This course is devoted to understanding and talking about art. Participants will learn to describe, interpret, and analyze works of art exhibited as part of the Arts Council of the Valley's First Friday Art Program. Venues include Smith House, Oasis, Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art and others. The course will focus on the work of artists living and working in the Shenandoah Valley.



Kathy Schwartz, Ph.D., retired from James Madison University in 2022, after serving as the Director of the School of Art, Design, and Art History and Professor of Art and Art Education; she currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of the Valley. Her work includes developing community, regional and national partnerships to improve education in the arts. Prior to her work at JMU, Schwartz taught K-12 art and she directed the Alaska Center for Excellence in Arts Education at Kenai Peninsula College.