Tag Archives: MFA

Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art at the MFA

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El Anatsui - 'Black River(detail)' (2009)

July 4, 1876 was the day when the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, opened in Copley Square. It held 5,600 pieces of art. Between then and 1909, its art collection and number of visitors increased exponentially, so the Museum upgraded and moved to its current location on Huntington Avenue. Since 1909 it has undergone over a dozen projects, expanding its size with additions of new wings, gallery space, and education, administration and restaurant facilities. The MFA nearly holds nearly 450,000 pieces of art today.

Kara Walker - 'The Rich Soil Down There' (2002)

The Museum’s architectural history is a fascinating story with an endless ending, and this month of September marks a new chapter and its newly renovated wing. What was once 7,000 sq/ft of display space is now approximately 21,250 sq/ft! The Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, designed by I.M. Pei, features seven galleries which offer insightful contemporary works by internationally-recognized artists. Five of the galleries represent varied ranges of media, such as painting, photography, sculpture, installation pieces, crafts, and works on paper. One gallery focuses on video and new media, and the last, but never least, of the seven showcases decorative art. Museum Director, Malcolm Rogers stated in their press release:

'Blue Bloom'

“The new galleries will provide a welcoming gateway for visitors to experience the excitement of contemporary art, opening new doors for the discovery of our collections. As one of the world’s greatest encyclopedic museums, the MFA can bridge past and present by placing contemporary art into a historical and global context. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Linde family, longtime friends and supporters of the Museum, the MFA will be able to create a vibrant new environment for the enjoyment of contemporary art.”

The MFA has done a tremendous job preparing informative literature pertaining to the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art. There is an interactive magazine that welcomes and encourages you to discover more about the galleries, artists and pieces even before stepping foot into the museum. Here is a glimpse of what their online magazine looks like:

Before you plan your visit to the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, check the MFA’s visitor’s page for ticketing, hours and other information. Make sure you come prepared with extra breath, because yours will surely be taken away!

Happy contemporary art’ing, friends!

Art Schools in Boston

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Photo: Lesley University

If you’re in the market for an advanced degree or certification in the visual arts, think Boston. The city’s long history of fostering the arts and artists and its rich educational tradition make this a natural choice for anybody interested in pursuing further training in the arts. A review of the available programs in this student-friendly city turned up 18 bricks-and-mortar institutions of higher learning offering specialized training in art, design, or photography, either in an art school setting or within a traditional academic institution. Alternatively, for those from out of state who can’t quite afford a traditional degree program, taking accredited online classes while living in Boston could be extremely beneficial and allow you to supplement your education while gaining residency.
Let’s look first at institutions offering undergraduate and graduate fine arts degrees — the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA). After that, we’ll focus on programs that offer a major or minor in art within a traditional undergraduate BA or BS degree program. You’ll see that some of the institutions also offer diplomas or certificates in art.

Fine Arts Programs

All art degree programs include a mixture of visual arts courses and liberal arts courses (like history or philosophy). Programs leading to the BFA typically place a greater emphasis on the study of art and design than study of the liberal arts, whereas BA programs include the study of visual arts within programs focused primarily on the liberal arts.

All Art Schools explains the difference:

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts: A BFA requires that approximately two thirds of the course work focus on the creation and study of visual arts, and one third of the course work focus on liberal arts (history, literature, psychology, etc.).
  • Bachelor of Arts: For a BA, the course work ratios are flipped, with a two thirds focus on liberal arts and one third focus on visual arts.

These ratios hold true across all establishments of higher learning. The type of degree, not the institution, determines the amount of visual arts to liberal arts you will study.

So, if you think you would prefer a bachelor’s level program focused more intensely on visual arts courses than general studies (your professional goals are a factor here), one of the programs listed in the section below may be just what you are looking for.

If you already have an undergraduate degree and you are considering more advanced study in the visual arts, one of the MFA programs discussed below might be the right choice for you. As you will see, many of the same educational institutions offering the BFA also provide graduate studies leading to the MFA degree. They can do so because they have the faculty and other resources needed to offer advanced post-graduate professional training in the visual arts.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Mass Art)

Mass Art was the first independent college of art and design in the United States, the first to grant an art degree. The College, founded in 1873, is a public institution offering the undergraduate BFA in over 20 specialty areas, including painting, print making, and photography. The college offers the MFA in 10 graduate programs, including 2D and 3D art, and photography.  Its low-residency 2D/MFA program in Provincetown provides “a unique opportunity for self-directed artists to develop their work in an environment of natural beauty.” Mass Art offers a variety of certificate programs.

