Violette de Mazia Foundation

Specialties

Learn to see your world like an artist. Experience the arts in a more meaningful way by joining us for one of our classes, tours, or talks. Whether you are exploring the arts for the first time or want to enhance and enrich the knowledge you already have, the Violette de Mazia Foundation has something for everyone. Discover the satisfaction understanding the arts can bring and the reward of realizing that art and life are inseparable. There are opportunities are available to all, so please join us and experience the arts in a whole new way.

History

Established in 2004.

The Violette de Mazia Foundation believes that education is a lifelong activity of growth, development and change; that life and art are inextricably linked; that all human beings possess an aesthetic nature; and that enriching this aspect of our lives is a prerequisite to a cultured society. The Foundation is dedicated to provide for a better society and the common good through art and aesthetic education. Violette de Mazia was the former director of education and vice president of the board of The Barnes Foundation, and was the driving force behind the art education program at The Barnes Foundation for over sixty years. The Violette de Mazia Foundation’s mission is to teach and advance the aesthetic theories and experiential educational methods of art appreciation developed by John Dewey, Albert C. Barnes and Violette de Mazia. Based on their objective method of art appreciation, our courses show students how to objectively look at works of art, as well as the world around them.

Meet the Business Owner

Violette D.

Business Owner

Born in Paris in 1896, Violette de Mazia studied art in England. She moved to the US in 1924 and continued her studies by enrolling in philosophy and art appreciation classes at the Barnes Foundation. Soon after those initial classes, Dr. Albert C. Barnes offered her a teaching position. Over the years, she became the driving force behind the art education program, developing an original program of study that created a unique approach to the understanding of art. Ms. de Mazia was named Director of Education at the Barnes Foundation in 1950. Students learned about the aesthetic principles of paintings, but also that those same principles equally apply to music, literature, drama, architecture, fashion, gastronomy, athletics, and any other aspect of human activity. In addition to teaching, she co-​authored four books and wrote many essays.

Violette de Mazia Foundation also recommends

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

43

reviews

Musée

,

Galerie d’art

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Ecole d’art

Violette D. says,

«PAFA has an excellent art collection and they host classes taught by the Violette de Mazia Foundation.»

Wayne Art Center

4

reviews

Ecole d’art

Violette D. says,

«The Wayne Art Center is a dynamic location to study painting and to see new exhibitions.»