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David J. Goodwin

(Courtesy of New York Public Library)

Sapientia: Another Blog

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, my office has been working remotely and we postponed a promising calendar of events. Prompted by social distancing and self-isolation, we’re developing novel content to virtually reach audiences. We’re still learning what works and what we realistically might accomplish. One experiment is our new blog, Sapientia.

Charles Burchfield, March Sunlight, 1926-1933. 
(Courtesy of Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University)

Charles Burchfield: Nature & the City

A Christmas or two ago, my wife gave me a copy of Blistering Visions: Charles E. Burchfield’s Sublime American Landscape, a catalog accompanying a 2016 exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Burchfield Penny Art Center in Buffalo, New York.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrate safe and smart. While social distancing, stream Irish music or read a piece of Irish literature. Enjoy a sliver of soda bread and a pint of Guinness in the comfort of your own living room.

The private library of J.P. Morgan, Morgan Library & Museum (Photograph by author)

A Booklover’s Paradise

My friend and I enjoyed a recent Friday evening at the Morgan Library & Museum. We approached our visit with a seriousness and devotion associated with a religious pilgrimage.

The Metropole: New Writing

The Metropole, the official blog of the Urban History Association, recently published a post by me. The blog features scholars and writers approaching urban history from a variety of disciplines and viewpoints. My piece details how I first learned about the former 111 1st Street arts community in Jersey City, New Jersey and how I…

Art exhibit at Casa Colombo--one organization which might benefit from an arts trust (Photgraph by author)

Jersey City Funding the Arts? Maybe

Recently, the Jersey City council approved a ballot referendum for creating an arts trust fund in Jersey City. The proposal would dedicate permanent revenue for local arts and culture organizations. A small additional property tax would collect an estimated $800,000 to $1,000,000 per year–all for the arts.

Happy Presidents’ Day

Happy Presidents’ Day! Take a moment to read a biography or watch a documentary on your favorite president this holiday.  You don’t need to restrict your intellectual curiosity to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. American presidential history is full of complicated, contradictory, compelling, and even admirable figures. Discover one.  

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Star Wars on Your Radio Dial

Last October, I moderated “Jedi & Jesuits,” a whip-smart panel discussing the philosophical, religious, and spiritual underpinnings of the Stars Wars universe. A fun night!

George Biddle, The New York Public Library (1920). Painting hanging in the Salomon Room in the New York Public Library. (Photograph by author)

Dyspeptic Observations

During the past year, I have experienced the luxury of conducting research at the New York Public Library, one of the world’s great collections. When I need a break from my work, I wander through the library’s halls, marveling at the architecture, the art, the exhibits–the sheer wonder of the institution.

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

2020 Predictions: We Need Some Milk

Last year, I appeared on We Need Some Milk, a sometimes irreverent podcast exploring local politics with a focus on New Jersey and Massachusetts. The hosts invited me back to participate in the program’s first episode in 2020.