Today we're rethinking everything we thought we knew about Mary Cassatt. On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "World of Art" Podcast, host Victoria Chick and Lisa D. Smith welcome Mary G. Morton, curator and head of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art, to talk about her new book, "Cassatt Reconsidered," out this November from Getty Publications.

2026 marks the centennial of Mary Cassatt's death (born May 22, 1844, died June 14, 1926), and Mary Morton makes the case for an artist who was bold, modern, and uncompromising. Cassatt's images of mothers and children are an extraordinary part of her work, but they're only part of the story. Mary explains how a narrow label took hold and what the fuller picture looks like.

In this conversation: - How Cassatt built a career at a time when the École des Beaux-Arts did not admit women, and why selling her work mattered - The business-minded family that shaped her, and the role of dealer Paul Durand-Ruel in packaging her as "the painter of mothers and babies" - Why her maternity pictures were a realist break from the sentimental versions painted by men - Why the National Gallery holds the best Cassatt collection in the world, and why seven of its 12 oil paintings can't leave the building - The centennial exhibitions in Chicago, at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, in London, and in Boston - The cover painting, and how a woman's portrait that defies conventional beauty became the face of the book - Why the National Gallery belongs to all of us, and what a first visit to a great museum can do for a life

MORE: - Get the Book: https://shop.getty.edu/products/cassatt-reconsidered-979-8887120508 - Victoria Chick: https://victoriachick.com/ - World of Art Podcast: https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/ - Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org

In this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "World of Art" Podcast, artist and art historian Victoria Chick takes us inside the exciting development of the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico.

Victoria is a contemporary figurative artist, collector of early 19th and 20th-century American prints, and the visionary spearheading this long-term museum project. The proposed museum and art center is designed not only to preserve and exhibit art, but also to provide art education, outreach, research resources, and greater access to the arts for communities throughout southwest New Mexico.

The conversation focuses on an exciting milestone: two October weekends when the public can experience a free pop-up museum inside the historic building the organization hopes to purchase and transform into its permanent home. Victoria explains the vision for the space, the importance of museum-quality preservation, and what goes into curating an exhibition.

We also explore the two featured exhibitions: “American Etching Revival,” examining the rise of etching as an artistic medium beginning in the 1870s, and “Five Artists Do the West,” featuring five 20th-century artists who interpreted the American West using five different mediums. The exhibition includes an interactive opportunity for visitors to create their own depiction of the West.

Victoria also discusses the Southwest Print Fiesta, a juried print purchase show, the museum's future outreach programs, the importance of visual observation and art education, and the exciting possibility of future exhibition partnerships through the Art Bridges Foundation.

As Victoria emphasizes, a museum is about more than putting art on walls. It is about preservation, education, access, creativity, and connecting people with art.

🌐 MORE TO EXPLORE - October Exhibits & Events: https://swrma.substack.com/p/art-events-in-silver-city-october

- Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org

- Victoria Chick: https://victoriachick.com/

- World of Art Podcast: https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/

- Big Blend Media House https://bigblendmediahouse.com/

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "World of Art" Podcast, artist and art historian Victoria Chick explores the remarkable life and legacy of Jack Levine (1915–2010), one of America's most influential political and social realist artists. Known for his satirical paintings and prints, Levine fearlessly used art to challenge authority, expose corruption, and capture the human condition with wit, compassion, and extraordinary technical skill.

Victoria discusses Levine's humble beginnings in Boston, his rise through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the influences that shaped his distinctive artistic voice. The conversation explores how artists become powerful storytellers, why observation and integrity are essential to creative expression, and how art continues to inspire meaningful dialogue across generations.

The episode also celebrates the ongoing development of the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico. Victoria shares updates on the museum project and invites listeners to attend upcoming exhibitions and special events that celebrate American art and creativity.

Victoria is a contemporary figurative artist, a collector of early 19th and 20th-century American prints, and the visionary spearheading the development of the Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center in Silver City, New Mexico.

🎨 MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center is hosting two special exhibition weekends featuring "American Etching Revival" and "Five Artists Do the West," along with hands-on art activities for children and families. 📅 October 10–11 & October 17–18 Learn more about the exhibitions and upcoming events: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/exhibits-events

🌐 MORE TO EXPLORE - Read Victoria's article on Jack Levine: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/articles/jack-levine-american-political-artist

- Victoria Chick: https://victoriachick.com/

- Southwest Regional Museum of Art & Art Center: https://www.southwest-art-museum.org/

- World of Art Podcast: https://worldofart-victoriachick.podbean.com/

- Big Blend Media House: https://bigblendmediahouse.com/ This episode is part of Big Blend Radio's America 250 programming, celebrating the artists and creative visionaries who have shaped America's cultural heritage.