School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Northeastern University, and Tufts University

Established in 1876, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, located beside the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, offers undergraduate  (BFA in Studio Art) and graduate (MFA in Studio Art) degrees through Northeastern University and Tufts University. Undergraduate students at these universities complete their studio art courses at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and their academic course work at the university.

The Museum School collaborates with Northeastern and Tufts in offering combined degree programs as well. Students in these programs earn a BFA in studio art and BA or

BS in an academic discipline in 5 years.

The Museum School also offers a 4-year studio art program leading to a diploma, and a graduate certificate program for students who wish to develop a portfolio for use in applying to graduate school.

The Department of Art & Design at Northeastern also offers majors leading to the BA in Art, BFA in Digital Art, and BFA in Graphic Design. Undergraduate majors in this department can combine this major with a major in Computer Science or Creative Industries. In the university’s MFA program in Studio Art, all courses are taken in the Department of Art & Design.

Northeastern offers a certificate program in Digital Photography as well.

The Art Institute of Boston/Lesley University

Photo by Lesley University

The Art Institute of Boston (AIB), founded in 1912, became part of Lesley University in 1998. Students at AIB work with practicing artists and study in a variety of academic disciplines offered by the university. The institute offers the BFA degree in 6 specialty areas, including Fine Arts and Photography, as well as double majors in Design/Illustration, Design/Fine Arts, and Fine Arts/Illustration.

AIB undergraduates can study abroad in Italy, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany, and in various affiliated programs in the United States and Canada. Students complete internships in the junior or senior year.

On the graduate level, AIB offers a low-residency program leading to the MFA in Visual Arts, a full-residency MFA program in Photography, and 2-year advanced professional certificates in three specialties –Design, Illustration, and Animation.

School of Visual Arts/Boston University

The School of Visual Arts at Boston University is one of 3 schools within BU’s College of Fine Arts.  Its undergraduate BFA program combines training in drawing, painting, and sculpture with study in the liberal arts. Painting and graphic design are 2 of the 6 degree programs for undergraduates.

The School of Visual Arts offers graduate training leading to the MFA in 5 areas and the MA in Studio Teaching, a program that provides students with studio experience in an academic program that meets state professional licensure requirements for teachers. Students can earn the BFA in graphic design, painting, or sculpture as well as the MA degree in studio teaching in 5 years.

The university also offers a 5-year double major program combining study in the College of Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences. Another option for BU undergraduates is to combine a minor in visual arts with another major. Undergraduates in visual arts can study abroad in Venice, London, or Tuscany, and graduate students can study in Beijing, China.

Suffolk University
Students in Suffolk University’s Fine Arts Program (BFA) can choose to focus on Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, or Interior Design. The college also offers three studio art minors in Foundation Studies (that is, studies focused on helping students develop visual thinking and communication), Graphic Design, and Fine Arts. Graphic Design students can study abroad in Florence, Venice, and Rome, and students of painting can study in Prague. Suffolk also offers an MA program and a certificate program in Graphic Design. 

Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, a Catholic liberal arts and sciences college, is located near the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Gardener Museum. The college offers undergraduate majors in Studio Art (leading to the BA or BFA – an individually designed major) and Graphic Design and Technology (BFA), as well as a minor in photography. Students at Emmanuel can take studio courses in some specialties at the Massachusetts College of Art. Most students participate in internships.

New England Institute of Art
New England Institute of Art, a for-profit educational institution, originally founded as a school of broadcasting, offers the BS degree in Graphic Design.

Majors, Minors, and Concentrations in Studio Art, Design, & Photography

If you’re interested in furthering your study of art but would like to obtain a traditional bachelor’s degree rather than a fine arts degree (see the discussion above), one of the following programs might be the best choice for you. These programs offer majors, minors, and concentrations in art leading to the BA or BS degree. 

Boston College - Major and minor in Studio Art

Bunker Hill Community College - Associate in Arts degree with a Fine Arts Concentration

Emerson College - Minors in Photography and in Visual Studies and the Arts.

Harvard University - Concentration in the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies (VES)

Lasell College - Major in Graphic Design

Mount Ida College - Major and minor in Graphic Design

Simmons College - Major or minor in art, minor in photography, Design Track in communication

University of Massachusetts, Boston -Major in art, with Studio Art Track

Wheelock College - Arts Major with Visual Arts Focus

A Final Plug for Boston

Your interests and career aspirations will be your best guides in selecting the particular degree you wish to pursue. But whatever degree you choose, be sure to check out all that Boston has to offer to aspiring artists and art professionals. Boston is an exciting metropolis, rich in educational resources, with wonderful museums, galleries, a vibrant artist community, and businesses, like ArtVenue, interested in promoting the arts and artists. We wish you success in finding a program that will foster your unique talents and aspirations and fire your passion!

