Murray Hill Institute is fortunate to be based in the heart of New York City, with its many cultural opportunities. In keeping with its mission to foster personal as well as professional growth, the Institute from time to time sponsors art tours, musical performances, and play readings. 

The evening of January 31st, members and guests of the Murray Hill Institute joined Columbia University Classics PhD candidate Todd Alexander Davis on a tour of the Onassis Foundation (USA)’s current art exhibition:  "Athens and Sparta."  The exhibit explores the history and cultural achievements of the two most important city-states in the ancient Greek world.

After an brief cocktail time featuring delicious Greek specialities offered by the Onassis Foundation (USA), our guide led the group through the small but powerful exhibition of art and artifacts from the two leading cities of Greece:  Athens and Sparta. Todd Davis' refreshing perspective on the artistic production in Sparta brought a new dynamic to the exhibition of vases, sculptures, coins and medals. 

The hosts from the Foundation, Sophia, Lucia, and Marianthe, ensured that our group had a delightful and informative evening learning about the complexities of the Greek warring city-states.  Sophia is the manager of the Café who handled the reception, and Marianthe and Lucia organized the tour on behalf of the Foundation. The exhibit is free to the public and closes May 12.  For more information, go to www.onassisusa.org/onassis.art.shtml