Boston Museums
Updated May 6, 2008
Museum of Fine Arts
Now on View:
El Greco to Velazquez: Art during
the Reign of Phillip III, now - July 27
This
groundbreaking exhibition examines a fascinating period (1598–1621)
bracketed by the two giants of Spanish painting, El Greco and
Velázquez. Discover the masterpieces of Philip III’s court and
the artists who flourished during his reign.
"El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III" features paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts—including a partial recreation of the camarín of the Duke of Lerma, the most important non-royal collector in Europe at the time and the favorite of Philip III—organized around themes such as portraiture, religion and the court, and the birth of still life.
Antonio Lopez Garcia,Now- July 27
This exhibition
of approximately sixty paintings, drawings, and sculpture is presented
as a complement to the exhibition “El Greco to
Velázquez." López García is in the lineage of
artists to
be examined in this historical exhibition, artists who introduced
naturalism into Spanish art, from an attention to detail and the
depiction of space in court portraiture, to the flourishing of still
life, to the humanizing of saints.
Rhythms of Modern Life: British Prints, now - June 1
Featuring approximately
one hundred lithographs, etchings, woodcuts and color linocuts by
fourteen artists, “Rhythms of Modern Life: British Prints 1914-1939”
examines the impact of Futurism and Cubism on British Modernist
printmaking from the beginning of World War I to the beginning of World
War II.
This fascinating exhibition showcases an unusual combination of the
sober Futurist-derived illustrators of World War I subjects and
pioneering abstraction with the more playful modernistic linocuts of
London’s Grosvenor School of Art.The exhibition’s imagery ranges from
powerful artistic impressions of the first fully mechanized war to
radical geometric abstractions to the colorful, streamlined jazz age
images of speed, sport, and diversion that the Grosvenor School artists
created in order to introduce a broader public to modern art and
design.
Unusual Exhibit at the MFA, now - May 25
Make sure you check out the Galleria wall in the West Wing of the MFA.
There will be some 50 chairs sticking out from the wall! This new,
large-scale installation––designed specifically for the MFA–– by
internationally recognized artist Jim Lambie. Some of the chairs are
painted in pulsating colors, some covered with broken mirror, and
others with objects attached. This extraordinary installation will
animate the Museum’s public space with a rhythmic and kaleidoscopic
energy.
NOTE: The MFA is expanding its evening offerings on Thursdays and Fridays to give visitors more opportunities to view the entire collection. All Museum galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. (Previously, just the Museum’s West Wing was open on Thursday and Friday evenings.)
Save some moola! Admission is free on Wednesdays from 4 to 9:45 p.m.
And Thursday and Fridays the West Wing admission is discounted $2 from
5 to 9:45 p.m. For information on above listed exhibits and other
museum programs, check their Web site.
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue
(617) 267-9300
The DeCordova Museum 
in Lincoln,
MA is situated on rolling hills and is one of the area's prettiest
sites. The sculptures that dot the grounds have never looked better.
Ten New England artists who work in a variety of media including
drawing, photography, sculpture, and printmaking will have their work
on display.The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday 10 - 5.
For more information: www.decordova.org.
On The House: Four Boston museums offer FREE Admission Times:
- Harvard Museum Of Natural History: Free Sundays 9am to noon, Wednesdays 3 to 5 pm September to May.
- Institute Of Contemporary Art: Free Thursdays 5 to 9 pm.
- MIT Museum: Free on the 3rd Sunday of every month.
- Museum of Fine Arts: Free or by voluntary contribution on Wednesdays 4 to 9:45 pm.
The New ICA
Art Complex on Boston Waterfront
After seventy years at the leading edge of art in the city, a new,
visionary building poised to capture the stimulation of contemporary
culture is now open on the revitalized waterfront
Opening May 30:Anish Kapoor:
Past, Present, Future
Cited as one of the most anticipated shows of the year by The New York
Times, this exhibition reveals the power and subtlety of the renowned
sculptor's creative imagination.
For more information: icaboston.org
Peabody Essex Museum Now - Jan 25, 2009,
"Stage Idols, Japanese Kabuki Theater"
With
its dramatic storylines, lush costumes and celebrity actors, kabuki was
the ideal subject for Japanese print designers. Stage Idols,
Japanese Kabuki Theater features a stunning selection of woodblock
prints from PEM’s collection, many of which are on view for the first
time. The exhibition features a rotating selection of over
forty 19th-century prints — including works by famed print designer
Utagawa Kunisada — as well as rare kabuki-related objects, such as
costumes, photographs and sign-boards.
For more information on this and the other exhibits at the museum, as well as directions and hours: www.pem.org.
Museum of Science
Ongoing:
Catch Bugs
Journey to a
world where raindrops fall like cannonballs and danger lurks around
every corner. Bugs! brings you down to size to follow the
lives of a butterfly and a praying mantis in the lush Borneo
rainforest. Think you know some big eaters? Before transforming into a
butterfly, our star caterpillar munches through enough citrus leaves in
a few weeks to increase its weight 100 times over! A mini-mantis
hatched with 200 brothers and sisters quickly becomes a lethal
hunter-even as it struggles to evade predators larger than itself.
