Dr. Irina D. Costache, Professor of Art,

Camarillo, CA - CSU Channel Islands (CI) Professor of Art Dr. Irina D. Costache will present her new book, “The Art of Understanding Art,” at an Author’s Gallery Talk, Thursday, May 10, at 6 p.m. at the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard. The event is free and open to the public, though a $3 donation to the museum is suggested.

Costache’s book breaks new ground, delving into the learning process of understanding and appreciating art by examining case studies and topics not usually covered in introductory art texts. She offers readers new and meaningful ways of developing ideas and opinions about art and how to express them with confidence. The book covers such topics as provenance, art conservation, art classification, research sources, museums, the Web and copyrights, as well as world-famous artists like Monet and lesser-known artists more likely to be seen in regional museums. It provides a valuable resource for students and art history educators alike by suggesting innovative class assignments and projects useful for developing lesson plans.

Though books will not be available for purchase at the Gallery Talk, the author will be available to sign copies. To learn more about the book and purchasing options through Amazon and the publisher, Wiley-Blackwell, visit http://faculty.csuci.edu/irina.costache/book/.

Costache, a member of the CI faculty since 2002, is an art historian specializing in 20th Century art and critical theory, with an emphasis on Italian art and electronic media. She received her Ph.D. in Art History with minors in Critical Theory and Italian Literature from UCLA. She has taught art history, humanities, and film at UCLA, Loyola University, Cal State Northridge and Mount St. Mary’s College.

Her extensive teaching experiences and innovative methodologies have been recognized with numerous awards and grants. She has lectured nationally and internationally and published on topics related to modern and contemporary art and pedagogical issues. Dr. Costache has also curated several contemporary art exhibitions and organized interdisciplinary symposia.

The Carnegie Art Museum is located at 424 South C St. in Oxnard. For more information on the Gallery Talk, visit http://www.carnegieam.org/authors-gallery-talk.html or call 805-385-8158.

For additional information contact Dr. Irina Costache at 805-437-8993 or irina.costache@csuci.edu.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.