September 22, 2011 — Tyler Jo Smith, assistant professor of classical art and archaeology in the College of Arts & Sciences' McIntire Department of Art at the University of Virginia, will give a talk on ancient Mediterranean art on view in the museum's Object Study Gallery on Oct. 4 from noon to 1 p.m.

Smith is a specialist in the visual and material cultures of the ancient Greco-Roman world. Her book "Komast Dancers in Archaic Greek Art" is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. Her particular areas of research and interest include Greek pottery, ancient religion and performance and the history of collecting. She has participated in archaeological fieldwork in Greece, Turkey, Sicily and England, and has been a faculty lecturer for Cavalier Travels programs in Greece and Turkey.

Smith's talk will focus on the museum's rich collection of ancient Greek and Cypriot pottery, and will introduce issues of style, form, function, decoration and cultural context. She will also discuss the study of ceramic objects from other cultures on display in the Object Study Gallery, including pre-Columbian and Native American.

The museum's Lunchtime Talks are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. These lectures offer the opportunity to join curators and faculty as they explore topics related to museum collections and exhibitions.

Lunchtime Talks are free and open to the public. For information, call 434-243-2050 or email museumoutreach@virginia.edu. The museum is located at 155 Rugby Road, one block from the Rotunda.