Social context, importance of Swedish art is appreciated

On Friday evening, people from all over Connecticut came to the Swedish celebration called "En Svensk Fest" at the William Benton Museum of Art. In Swedish, the word "Svensk" can mean either the adjective "Swedish" or the noun "Swede". The celebration included a lecture given by Jean Givens, Professor of Art History at UConn followed by a concert of traditional Swedish folk music performed by Nutmeg Spermanslag.

The exhibition at the Benton is called "Women's Work, Women's Dreams: A Century of Swedish Women's Arts". The exhibition portrays visions of Swedish women who broke away from their traditional roles. The art depicts women who were exploring beyond their duties as mothers and homemakers through jobs such as weavers, painters and designers.

"I came today for my cross-cultural communications class," said Chris DeForse, a 6th-semester communications major. "I was looking at the art before the start of the program, and I found it very interesting."

Professor Givens started off the program with a lecture that highlighted the centrality of the Swedish home. She spoke about how the term "home" had and still has a very special meaning to the Swedish people. Professor Givens also spoke about the empire of Ikea and how the marketing program is built on the centrality of the home. Home is the most important place in the world, and Ikea sells more than furniture, it sells a lifestyle.

Professor Givens hoped that after the lecture, the audience was able to have "a fuller appreciation of the social context for the art and the sense of the importance of the Swedish home for the artists represented here."

The lecture was followed by traditional folk music performed by Nutmeg Spermannslag. The exhibition is on display until Dec. 18, 2009 for anyone interested in learning more about Swedish art.

"It was good to gain insight into another culture than our own," said Kelly Pinchbeck, a 5th-semester communications major. "I learned a lot about Swedish homes from the lecture given by Professor Givens."

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