Art, culture, and lifelong learning through travel
LECTURE SERIES
Artblazing Tours offers a series of engaging Zoom lectures, presented by Sevan Melikyan, designed to illuminate the cultural and historical context of each tour destination. These 90-minute sessions are complimentary for registered trip participants and open to "armchair travelers" who may register for individual lectures or the full series through our Lecture Registration page. All lectures are recorded, and a link to the recording is provided within 48 hours for anyone who missed the session or wishes to watch it again.
PROVENCE CALLING Lecture Series
The Provence Calling tour is accompanied by a rich series of Zoom lectures exploring the artists and legends in this luminous corner of France—from Chagall’s poetic visions and Renoir’s late masterpieces to the mysteries of Mary Magdalene, the grandeur of Avignon’s papal court, and the transformative genius of Van Gogh.
Join us on Tuesdays from 4:00–5:30 PM on the following dates:
Feb 3, Feb 10, Mar 3, Mar 10, and Mar 17, 2026.
Individual lectures are $15 each, or enjoy the full series of 5 lectures for $55 (save $20).
Register today at artblazingtours/lecture-registration.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
This lecture offers a concise introduction to Marc Chagall’s remarkable life and to the luminous biblical paintings on view at the National Museum in Nice. We explore how he blended Jewish heritage, Christian symbolism, and modernist color into dreamlike scenes from Genesis and Exodus. The lecture also compares his works with those of other artists who treated the same subjects, revealing Chagall’s uniquely poetic mind.
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Lecture 1: The Visionary Art of Marc Chagall
Lecture 2: Renoir Revealed
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
This lecture explores Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s final creative chapter at Les Collettes, tracing his evolution from Impressionist pioneer to classical experimenter to the bold late style forged despite debilitating arthritis. We clarify how he managed to produce sculptures even when he could no longer hold a brush. The session ends with a lively game inviting the audience to identify whether selected works belong to Renoir’s Impressionist, Classical, or Late period.
Lecture 3: Mary Magdalene in Provence: Muse, Myth, and Mystery
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
TThis lecture traces Mary Magdalene’s remarkable evolution in art—from grieving witness at the Crucifixion to bearer of myrrh, to the dramatic ecstasies and penitential visions that captivated artists for centuries. Drawing on the Golden Legend and her incredible voyage to Provence, we explore how her image shifted from disciple to sinner to saint. The talk culminates with our visit to the Basilica of St-Maximin, home to her relics and the artworks inspired by her enduring story.
Lecture 4: Avignon’s Palace of the Popes: Power, Politics, and a Dance on the Bridge
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
Discover the astonishing era when the popes left Rome and ruled from Avignon, transforming the city and building Europe’s largest medieval palace. This lecture unpacks the dramatic clashes between kings and popes, the lavish court of Clement VI, Petrarch’s searing critiques, and the horrors of the Black Death that struck the overcrowded city. We end with a lighthearted treat: a special guest teaching us how to dance sur le pont d’Avignon!
Lecture 5: Van Gogh in Provence: A Life in Color and Turmoil
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 4:00-5:30 PM
Although Van Gogh’s career lasted barely ten years, he created nearly 2,000 works before dying at 37. This lecture traces his turbulent life with a focus on the luminous masterpieces of Arles and Saint-Rémy, visiting the real locations behind his paintings and offering an alternate explanation for the ear-cutting incident. We explore how Provence transformed his palette and vision, then end with a lively game inviting participants to guess which period—Dutch, Paris, Arles, Saint-Rémy, or Auvers—each work belongs to.
SEVAN MELIKYAN
Sevan Melikyan is an independent art historian and lecturer with a repertoire of over 60 engaging presentations. Since 2018, he has led numerous international art tours, sharing his deep knowledge and infectious passion for art and culture.
Before founding Wired Gallery in High Falls, New York, Sevan spent twelve years as Marketing Director of the Van Cliburn Foundation. He was also an exhibiting artist, formerly represented by William Campbell Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas. While he no longer paints, his artistic sensibilities continue to shape his curatorial eye and his approach to teaching.
Sevan believes that learning—especially through travel—is one of life’s most enriching and transformative pursuits. His lectures aim not only to inform but to inspire, bridging past and present through the power of art.