The Preservation Society of Newport County has released its fall program schedule, anchored by the two-day Newport Symposium on Nov. 5 and 6 at Rosecliff and Marble House.
This year’s symposium theme is “What Makes It American,” examining the origins of American art, architecture, landscape and design. Robyn Asleson, curator of prints and drawings at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, gives the keynote on American portraiture and national identity. Other speakers include fashion historian Raissa Bretaña of the Fashion Institute of Technology, on how department stores and mail-order catalogs democratized fashion in the Gilded Age; Justin Martin, author of a biography of Frederick Law Olmsted, on Olmsted’s work including in Newport; and Christopher Young of Tiffany & Co., on how the firm shaped an American idea of luxury.
Also on the program: K.L.H. Wells of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Colonial Revival design and national identity; Rachel Heslop and Thomas Lloyd on Bunny Mellon, who designed the White House Rose Garden; and designer Thomas Jayne in conversation with Preservation Society chief curator Leslie Jones. The symposium has run annually since 1993.
Before that, the fall schedule includes:
- Mid-Autumn Festival — Saturday, Sept. 26, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the Marble House back lawn near the Chinese Tea House, a family program marking the Chinese moon festival.
- Plein air painting class with watercolorist Bill Lane — Friday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Breakers. Watercolor and oil painters welcome.
- Putting Your Garden to Bed — Friday, Oct. 2, 10 to 11 a.m. at Green Animals, with horticulturist supervisor Evan Aten on preparing perennials and dahlias for winter.
- State of the Collections lecture, members only — Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Rosecliff, with Jones and chief conservator Patty Miller.
- Chepstow tours — Thursdays, Oct. 8 and 15, 11 a.m. to noon, on the Morris family archives and the founding-era figures behind the house’s collection.
- Trick or Treat at The Breakers — Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with a sensory-friendly window Friday from 5:30 to 6.
- Breakers greenhouse tour with gardens director Jeff Curtis — Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 to 11 a.m.
- A Newport Songbook with Historic Music of Newport — Thursday, Nov. 12 at Rosecliff, reception at 5:30, program at 6, featuring music from Newport’s 19th century opera houses and salons, works by composers from the Astor, Wetmore and Oelrichs families, and music honoring Ida Lewis.
Schedule and tickets are at newportmansions.org/fall.