Perspective-bending presentations of Bugs! are now running
regularly in the 3-D Digital Cinema.
3-D Digital Cinema
The museum's latest venue is now open in Wright Theater!
Thanks to a newly installed digital projection system, the Museum now
offers film presentations in 3-D. Using polarized light rather than
traditional red/blue lens filters, the high-definition system offers
Museum audiences dramatically crisp images and an exciting new
presentation format to experience in the Exhibit Halls.
20-minute presentations of the debut film, Bugs!, are now showing
regularly on the new high-definition system.
Butterfly Garden
Do you cower when
a bee buzzes nearby...cringe at the sight of a beetle...recoil when a
housefly lands on the kitchen table? But when a bright yellow butterfly
meanders past you in the park, does your face light up with
appreciation and wonder? Flitting among flowers like airborne jewels,
butterflies have long captivated human beings. Exquisitely patterned,
richly colored, and delicately formed, they are yours to enjoy at an
exciting new exhibit at the museum.
Also at the Science Museum:
The Computing Revolution
How do new technologies affect our world? Can we predict their impact?
Featuring artifacts, interactive exhibits, and compelling human
stories, this new permanent exhibit re-creates milestones of computing,
using past examples to ask questions that are relevant today.
The Charles Hayden Planetarium is featuring the high-tech, celestial adventure "Skyfire: Wonder of the Atmosphere," a multi media presentation of tornadoes, lightning, thunder and more. It's a wonderful tour of weather featuring all the elements. Shown at various times during the day through mid-April.
"Human Body Connection"
This popular exhibit is now on the second floor of the Green Wing and
contains exhibits on anatomy, physiology and health. There are a
variety of activities including building models, using a microscope,
and conducting small experiments. There is also a chick hatchery, where
live chicks hatch from actual eggs. It's no coincidence that the
hatchery is located across from the exhibit on birth.
Natural Mysteries Exhibit:
Making use of some 6000 artifacts from the Museum's extensive natural
history collections, this exhibit draws you into a series of unique
environments filled with physical clues. Venture into a desert, a
historic schoolhouse or a tropical beach. You'll find that scientific
classification skills are the key to solving some intriguing puzzles.
The Virtual Fish Tank, which has been installed near the Wave Tank now at the Science Museum. This new exhibit immerses visitors in a1700 square-foot virtual undersea world where they create and interact with their own virtual fish to discover new insights into how complex living systems work.
"The Light
House: Beaming, Bouncing and Bending Light"
This most recent
permanent exhibit sheds light on optics, color and the nature of light.
A shimmering light house greets the visitor as he explores a series of
fascinating mirror effects. There are 18 hands-on activities, including
optical pin ball, prisms, and how color is made.
"Messages" lets you discover why communication is central to everyday life. There are a number of interactive exhibits, including "Meaning with Music," where you can select a music soundtrack to go with silent video footage. In "Language To Go," visitors pretend to take food orders from people around the U.S. representing different kinds of regional speech. For example, is a hoagie the same as a sub or a hero sandwich?
"Science in The Park" puts a new twist on playing in the park by offering interactive science experiences. Activities on a seesaw and swing prompt us to wonder what forces are at work while we play. Children at all levels will enjoy the different ways to explore the pushes and pulls that set things in motion. It's fun and of course educational at the same time. Mom and Dad will enjoy getting involved as well.
The museum is also the home of the Charles Hayden Planetarium, a high-tech celestial adventure and the most technologically advanced planetarium in New England. Now through mid -April: "Skyfire: Wonders of the Atmosphere." There are also laser shows at various times, so check the schedule on their Web site.
Museum of Science, Boston
(617) 723-2500
Museum of Science Omni Theatre
Now showing:
-
Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs - Through May 31
Part historic journey and part forensic adventure, this film follows explorers and researchers as they piece together fascinating archaeological and genetic clues. Experience the dramatic re-creation of a late 19th-century discovery: a cache of 40 royal mummies, including 12 Egyptian kings, in a single tomb. -
Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk - Through September 1
More
than an exhilarating odyssey through one of our nation's most storied
natural treasures, the mighty Colorado River, this large-format film
celebrates the power and vitality of Earth's most precious resource —
water — and its vulnerability to our growing presence on the planet.
Join environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., anthropologist and author
Wade Davis, and their two daughters on a remarkable journey that
combines water, family, adventure, and conservation education. Narrated
by Robert Redford and featuring songs and music by Dave Matthews Band. - The Alps - Through September 1
The world's most charismatic megafauna star in a gorgeously shot, meticulously rendered new IMAX film, making its New England debut at the Museum of Science. Watch the science of paleontology evolve from the early 20th century through today, as the ultimate predators take over the ultimate big screen.
