Notre Dame

The Notre-Dame de Paris, literally Our Lady of Paris, is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world. It stands as a dedication to the Virgin Mary and houses many religious artifacts, one of which being the Crown of Thorns believed to be worn by Jesus during his crucifixion. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries on top of the site for a Roman temple to Jupiter and an early Christian Romanesque Basilica. The cathedral is both a site of rich religious history and innovative architecture. One of the most noteworthy architectural features is the flying buttresses, a Gothic-era invention that allowed for taller and more slender buildings. The building tragically caught fire in 2019, destroying the iconic spire and parts of the roof. Artist Masami Teraoka captures the devastation from this fire in his Notre Dame series, which can be found in the Main Gallery of the Schneider Museum of Art. Learn more about Notre-Dame and its history with the link below, and visit the museum before March 23rd to see Teraoka’s work while it’s still on view.

https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/notre-dame-cathedral/

The Battle of Verdun

Known as one of the longest battles in modern history, the battle of Verdun was during World War I between German and French armies from February 21st to December 16th in 1916. The fighting was drawn out because of the multiple, bloody stalemates the troops would come to. The site of Verdun held significance for both parties: For the French it was an ancient city that was the last to fall during the Franco-Prussian war. For the Germans, the Treaty of Verdun was a document signed in 843 A.D. that divided the Carolingian empire into what is now the core of modern Germany. The battle of Verdun was brutal, with both parties together firing about 50 million shells of ammunition over the 10 month period. In artist Al Farrow’s piece Burnt Church, Farrow uses three rifles from the Verdun battlefield. The guns are rusted and old, but the violence they represent is hard to overlook. See Burnt Church in the Schneider Museum of Art’s Main Gallery, and learn more facts about the battle of Verdun with the link below.

https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-battle-of-verdun

Palestinian textiles

Traditionally, the kinds of clothing worn by Palestinians was an expression of their hometown, marital status, approximate age, and occupation. Detailed embroidery, or tatriz, is present in most fabrics, but the styles differ across regions. The country’s second largest employer is the textile and clothing industry. As of 2021, there are 760 enterprises in Gaza and 567 spread across the West Bank. 50% of these businesses had between 1 and 4 people working for them. These numbers have since changed due to the current siege of Gaza and the West Bank. For many Palestinians, this industry was a way to provide for their families while keeping their culture alive. Artist Zeina Barakeh incorporates textile patterns and clouds of cotton in her work as a nod to her Palestinian heritage. Growing up in Lebanon amidst multiple conflicts, her symbols of culture assert a presence that cannot be erased. Learn more about traditional Palestinian textiles with the link below, and find Barakeh’s work in the Heiter and Treehaven Galleries of the Schneider Museum of Art.

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