Metropolitan Museum of Art Announces Fifth Avenue Renovation Plans

BOSTON, MA – From masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh to Japanese tattoo designs and contemporary photography, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), presents works from around the world as it hosts a “Free Fun Friday” on July 30th from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. The event features admission to special exhibitions, family activities, and gallery tours of the collection. It is made possible through the support of the Highland Street Foundation, which invites the greater Boston community to visit a different cultural attraction each Friday during the summer as part of its “Free Fun Fridays” series.

Exhibitions on view include Nicholas Nixon: Family Album, a display of works by the celebrated Boston photographer featuring portraits exploring the nature of close family relationships, most notably in a series of photos of Nixon’s wife and her sisters; New Works: Prints, Drawings, Collages, diverse American and European prints, drawings, and collages recently acquired by the MFA; and Under the Skin: Tattoos in Japanese Prints, an exploration of the tattoo’s visual impact and social significance in Edo-period Japan.

Additional exhibitions on view include Café and Cabaret:Toulouse-Lautrec’s Paris, a display of bold poster-style images of performers in the centers of Parisian entertainment in the 1880s and 1890s, and Visiting Masterpieces: Vincent van Gogh’s The Sower, a special work on loan from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, paired with the MFA’s painting that inspired it, Jean-François Millet’s The Sower.

There will be a number of artmaking and interactive activities throughout the day, including guided gallery tours, drawing in the galleries, family art adventures, and a social gathering with live music for visitors ages 21 and up.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITES

Guided Gallery Tours
Meet at Sharf Visitor Center
Visitors travel through time and the world with tours of the Museum’s collections—from American paintings to Asian sculpture— that highlight masterpieces from the MFA.
• 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Introduction to the MFA’s Collections
• 11 a.m. – noon: Art of Asia
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Art of Europe
• Noon – 12:30 p.m.: Three Masterpieces in Thirty Minutes
• 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.: Introduction to the MFA’s Collections
• 2 – 3 p.m.: Art of Egypt and the Classical World
• 3 – 4 p.m.: Introduction to the MFA’s Collections

Drawing in the Galleries
Koch Gallery
Noon – 3 p.m.
Visitors can sketch a live model and paintings in the MFA’s collection. A Museum educator provides insights and advice on drawing technique and the artist-model relationship as it informs the creation of artwork. Drawing materials are provided to encourage spontaneous participation. For all ages. Made possible by the Lowell Institute.

Family Art Cart
Sharf Visitor Center
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Cart provides families with an ever-changing array of activities, books, and artmaking supplies. Children ages four and up will piece together puzzles, learn mythical tales, and uncover ancient Egyptian mysteries. Tote bags equipped with sketchbooks and colored pencils are available to take into the galleries for self-guided activities. Made possible by the Lowell Institute.

MFA Summer Fridays
Calderwood Courtyard
5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Each Friday in the summer, those 21 and older are invited to mingle and enjoy live music in the Museum’s outdoor Calderwood Courtyard. A cash bar with specialty summer cocktails will be available. The performer on July 30 will be Little Bang Quintet. Media sponsor is Stuff magazine.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is recognized for the quality and scope of its encyclopedic collection, which includes an estimated 450,000 objects. The Museum’s collection is made up of: Art of the Americas; Art of Europe; Contemporary Art; Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa; Art of the Ancient World; Prints, Drawings, and Photographs; Textile and Fashion Arts; and Musical Instruments. Open seven days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.

Admission (which includes two visits in a 10-day period) is $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students age 18 and older, and includes entry to all galleries and special exhibitions. Admission for students who are University Members is free, as is admission for youths 17 years of age and younger (during non-school hours). On school days until 3 p.m., admission for youths 7–17 is $7.50. No admission fee is required (after 4 p.m.) on Wednesdays, although voluntary donations are welcome. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. For general visitor information, visit the MFA website at mfa.org or call 617.267.9300.

The Highland Street Foundation is a private, Massachusetts-based family foundation established in 1989 by the McGrath Family. In 2009, Highland Street Foundation celebrated its 20th Anniversary, and has contributed more than $112 million to non-profit organizations. Areas of interest include: Affordable Housing, Healthcare, Education, Mentoring, Environment, and the Arts. Free Fun Fridays is one of Highland Street Foundation’s signature programs. The program launched last year with 10 locations. This year, the program was expanded to include free admission to 26 museums and cultural attractions. To learn more about Highland Street Foundation, please visit www.highlandstreet.org.

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