“Controversial” is probably not the first word to come to mind when viewing Whistler’s Mother, and yet as a harbinger of modernity and even abstraction in art, it was. To fully tell the story of the painting Whistler called Arrangement in Gray and Black No. 1: Portrait of the Artist’s Mother, this program provides a broad view of the artist and his times. Topics include Whistler’s unconventional artistic vision; the influence of Charles Gleyre, Manet, Courbet, and Hokusai on his work; his bohemian lifestyle in France and England; his painting technique; and Whistler’s Mother’s entry into pop culture. A BBCW Production. (50 minutes)