On Wednesday, July 8, from 2 – 5:30, join Allan Palmer, Tea Master, Urasenke School, and Martha Wright, adjunct instructor, in the demonstration of the 400-year-old tradition of chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony, all with the surroundings of the newly renovated Tenshin-en, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s Japanese Garden. Visit www.mfa.org/lectures for tickets, or call 1-800-440-6975. $52 MFA members, $65 nonmembers.
One of Japan’s leading contemporary photographers, Naoya Hatakeyama has presented award-winning images that explore the relationship between urbanization and the natural world, some of which are on view in the exhibition In the Wake: Japanese Photographers Respond to 3-11. Since 2011, Hatakeyama has returned to his tsunami-ravaged home of Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture to photograph the transformed landscape. On Wednesday, April 22, from 7 – 8 in the Harry and Mildred Remis Autitorium at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, hear how his experiences in Japan and abroad have influenced his process, body of work, and personal philosophy. The lecture is part of the Rad Smith Program in Japanese Art. Image below: Naoya Hatakeyama, 2013.10.20 Kesen-cho from the series “Rikuzentakata 2011–2014†(detail), 2013. Photograph, C print. © Hatakeyama Naoya / Courtesy of Taka Ishii Gallery.
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975; to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
For the 39th year, garden clubs and professional designers from across New England will create artistic floral arrangements at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), for Art in Bloom.
Arrangements will be inspired by artwork found throughout the Museum, including the re-imagined Greek galleries and newly installed Arts of the Pacific Gallery, as well as the new Hokusai exhibition.
Special events include an illustrated lecture and Japanese Ikebana floral demonstrations, as well as flower arranging master classes presented by Christian Tortu, France’s most renowned floral designer.
For a preview of the arrangements, a Bubbles and Blossoms event on Friday, April 24 (6 pm-9:30 pm, $30 members, $50 non-members), celebrates spring with a festive evening of bubbly and light bites.
Sunday, April 25, is Family Day, offering a variety of family-friendly events, including live entertainment and various art-making activities.
Daily tours, elegant tea and flower-designing demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend.
Tickets for all Art in Bloom events go on sale February 26 at 10 am on mfa.org. Follow the MFA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for news and updates about Art in Bloom.
On Wednesday, August 13, beginning at 11 am, take an hour long walking tour of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and its Fenway neighborhood. Learn about nearby buildings and their architecture, along with fascinating information about the Back Bay Fens and other sites in the Fenway neighborhood. The tour is free with Museum admission and leaves from the Sharf Visitor Center. For more information visit www.mfa.org/programs.
Tuesday mornings July 15-29 (see below for information on individual weeks,) take a break from the summer heat to hear the fascinating stories behind these monumental and luscious gardens, from their inceptions to recent renovations. Experience one of America’s first botanical gardens, Boston’s green oasis, the Public Garden; the magnificent mansion gardens of Newport, Rhode Island; and the gardens of Thomas Jefferson’s iconic Monticello. All sessions will be held in the Remis Auditorium of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston from 10:30 – noon.
Three-session course tickets ($60, $75) are not available online. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975; to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk. The first price is for members, seniors, and students; the second is full price.
On July 15, Keith Morgan, director of Architectural Studies and professor of American and European Architecture at Boston University will discuss The Boston Public Garden: The Atypical Landscape. How many of us know the true story behind this Boston icon? From its origins as a private botanical garden built on filled marshland to the public horticultural and educational gem of the mid-Victorian era, see how the Public Garden has become a site for celebration and forgotten controversy.
On July 22, Jeffrey Curtis, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Newport Mansions will present Gardens of the Newport Mansions. Hear the inside story of the miraculous gardens of Newport, Rhode Island’s mansions. The Preservation Society of Newport County has worked tirelessly since the 1940s to preserve Newport’s sumptuous mansions and grounds. Take a visual walk through gardens including Miss Wetmore’s Secret Garden at Chateau-sur-Mer, Rosecliff, and the Sunken Gardens at The Elms.
Lastly, on July 29, the Museum welcomes Jane Amidon, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research, and Professor and Director of the Urban Landscape Program at Northeastern University, who will speak on Jefferson’s Monticello: A Garden of Science and Art. Our third US president was also the founding father of quintessential American landscape practices. Examine the enduring legacy and fruitful lessons of his civic horticulture through the gardens of his estate in Virginia at Monticello, home to two centuries of innovation in botanical, agrarian, and aesthetic techniques.
