Celebrate Leonardo Da Vinci with Art & Dining

Sunday, February 19 at 3 pm. at Orcas Center

Beginning Feb. 16, Leonardo LIVE, a high-definition movie delivered by satellite, will open in theaters across the United States, Europe and Canada, and also in Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Japan, Mexico and New Zealand, offering an unprecedented opportunity for audiences worldwide to experience this historic da Vinci exhibit. In a first for movie audiences, the big-screen presentation of Leonardo LIVE gives art lovers the world over the opportunity to share in the excitement of viewing this unprecedented  exhibition. This event brings together the largest ever number of Leonardo’s paintings, including a new, never-before-seen painting.

 Leonardo LIVE  is presented by art historians Tim Marlow and Mariella Frostrup, who will explore the exhibition and feature detailed examinations of the paintings and interviews with special guests and experts.  The movie, made during the installation of the exhibition and just before its opening, provides a virtual walk-through of the show revealing paintings in astonishing detail with close-up footage and commentary from scholars and curators. The exhibition was five years in the making and brings together 7 of Leonardo’s 14 extant paintings, along with 60 drawings, several of which relate to the apostles depicted in “The Last Supper.”

While numerous exhibitions have looked at Leonardo da Vincias an inventor, scientist or draughtsman, this is the first to be dedicated to his aims and techniques as a painter. Inspired by the recently restored National Gallery painting, TheVirginoftheRocks, this exhibition focuses on Leonardo as an artist. In particular it concentrates on the work he produced as court painter to Duke Lodovico Sforza in Milan in the late 1480s and 1490s.

As a painter, Leonardo aimed to convince viewers of the reality of what they were seeing while still aspiring to create ideals of beauty – particularly in his exquisite portraits – to convey a sense of awe-inspiring mystery. Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan is the most complete display of  his  rare surviving paintings ever held. This unprecedented exhibition – the first of its kind anywhere in the world – brings together sensational international loans never before seen in the UK.

“A breathtaking and truly remarkable exhibition,…the greatest exhibition of the century… the most eagerly awaited exhibition in living memory…”  raves the Telegraph.

Follow the joy of the Leonardo LIVE experience with a zesty Italian Family Style meal with wines and desserts at 5 pm in the Madrona Room. This scrumptious dinner is priced $20 and includes entree, salad, beverage and dessert.

Tickets for Leonardo Live are $15 and $11 for students ($2 off for Orcas Center members). Tickets for the dinner are $20. All may be purchased on the website or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center box office during box office hours which are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon- 4 pm. For more information about Orcas Center 2012 season events, please visit www.orcascenter.org.