Graffiti and Contemporary Art Lecture at the MFA

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Photo by Risk

If the evolution of graffiti and its shift of context from street art to museum interests you, you will not want to miss this lecture! Roger Gastman, the author of “Art on the Streets,” Jen Mergel, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, and Caleb Neelon, artist and author of “The History of American Graffiti,” and Risk, street artist, will be speaking at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on September 25th at 2pm.  Tickets are $15 for members and $18 for non-members and are through MFA ticketing.  Details from the MFA event page:

Explore graffiti’s dynamic history, from its underground origins to its mainstream emergence. Artist Risk discusses his work and the evolution of graffiti as an art form in Los Angeles and worldwide. Caleb Neelon and Roger Gasman discuss their new book The History of American Graffiti , examining graffiti’s place in the realm of contemporary art. As its context shifts from street to museum, Jen Mergel asks speakers about shifting perceptions of graffiti, from unpopular to popular, illegal to celebrated, over the past 40 years.

 

Book signing with Neelon and Gastman follows.

 

Be sure to catch a screening of the film Wild Style (1983) as part of our Evolution of Graffiti day.

 

Purchase Tickets
Online: using the link in the red box
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

Introduction to Printmaking Class at the MFA

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Print by Instructor Wayne Kleppe.

Ever had the desire to learn printmaking? Now is your chance! The Museum of Fine Arts is hosting a 2-day adult education class taught by Wayne Kleppe.  The crash course will cover the basic printmaking techniques including monoprint, relief, and dry point.  All students will be creating original works!  The 2-day, 8-hour class costs $180 for MFA members and $216 for non members.  Tickets are available for purchase at the MFA website.   Info from the event page:

Two-Day Workshop: Saturday, Sept 10 and Sunday, Sept 11,  10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Workshop Description: A crash course in learning basic printmaking techniques, such as monoprint, relief, and drypoint. Discuss master prints, participate in classroom discussions, and with technical guidance, create original works.
Instructor: Wayne Kleppe

Wayne Kleppe received his BFA from Tufts University in 2010 and his diploma from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the same year. After completing his undergraduate degrees, he was invited to act as a visiting professional printer at Artist Proof Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa, where he collaborated with William Kentridge, Andrew Lindsay, Kim Berman, and Dumi Mabaso. His most recent group exhibitions include “Current Work” at Grub St. in Boston; “DAC 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition” at the Durango Arts Center in Durango, CO; “Rerun 2” at Heaven Gallery in Chicago; and “Exchange,” a traveling group show (Antwerp, Belgium; Edinburgh, Scotland; Bloomfield Hills, MI; Boston, MA). He has also been an Artist-in-Residence at the Frans Masereel Centrum in Kasterlee, Belgium (’09).

Have you taken any classes at the Museum of Fine Arts? Know of any other exciting classes being offered in Boston? Respond in the comments below!

Chihuly at the MFA

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When I think of handblown glass art, I’m taken back to salty and sandy childhood memories. My family used to own a beach house in The Outer Banks in Duck, North Carolina, and every summer we’d return to our beach-side pagoda and relish the last weeks of summer. Each trip we’d visit one particular gift and art shop because of the charm and rarity of its handmade items. There were handblown glass globes off all various sizes and color combinations, and they were simply enchanting.  I remember the westward sunbeams would filter through the spherical glass surfaces and splash aqueous color on the white wall behind them, unintentionally beautiful.

The ‘Chihuly; Through the Looking Glass’ exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts is something out of this world and only of Dale Chihuly’s mind. Each corridor moved me through its spectacular handblown glass exhibit where explosive twirls of color and bursts of artistic brilliance were suspended in motion and the perfect balance of darkness and light. His pieces were haunting, magnetic, exhausting, liquid, ice, and mind-blowing. There were spindly flameless chandeliers that loomed from the ceiling, and I could have sworn they held a secret light source within its multifaceted structure. It’s almost impossible to comprehend the true complexity of this exhibit, but it’s easy to appreciate and respect.

If you are in Boston between now and August 7th, you must visit Dale Chihuly’s ‘Through the Looking Glass’ exhibit. It’s an experience to delight, entice and satisfy you on so many different levels, regardless of your own level of artistic inclination. What you encounter are his finished masterpieces, which are spectacular in the silence of awe and admiration, but I highly suggest spending a little extra on the MFA’s handheld media device. It’s an iPod touch that holds standard audio and video clips – sometimes of Mr. Dale Chihuly himself – explaining the different processes of inspiration, conception, creation and installation. And be prepared to be breathless as you exit the gift shop and come upon his Lime Green Icicle Tower, a structure that stands 42-ft tall, weighs 10,000 lbs and contains roughly 2,400 glass pieces. Who knew something like this could be possible?