At age 92, contemporary Japanese painter and sculptor Yayoi Kusama is having a moment— today she is one of the world’s most popular and recognizable artists. Her Infinity Mirrors immersive experience installations took the world by storm in the 21st Century, but she has been making vibrant and innovative art all along. Her artistic practice is rooted in her lifelong fascination with the natural world, inspired by her intimate engagement with the colors, patterns, and life cycles of plants and flowers. This talk will discuss her life and extraordinary work.

Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. In October of 2003 she was named runner-up for the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) Teacher of the Year award and was formally recognized by the New Jersey State Legislature and Governor Codey for this achievement. In May of 2004 she was the recipient of the “Innovations in Special Education Award” from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped (ASAH). Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.

Due to circumstances surrounding the pandemic and planned building renovations, program details including location and time are subject to change. Should there be any changes, you will receive an email notification at least 2 hours prior to the program start time.