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy will host the Boston premiere of the new film Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America, on Wednesday, April 23 at 8 pm at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Tickets are $11 general admission, $9 MFA members and Emerald Necklace Conservancy donors.
The new, one-hour documentary chronicling the career and lasting influence of America’s premiere landscape architect who designed Boston’s Emerald Necklace, New York’s Central Park, Biltmore in Asheville, NC among other public and private spaces throughout the United States. The film’s producer, Lawrence Hott will be in attendance for a brief Q & A with the audience.  The film’s co-producer is Diane Garey, and is a co-production of WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc. Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America has been made possible by major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor, and The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, with funding provided by HSBC, The Tiffany & Company Foundation and The C.E. & S. Foundation. Additional support provided from The Peter C. Cornell Trust and Mass Humanities.
Tickets can be purchased at any MFA ticket desk, by calling 1-800-440-6975, or online.
As part of the MFA’s 2014 Season of Color, join them for this exuberant spring festival of art and floral design! Once again, garden clubs and professional designers from across New England will create floral arrangements inspired by the MFA’s works of art. Art in Bloom is open during regular Museum hours (10 am–4:45 pm) and is free with Museum admission; no reservations are required to see the floral arrangements and participate in most of the programs listed below. Events with prices require tickets.
This year’s featured speaker is Emily Thompson. Born in Vermont, she came from the north woods with her artist’s eye, a love of nature, and an unfettered imagination to become one of the nation’s most sought-after creators of organically beautiful, yet classically composed, floral designs. Thompson, a sculptor, is one of New York’s premier floral artists, and received significant acclaim for her exquisite 2011 holiday decoration of the White House.
‘Tinis and Tulips Preview Party
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Friday, April 25, 7–9:30 pm
Swing into spring at the MFA’s inaugural Season of Color preview party and enjoy a festive evening of colorful cocktails, light bites, music, and a scavenger hunt. Open to visitors 21+. Valid ID with proof of age required for entry. Tickets: Members $25; Adults (nonmembers) $50.
Emily Thompson: Master Class I
Druker Family Pavilion 160
Saturday, April 26, 10:30 am–12:30 pm
Hands-on flower instruction from a renowned, highly innovative sculptor turned floral designer. Tickets $250.
Emily Thompson: Master Class II (advanced)
Druker Family Pavilion 160
Sunday, April 17, 10:30 am–12:30 pm
Hands-on advanced flower instruction from a renowned, highly innovative sculptor turned floral designer. Tickets $250.
Emily Thompson: Spring in the Wild Kingdom
Remis Auditorium
Monday, April 28, 10:30 am–12:30 pm
A floral demonstration and lecture by Emily Thompson whose highly innovative and dramatic arrangements combine her love and reverence for nature with classical ornamental design. Tickets $55.
Elegant Tea
Koch Gallery 250
Saturday. April 26, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm
Sunday, April 27, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm
Monday, April 28, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm
Tickets required. Limited tickets available each day for purchase at the box office in person.
Tickets: Adults $30, Children under 12 $10.
Parties may be combined as needed.
Marc Hall and Janie Haas: A Blooming Affair
Alfond Auditorium
Monday, April 28, 3–4 pm
Enjoy learning about the latest in design trends for events and weddings from Marc Hall, a renowned designer and event planner and Janie Haas, a 2013 award winner of Boston Magazine’s “Best of Boston.†Tickets $25.
Tom Strangfeld: The Entry Courtyard Garden
Alfond Auditorium
Saturday, April 26, 3–4 pm
Come let Tom show you how your front yard is far more than just another part of the landscape… rather it is the first room in your home, welcoming family and friends.
Art in Bloom French, Italian, and Russian Tours
Meet at Sharf Visitor Center
Saturday, April 26, 2:45–3:45 pm
Tours given in French, Italian, and Russian include art and floral arrangements throughout the galleries.
Members’ Night
Saturday, April 26, 6–9 pm
Doors open at 5:30 pm.
Enjoy a members-only viewing of the MFA’s 38th annual festival of fine art and flowers.
Family Day
Various locations throughout the Museum
Sunday, April 27, 10 am–3 pm
Celebrate Art in Bloom with family-friendly activities for all ages including live entertainment, art-making activities, and storytelling.
Dora Lee: Celebrate the Season of Color with Ikebana
Alfond Auditorium
Sunday, April 27, 3–4 pm
Drop in to see Dora Lee demonstrating Sogetsu Ikebana from basic to freestyle.
