Renowned Egyptologist to Open New Series of Lectures at Ringling Museum

Sarasota, FL – Sept. 26, 2008 – The renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Edward Bleiberg will open the new series of Ringling Museum of Art Lectures at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2008 with an illustrated lecture, Living Forever in Ancient Egypt onstage at the Historic Asolo Theater.  The presentation also opens the Ringling’s new exhibition, To Live Forever, Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum October 18, 2008- January 11, 2009 in the Museum’s Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing.

The Ringling Museum of Art Lecture Series program will enhance participant’s understanding and appreciation of the Museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions. Lectures will be held on select Fridays at 2 p.m.

As the Managing Curator for Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art at the Brooklyn Museum, Bleiberg is uniquely qualified to explore the ancient Egyptian’s preoccupation with immortality.  He joined the Brooklyn Museum in 1998 after 13 years teaching Egyptian hieroglyphs and art history while also directing the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archeology at the University of Memphis.  He earned his Ph.D. in Egyptology at the University of Toronto and is the author of three books on ancient Egypt, three exhibition catalogues for the Brooklyn Museum, and numerous articles on ancient Egyptian culture.

For his Sarasota lecture, Bleiberg will focus on those tenets of ancient Egyptian religious life that required adherents to prepare for their deaths by living a life of justice and by providing themselves with specifics objects that would furnish their tombs.  While every educated Egyptian was well versed in the laws that dictated the living of a just life, only the royal and noble were wealthy enough to easily secure the furnishings for their tombs.  Bleiberg will examine both the spiritual and material struggles many Egyptians underwent in order that they might live forever. 

Following the lecture Bleiberg will sign copies of the exhibition catalogue he wrote to accompany the special exhibition.

The event is free for Ringling Museum Members at the Contributor Level and above, $12 for all other Ringling Members, and $15 for non-members. Admission to the To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum exhibition is not included in the price of the lecture.  Regular Museum admission is $19 for adults; $16 for seniors and $6 for children and free for children under five and Museum members.

To purchase tickets, contact the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office at 941.360.7399 or visit www.ringling.org. The box office is located in the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion of the Ringling Museum.    

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complex in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling’s historic mansion; the Circus Museums; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

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General Admission includes the Ringling Museum of Art, special exhibitions, Ca' d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, and Mable’s historic Rose Garden, all on 66 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Adults are $25; senior citizens (65 and over) are $20; children ages 6-17 are $5.  Free Admission for children 5 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members.  Advance tickets are available by calling 941.358.3180. Visit Ringling.org for more information.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Ca' d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museums; the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.
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