross. He has been with the Preservation Society for over 15 years serving first as Chief Horticulturalist at Green Animals for 10 years before assuming his current position.
Admission is $10 for Preservation Society members, $15 for the general public. Advance ticket purchase is required.
or call 401-847-1000 ext. 178
Building the Avenue
Abigail Stewart, PSNC Education & Interpretation Specialist
Thursday, February 7
11 a.m., Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport
The magnificent cottages that line Bellevue Avenue are not only lasting symbols of a bygone era, but
serve as a timeline of American architectural history. Through a selection of Preservation Society’s properties, this lecture will explore the changes and trends in 19th century architecture that define the Newport we know today.
Abigail Stewart is the Education and Interpretive Programs Specialist at the Preservation Society. She received her MA in Architectural History with a certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia. Ms. Stewart researches and writes tours for the historic properties of the Newport Mansions, and manages family and school programs. Before coming to the Preservation Society, Ms. Stewart taught high school history and literature.
Admission is $10 for Preservation Society members, $15 for the general public. Advance ticket purchase is required.
or call 401-847-1000 ext. 178
Saving Aphrodite: Conserving Garden Statuary and Fountains
Patricia Miller, PSNC Chief Conservator
Thursday, February 28
11 a.m., Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport
The gardens of the Preservation Society properties are well known for their abundant flowers and foliage. But have you ever wondered about the statues that inhabit these gardens and how they are cared for? Learn about the outdoor sculpture collection and the work that goes into conserving it.
Patricia Miller has over twenty years of conservation experience in the assessment and treatment of outdoor sculpture, monuments, historic structures, fountains, and industrial artifacts. Before joining the Preservation Society she worked in private practice on projects for the New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, and the Biltmore Estate. She holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
Admission is $10 for Preservation Society members, $15 for the general public. Advance ticket purchase is required.
or call 401-847-1000 ext. 178
Beyond the Wrecking Ball: Historic Preservation’s Coming of Age
Kaity Ryan, PSNC Deputy Chief of Staff
Thursday, March 14
11 a.m., Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport
What do utility lines, stone walls, and streetscapes have in common? They are critical, if sometimes overlooked, aspects of the built environment at the intersection of preservation and conservation. Learn about recent and ongoing advocacy campaigns undertaken by the Preservation Society, and about how expanding the definition of preservation can support a more scenic, economically viable Newport County.
Kaity Ryan is an architectural historian and preservation advocate. As the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Preservation Society, she has led the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts for the past seven years. Ms. Ryan holds a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. She serves on the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (SHPO), Smithfield Zoning Board, Providence Preservation Society’s Historic House Marker Committee, and the Board of the Aquidneck Land Trust.
Admission is $10 for Preservation Society members, $15 for the general public. Advance ticket purchase is required.
or call 401-847-1000 ext. 178
John James Audubon: Obsession Untamed
Ashley Householder, PSNC Exhibition Curator
Thursday, April 4
6 p.m., Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport
In 1820 John James Audubon embarked on what would become his life’s work as “portraitist of all the birds of America.” Hear how this witness to America’s Heroic Age translated his obsession into a successful business venture that resulted in arguably the most enduring images associated with the modern conservation movement.
Ashley Householder is Curator of Exhibitions for the Preservation Society and is responsible for in-house and travelling exhibitions for the Galleries at Rosecliff. Ms. Householder holds an MA in the History of Decorative Arts from Parsons The New School for Design. Prior to moving to Rhode Island, she lived in New York City and worked in arts publishing, serving as buyer for Rizzoli Bookstore.
Admission is $10 for Preservation Society members, $15 for the general public. Advance ticket purchase is required.
or call 401-847-1000 ext. 178