An exhibition on the work of the Finnish artist Beda Stjernschantz (1867-1910) is scheduled to open at the Amos Anderson Art Museum in February 2014. Beda Stjernschantz was an important member of the generation of Finnish Symbolist artists that emerged in the 1890s but art historical research on her work is insufficient, in part due to her limited oeuvre. Thus, The Birch and the Star and Amos Anderson Art Museum are organizing a one-day seminar to bring together researchers who share an interest in Beda Stjernschantz and the art and culture of the fin-de-siècle. The aim of the seminar will be to coalesce and interpret existing art historical knowledge pertaining to Beda Stjernschantz and to reassess the significance of her work in an international context. Interdisciplinary by nature, the seminar will act as a springboard for the exhibition and will hopefully open up new and interesting perspectives on the artist who has hitherto remained under the scholarly radar.

The organizers invite proposals for 30 minute presentations that provide scholarly perspectives into the life and work of Beda Stjernschantz. We particularly welcome papers that examine Beda Stjernschantz’s artistic activities in the international context of fin-de-siècle art and culture and thus help to shed new light on her relationship with other artists, art forms, and cultural phenomena.

Those interested in presenting a paper at the seminar should send an abstract proposal of circa 300 words to marja.lahelma@helsinki.fi and birchandstar@gmail.com by 15 November 2012. Proposals may be written in English, Finnish, or Swedish.

Speakers will present their papers and engage in roundtable talks. After the seminar speakers will have the opportunity to elaborate on their papers and produce essays for the exhibition catalogue. Deadline for the final essays is 15 May 2013.

For further enquiries, please contact Marja Lahelma, marja.lahelma@helsinki.fi.

Venue: Amos Anderson Art Museum, Yrjönkatu 27, 00100 Helsinki, Finland, www.amosanderson.fi