Arthur Kaplan

Arthur Kaplan, an ardent Francophile who has traveled extensively throughout France, taught French language, literature, and civilization at Mills College in Oakland, California. He received his B.A. in French Linguistics from Cornell University and his M.A. in French from the University of California, Berkeley. There he continued studies in Romance Languages and Literatures with a specialization in 19th-century French theater. Awarded a Fulbright scholarship, he spent two years in Paris on a university fellowship doing research on Victor Hugo and Romantic opera. A frequent lecturer, writer, and tour director in the field of opera, Arthur has served as Study Leader for many Smithsonian Journey opera tours in France, Italy, and the United States.

Pamela Kachurin

Pamela Kachurin earned her Ph.D. in Art and Architectural History, with a concentration in 20th Century Art. Dr. Kachurin has taught Modern Art at Tufts, Northeastern, Harvard, and Duke Universities. She has led dozens of adult groups through world-renowned art museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Harvard University Art Museums, and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Her numerous books, articles, and exhibition catalog essays have focused on the deep connections between 20th-century art and political movements.

Dr. Kachurin has traveled widely in France, with extended stays in Paris and Provence, and has lectured extensively in the US and abroad. She is thrilled to share her passion for 20th-century French art with sophisticated Smithsonian travelers.