William M. Perthes
Over his many years with the Violette de Mazia Foundation Bill has taught classes in a variety of settings in cooperation with several institutions. He has taught classes in the galleries of the Barnes Foundation for the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the de Mazia Foundation; for Villanova University at Graterford Prison; at West Chester University; and most recently at La Salle University in the La Salle Art Museum. As the Assistant Director of Education Bill helps coordinate and oversee Foundation classes and teachers. He also helps maintain the Foundation web site.

Bill has taught both the first and second year classes for the Foundation. After having taught the second-year “Traditions” class for several years, Bill designed and presented a new course for The Foundation entitled “Traditions in Twentieth Century Painting.” This seminar applied the Barnes and de Mazia analytical approach to modern and contemporary paintings.

As an Undergraduate Bill studied music for several years before completing his B.A. in Philosophy at Temple University. He received an M.A. from Villanova University where he explored the aesthetic and analytical theories of John Dewey and Albert Barnes for his Masters project. He is currently again at Temple pursuing his Ph.D. in Art History. To further his understanding of the Barnes method, Bill has also studied with both Barton Church and Harry Sefarbi at the Barnes Foundation in Merion.

On his experience bringing art appreciation to inmates at Graterford Prison Bill says, “I hope to open a door of understanding for these men, giving them a new way of perceiving not only art but everything they come in contact with. Many of the men are amateur artists, and several are involved in Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program working in cooperation with victims groups. Many have said that these ideas have changed the way they see the world. A teacher could not ask for more than that.”

Bill is a member of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, the American Society for Aesthetics, the Association of Historians of American Art, and the College Art Association.