Contributed by OLLI
Dr. Michael W. Panhorst, retired from museum management, will present “Alabama’s Monuments and Memorials” at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI) Brown Bag on June 23. This presentation will be streamed live on OLLI at Auburn’s Facebook page at noon.
The material culture of Alabama’s monuments and memorials tells an interesting story about our state’s people. The commemorative art and architecture in marble, granite, bronze and less durable materials that we have raised (and some we have razed) illustrate our individual and collective values. Tombstone epitaphs, public monument inscriptions and dedicatory addresses give voice to patrons’ motives. Since Alabama’s history is fraught with divisiveness, its Civil War and civil rights memorials reflect that distinctive reality just as its gravestones and monuments to American heroes follow national trends in form, material, and style, albeit with regional variations. This richly illustrated survey should inform, entertain and may enable us to learn something new about ourselves.
A native of Montgomery, Panhorst recently retired from a career in museum management and historic preservation that took him to the Mid-Atlantic states, the Mid-West, New England and back to Alabama. He has taught, lectured and published widely on historic art and architecture with a focus on American monuments and memorials and their care.
OLLI at Auburn hosts its live Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series from noon to 1 p.m. on OLLI at Auburn’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/OLLIatAuburn. The free program is open to the public.
OLLI at Auburn is a program of the Office of the Vice President for University Outreach. OLLI administrative offices and select classes are located at the historic Sunny Slope property which is located at 1031 South College St. in Auburn. For more information or to learn about becoming a volunteer faculty member, volunteer service assistant, or sponsor, contact Shawnee McKee, OLLI administrative support, at 334-844-3146, email olli@auburn.edu or visit our website at www.olliatauburn.org.