Independent cultural critic and author Eleanor Heartney will lead a presentation on contemporary art at 5 p.m. Monday, March 5, in Room 130 of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

The event is free and open to the public.

Titled “Tales of Plastic Surgery, Genetically Altered Rabbits, and Other Acts of Art,” the talk examines two artists; Eduardo Kac genetically alters a rabbit to glow green under a particular light while French artist Orlan had parts of her face surgically altered to resemble women in famous art historical paintings. Heartney includes these artists and others in her book “Art and Today.”

“Both Kac and Orlan push the limits of what we consider art, and in her book, Heartney poses the question, ‘Should we do things simply because we can?’” said Marya Roland, associate professor of art at WCU.

Heartney is a contributing editor for Art in America magazine and has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times and ArtAsiaPacific magazine.

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