For centuries, travelers have been enchanted and inspired by the unique landscapes and traditions of Egypt. The nation on the Nile will again be the subject when the Archaeological Institute of America-Toledo Society (AIA-TS) and the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) present the second in a series of free lectures they are co-sponsoring this year.

Nearly 600 people turned out to hear Egyptologist Bob Brier give the opening lecture in the popular series earlier this month. The next presentation, the Annual Kurt Luckner Lecture on Oct. 23, is titled  “Miles Up the Nile.”

Guest speakers Carolyn M. Putney, interim deputy director of TMA, and Richard H. Putney,  professor of art history at the University of Toledo, will discuss their favorite sites in the Nile Valley in the illustrated lecture. They will talk about both landscapes and monuments, with special attention given to the intriguing works from antiquity and early monuments of Islamic Cairo.

The free lecture will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 23) in the Little Theater at the Museum.

Richard H. Putney, a native of the Philadelphia area, has taught courses on ancient and medieval art and architecture at the University of Toledo since 1979. He has participated in the publication of numerous Toledo Museum of Art books, including Medieval Art, Medieval People: The Cloister Gallery of the Toledo Museum of Art and Toledo Museum of Art: Masterworks. He also has done extensive photography in Egypt. He has visited Egypt four times, most recently in March of this year.

Carolyn M. Putney joined the Toledo Museum of Art staff the day after she finished her graduate studies at Florida State University in 1978. She originally held the position of the visual resources curator and taught Asian art history part time for the University of Toledo.

After working with the Museum’s Asian collection for some time and helping to reinterpret the galleries, she was appointed associate curator of Asian art in 1999. Named full curator in 2003, she also was asked to head the curatorial department that year. In 2004, she was made director of collections in addition to continuing her curatorial roles, and in 2005 the University of Toledo gave her a prestige appointment of Research Professor of Art History. She recently was named the interim deputy director of the Museum, while the Board of Trustees conducts a search for a new director.

The AIA, with more than 100 local societies in the United States, Canada and overseas, is North America's oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology. Its 250,000 members and subscribers share a passion for archaeology and its role in furthering human knowledge. The Toledo Society has more than 60 members. Visit http://www.eeescience.utoledo.edu/toledo_society/ for a list of 2009-10 AIA-TS programs.

Admission to the Museum is always free. The lecture is part of “It’s Friday,” when the Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For general information, visitors can call 419-255-8000 or visit www.toledomuseum.org.

The Museum is located at 2445 Monroe St. at Scottwood Avenue, just west of the downtown business district and one block off I-75 with exit designations posted. 

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