ARTCURIOUS Stories of the Unexpected. Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History

Jennifer Dasal draws directly from her own popular podcast, ArtCurious, to entertain the listener with unusual stories and weird facts from art history. Dasal, an art historian and curator, has a mission to make this sometimes stodgy subject relevant to people today. In a youthful and unpretentious style that doesn't attempt a French or Italian accent, she tells of the "bad assery" of the Impressionists and of the CIA's involvement with the "Ab Exs" during the cultural Cold War. Listeners will learn about "butt music" based on Hieronymus Bosch's GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS. Sudden switches to the many sidebars of related stories, like that of Leonardo in the middle of a chapter about Jackson Pollock, can be confusing to the listener, but Dasal's enthusiasm and knowledge always shine. J.E.S. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2020]