Museum of Science
(617) 723-2500
The Gardner Museum
The
Gardner is a jewel of a museum, one block away from the venerable
Museum of Fine Arts. This Venetian palace, once the home of Mrs. Jack
Gardner, houses some fine art by master painters.The Gardner is one of
Boston's artistic jewels with one of the most beautiful courtyards in
the city. Fresh flowers greet the visitor to announce the different
seasons with exotic displays, and there are guided tours Fridays at
2:30 p.m., limited to the first 20 people. On Sunday afternoons at 1:30
p.m. there are classical concerts in the Music Room overlooking the
Courtyard, and one of the city's best-kept secrets is the charming
"Gardner Cafe." (See review.)
The museum is open Tuesday - Sunday 11 a. m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $10 ($11 on weekends), seniors $7, children $3, ages 11 and under, free. For more information: www.gardnermuseum.org.
Isabella Stewart Gardner
Museum
280 The Fenway, Boston
(617) 566-1401
Harvard College Museums
World-famous Harvard just across the Charles River in Cambridge has three art museums, the Fogg, the Sackler, and the Busch-Reisinger. All three offer FREE admission on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - noon. All other times, one admission gets you into all three.
- The Fogg Museum, 32 Quincy St.
- The Sackler, at 585 Broadway
- The Busch-Reisinger in Werner Otto Hall - enter through the Fogg.
The Children's Museum
The newly-renovated Children's Museum is now open!
One of Boston's most pupular museums is this h
ighly-acclaimed
children's oasis with four floors of interactive exhibits for all ages.
One of their newest interactive exhibits is "Boston Black...A City
Connects," an interactive exhibit about the diversity of Boston. Here
you can get involved in Boston's vibrant communities by decorating a
float at the Carnival Garage, share in a celebration of Caribbean
culture, shopat the Colmado Store, style hair at African Queen Beauty
salon, and dance at a Cape Verdean cafe.
Children's Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays, except school vacation days and holidays. Special admission prices on Fridays 5 -9 p.m.-- all visitors $1. Other times, tickets are: $6 kids and seniors, others, $7. For the latest on the many varied activities available, check out their Web site or call the "What's Up Line" at (617) 426-8855.
For those traveling to and from Logan Airport in Boston, check out
the museum's airport satellite in the C terminal at Logan Airport. The Kidport
Exhibit has climbing structures related to airport themes and
will wile away the waiting time between planes.
The Children's Museum
300 Congress Street
(617) 426-6500
New England Aquarium
Children
and adults alike will enjoy the penguins at the Aquarium! The exhibit 3
different species of penguins, with over 60 of the charming creatures
in a 150,000-gallon tank. Visit the Penguin Pages on their Web site for
lots of great information about penguins, both at the Aquarium and
around the world, and find out how you too can learn to walk like a
penguin!
The Aquarium is one of the city's most popular attractions, and the bustling Boston Waterfront location is a treat for young and old. The Aquarium is open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission is $12, Juniors 3-11 $6, Children under 3, free, and Seniors $10.
Aquarium's IMAX Theatre
The giant screen - 65 feet high by 85 feet wide - is taller than a six
story building! The slight curvature of the screen extends to the edge
of your peripheral vision.
Now Playing:
Dolphins and Whales 3D
Dive
into a new immersive and highly emotional adventure with Jean-Michel
Cousteau’s DOLPHINS AND WHALES 3D, which will take you from the
dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the warm depths of the waters of
the exotic Kingdom of Tonga for a close encounter with the surviving
tribes of the ocean. Stunning images captured for the very first time
in 3D will allow you to discover their lives and habitats as
never-before-seen. An unforgettable voyage with these graceful,
majestic yet endangered sea creatures, narrated by Daryl Hannah.
Also Playing:
- Sea Monsters 3D
- U23D
For complete information on the Aquarium exhibits, visit their Web site.
New England Aquarium
Central Wharf
(617) 973-5200
Sports Museum of New England
They seem to have finally found a permanent home for sports fans
who crave the various bits of memorabilia collected through the halcyon
days of the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox. Videos and interactive
exhibits will keep the rabid fan busy for hours. The museum is now
located on the upper levels of the Fleet Center in Boston. Hours are
Tues.- Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. Noon - 5. Admission: $6, seniors and
children, $4.
Sports Museum of New England
(617) 787-7678
Frederick Law Olmsted National
Historic Site
Not a museum in the strictest sense, this hidden treasure on a
winding street in nearby Brookline is worth a visit. Olmsted was the
man responsible for the major greenspace known as the "Emerald
Necklace" that meanders from one end of Boston to the other. Open to
the public only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,
it is run by the National Park Service, who acquired the home primarily
to have access to the hundreds of thousands of plans, drawings, and
photos that are a treasure-trove for landscape architects and those who
simply treasure open green spaces. The friendly staff will no doubt
have information on park areas from your own home town. Open only by
appointment for research during the week. For more information, call or
visit their Web site.
Olmsted National Historic Site
99 Warren St, Brookline
(617) 566-1689
