David Garrard Lowe at Next FOL Lecture, Monday

Cultural historian David Garrard Lowe will take his audience to the French Riviera in this season’s next Friends of the Key West Library lecture—Monday, February 17, 6:00 p.m., Studios of Key West, 600 White Street.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Lowe’s program, entitled “The Invention of the Riviera”, will trace the transformation of a region of olive groves and sleepy fishing villages into the celebrated Côte d’Azur, a world of casinos, yachts and private villas.  The Riviera became the world, as well, of American expatriates Cole Porter, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.

Lowe has lectured throughout the United States and Europe and is president and founder of the Beaux Arts Alliance.  Formerly Professor of Architectural History at the New York School of Interior Design, he has authored numerous books of cultural history and was recently honored by the French government as Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

The Friends of the Key West Library weekly lecture series is free and open to the public.  Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.  This year’s lectures are every Monday, ending on March 17.  Next lecturer is artist Valerie Hird, February 24.  FOL’s newsletter, including a list of lecturers, is located at http://friendsofthekeywestlibrary.org.