March 12, 2026
CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS DISCUSSION ON THEMES OF ATTENTION AND DISTRACTION IN ART AND LITERATURE
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Thursday, April 16 at 6 pm, the Clark Art Institute hosts Attention and Distraction, Then and Now, a panel discussion exploring visual and literary interpretations of focus and distraction from the nineteenth century through the present. The talk takes place in the Manton Research Center auditorium.
“Distraction” is a buzzword in modern culture, and rightly so: focus becomes so difficult when we’re bombarded from all sides with notifications, updates, and pings. But was it so different in the age before Google and TikTok? In this three-way conversation, Gage McWeeny, Professor and Chair in the English Department at Williams College; Debra Gettelman, Associate Professor of English at College of the Holy Cross; and Anne Leonard, Manton Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Clark, draw on examples from visual art and literature to show that attention, distraction, and daydreaming were already hot-button topics in the nineteenth century.
Free. Advance registration required. Accessible seats available. Call 413 458 0570 with any questions. For more details and to register, visit events.clarkart.edu.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March. From April through December, admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+), $10 for young adults (18–25) and college students, and free for all visitors under 18. Admission is free year-round for Clark members. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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