The Bowditch Institute and Salem Maritime National Historic Site Invite you to: French Visions of America in 1834 
Admission: Free (Registration Required, Space Limited. )
Salem Maritime National Site’s Visitor Center 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA (click for more information)

Description: From the time Jackie O installed them in the the White House to the Obama Administration, Zuber et Cie's "Views of North America" panoramic wallpaper, have inspired artistic and intercultural discourse. Join us to learn from three expert panelists about this exquisite scenic wallpaper. The collection of thirty-two, awe-inspiring panels depicts national landmarks, including Boston Harbor, West Point and Niagara falls. "Views of America" gives us unparalleled insight into how a pre-democratic France saw America's burgeoning democracy. The scholarly soirée will cover everything from the social, aesthetic and political to the French Idealization of early 19th-century America. Those in attendance will have the distinct pleasure of learning about the  Zuber et Cie wallpaper from Isabelle Dubois-Brinkmann the curator of the Musée du Papier Peint in Rixheim, Alsace, France. James A. Abbott, Curator of Johns Hopkins Evergreen Museum and author of Designing Camelot will present on how the Kennedy White House revitalized interest in these important works. Additionally, Joanna Gohmann, Doctoral Candidate in Art History at Chapel Hill, will present her findings from her thesis about the wallpaper's representation of French idealization of America democracy and racial integration.The guests will be invited to view a sampling of scaled-down replicas of these great works. 
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