The Newberry Library’s Pictures from an Exposition: Visualizing the 1893 World’s Fair includes a series of rich programs about the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

On Saturday, December 8, 2018, the Newberry will host a symposium titled “Chicago’s Two World’s Fairs” featuring a morning  program on the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and afternoon speakers discussing the  Century of Progress International Exposition of 1933-34.

Columbian Exposition presentations run from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and features these speakers and topics:

Sarah Burns, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Thomas Hovenden, Breaking Home Ties, and Culture Wars in the White City of 1893” about that artist’s sensational painting Breaking Home Ties that was exhibited in the Palace of Fine Arts.

Edward C. Hirschland, “An Electric Ballet. Huh?” about a little-known European stage extravaganza featuring the 1893 World’s Fair. [A stunning scenery sketch of this show from Mr. Hirschland’s collection is on display in the Newberry Library’s exhibit.]

Judy Koessel, “Discovering Dodge: William De Leftwich Dodge, American Muralist (1867-1935)” on the artist whose Glorification of the Arts and Sciences decorated the inside dome of the Administration Building. [Dodge’s sketch and full-color model for Glorification mural are on display in the Newberry Library’s exhibit.]

Opening the symposium will open with “Behind the Model: Reconstructing the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition,” a talk and demonstration of a virtual White City by Lisa Snyder of UCLA. This presentation only requires advance registration.

The symposium will be held in Ruggles Hall at the Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago. The event is free and open to the public.

William Dodge’s model of his Glorification of the Arts and Sciences mural for the Administration Building. The painting is on display at the Newberry Library’s “Pictures from an Exposition: Visualizing the 1893 World’s Fair,” lent by owners Judy and Al Koessel.