The Gibson House Museum will hold its eighteenth annual benefit on Thursday, March 20 from 6:30 – 8:30 at The Algonquin Club on Commonwealth Avenue. The 2014 honoree is Jonathan L. Fairbanks, an artist who is also one of the world’s foremost experts on American arts and antiques. He created the Department of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and served as its chief curator from 1970 to 1999. He is currently the director of the Fuller Craft Museum. Mr. Fairbanks has received many awards for his outstanding and diverse contributions to his field. We honor him particularly for his long-standing dedication to historic preservation and for increasing our knowledge and appreciation of 19th- and early 20th-century American architecture and decorative arts. Tickets may be reserved by calling 617-267-6338 or by visiting www.thegibsonhouse.org.
Join Teresa Carbone, co-curator of “John Singer Sargent Watercolors,†and follow Sargent’s footsteps through some of Italy’s most beautiful and renowned Renaissance and Baroque gardens. See how the artist selected his subjects, where he stood when painting them, and what he surprisingly chose to edit out. Teresa Carbone is the Andrew W. Mellon Curator of American Art, managing curator, Arts of the Americas, Brooklyn Museum. The program will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston on Sunday, December 8, from 2 – 3 in the Remis Auditorium. $10 MFA members, seniors and students, $13 general public.
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975; to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
Gain insight into the unique design styles and objects that add to the pleasure of Boston, English, and Chinese gardens with this Museum of Fine Arts Boston three-session course, Thursday mornings July 11–25, 10:30 am–12:30 pm.
On July 11, Keith Morgan, director, Architectural Studies and professor, American and European Architecture, Boston University, will speak on Frederick Law Olmsted’s Public Landscape. Hear the fascinating story of how a saltwater marsh was transformed into a park of winding walking paths and gentle streams that comprises today’s iconic Emerald Necklace. Following the talk, enjoy a one-hour guided walking tour of the Back Bay Fens adjacent to the Museum, and learn about the area’s landscape elements and community gardens. A scholar of nineteenth and twentieth century American and European architecture, Professor Morgan is interested in the relationships between architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture. Professor Morgan has taught at Boston University since 1980. He has served as the director of the Preservation Studies Program and of the American and New England Studies Program and as the chairman of the Art History Department on two occasions. He is a former national president of the Society of Architectural Historians. His recent publications include Shaping a New American Landscape: The Art and Architecture of Charles A. Platt, Boston Architecture, 1975-1990, which he coauthored with Professor Naomi Miller, and a new introduction for the republication of Charles Eliot, Landscape Architect. He is the editor and one of the principal authors for Buildings of Massachusetts: Metropolitan Boston, and serves as the architecture editor for The Encyclopedia of New England. He has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Buildings of the United States project, several committees for the restoration of historic landmarks and is a trustee of the Hancock Shaker Village.
On July 18, Curt DiCamillo, fellow, Royal Society of Arts and President of The DiCamillo Companion Ltd. will discuss The English Garden: Perfection on Earth. Whether stately and formal or natural and romantic, English gardens have been called Britain’s single most important contribution to world culture. Learn about the history of these gardens and why their influence remains with us to this day. A guided tour of the MFA’s exceptional collection of garden paintings and country-house objects follows the lecture. Curt DiCamillo is an American architectural historian. Between 2004 and 2012, he was the Executive Director of the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA (he is currently Executive Director Emeritus). Previously, he worked for 13 years for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Since May 2012, Mr. DiCamillo, in his role as president of The DiCamillo Companion, Ltd., has focused full-time on lecturing, writing, and leading tours about the architectural and artistic heritage of Britain and its influence around the world.
Finally, on July 25, Nancy Berliner, Wu Tung Curator of Chinese Art, will present The Chinese Home and Garden. The Chinese home, its architecture, gardens, and contents are created to reflect the values and ideals of its residents. Dig into the world of Chinese gardening to learn how these landscapes combine artistic elements and nature in perfect harmony. Following the discussion, visit Chinese galleries that touch on house and garden themes, including “Beyond the Screen,†a gallery that evokes the home and gardens of a 16th- and 17th-century Chinese household. She is the author of The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City.
Three-Session Course Tickets
$90 MFA members, seniors, and students; $108 nonmembers
Order at 1-800-440-6975 or in person at any MFA ticketing desk
Individual Session Tickets
$35 MFA members, seniors, and students; $42 nonmembers
Online: http://www.mfa.org/programs/series/gardens-around-world
By phone: call the MFA Ticket line at 1-800-440-6975
In person: at any MFA ticketing desk
Ticketing desk hours: Mon, Tue, Sat, and Sun, 10 am–4:15 pm; and Wed–Fri, 10 am–9:15 pm. Capacity is limited.
