Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts presents a retrospective of Greek Cinema while the Harvard Film Archives continues Henri-Georges Clouzot retrospective. Boston Symphony Orchestra debut of Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek with Mahler and Harbison. WGBH proposes an evening with Rick Steves while the Boston Symphony Orchestra hosts a book signing for Ron Della Chiesa, Radio My Way.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Numerous cultural activities across the city with France present in several venues. Boston Symphony Orchestra presents a rich program of Berlioz, Mozart, Carter, Bartók; Harbison, Ravel, Mahler under the baton of the French conductor Ludovic Morlot. The Harvard Film Archives starts a series of Henri-Georges Clouzot films while the Museum of Fine Arts pursues Catherine Deneuve's retrospective.

David Ross is less than impressed by the installation of the Museum of Fine Arts's new Linde Family Wing of Contemporary Art. He also expressed impatience with the lack of fundraising acumen by Carl Belz during his directorship of the Rose Art Museum. But Ted Stebbins of the MFA was a gentleman whom everyone loved.

Special this week events include in film Catherine Deneuve's retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts, in opera Mozart's Don Giovanni the Metropolitan Opera Live on HD encore and Verdi's Nabuco at the Coolidge Corner Theatre; in dance Angel Reapers inspired by Ann Lee's life, founder of the Shaker movement at the Cutler Majectic Theatre; and the Untitled Still Life Collection by Trajal Harrell and Sarah Sze at the Institute of Contemporary Art.; and in music the Boston Philharmonic at Jordan Hall in a Brahms concert.

Boston selection of events: Trisha Brown Dance Company returns to Boston after over a decade hiatus at the Institute of Contemporary Art; not to miss Jean Yves Thibaudet and Angelika Kirchschlager at Jordan Hall part of the Boston Celebrity Series; the Jewish Film Festival continues at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Harvard Archives resumes its retrospective on Sergio Leone cinematographic oeuvre.

The Boston MFA has made a serious commttment to contemporary decorative arts. This has been a cumulative effort by Director Malcolm Rogers over the last decade and half. With the opening of the Linde Family Contemporary Art Wing in October, there was the opening of the first dedicated gallery to contemporary decorative art, the Farago Gallery. To curate this gallery and to integrate contemporary decorative arts, craft and design with the rest of contemporary visual art, the museum hired Emily Zilber as the first contemporary decorative arts curator. And this isn't all.

Gernan Films in conjunction with the 23rd Jewish Film Festival. Harvard Film Archives retrospective of Sergio Leone films and Nicholas Ray "We Can’t Go Home Again". Don’t miss Blanchard and Sanchez, with the backing of the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, as they unleash an unforgettable evening of high-energy Afro-Cuban jazz.

A week full of exceptional films: Andy Warhol at the Harvard Film Archives; The Palestinian Film Festival at the Museum of Fine arts, Trisha Brown dance performance at the ICA; Shumann and Strauss at The Boston Symphony Orchestra and much more....

This week highlights are: "Women of Will" at Central Square Theatre; Berlioz: Beatrice et Benedicte at the Cutler Majestic Opera Boston; the Palestinian Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts; ICA Art Music: Babaa Maal

This week highlights are the not to be missed MFA Christian Marclay’s video: “The Clock”; Central Square Theatre “Women of Will” play; Fenway Theater MET High Definition screening “Anna Bolena”; Harvard Film Archives “Dreamlife of Angels” and ICA Live performance “Knitting Nation Phase 7”.

Mary Zimmerman has adapted and directed the production of Candide which is enjoying a successful run at Boston's Huntington Theatre. During an extensive dialogue she discussed the controversy of her three Met productions which were harshly reviewed by critics and opera traditionalists. She is negotiating with the Met for a new production as well as revivals. She also spoke about working with and creating an opera with Philip Glass.

An exceptional week of cultural activities in Boston & Cambridge: Trisha Brown’s Floor of the Forest, a mixture of sculpture, dance & performance at the ICA. The Harvard Film Archives showcase the work of the British filmmaker Ben Rivers and Romanian Andrei Ujica.

The first special exhibition in the newly renovated Linde Family Wing of Contempoary Art is a survey of wood sculptures by Ellsworth Kelly. With this project the MFA honors one of the most distinguished among the alumni of its Museum School. During the opening Kelly spoke with the media about studying with Boston Expressionist Karl Zerbe.

A day by day calendar of selected cultural events from concerts, musicals, plays, and films in Boston and Cambridge.

On the occasion of the opening of the Linde Family Wing of Contemporary Art we reflect on a troubling history. There has been a struggle going back to the 1930s and the founding of the Institute of Contemporary Art. There has been an awkward relationship between the ICA, MFA and other museums in the area. It is now time for art workers to unite and throw off their chains.

Many scoffed that the MFA didn't have any contemporary art. The new installation of the collection proves that the old dame has more than Morris Louis. Bostonians are among the best-educated and most sophisticated people in America and they don’t need to be treated as if they are grade school children when it comes to contemporary art.

Directed by Susan Vogel (2011, 53 min.). Filmed over three years in Venice, Nsukka, and the United States, this is a powerful portrait of Africa’s most widely acclaimed contemporary artist El Anatsui. Fold Crumple Crush gives an insider’s view of the artist’s practice, the ingenious steps and thousands of hours of labor that convert used bottle tops into huge, opulent wall hangings. Anatsui explains how his artworks have become a marriage of painting and sculpture—objects that speak of African history but also reach for the ethereal—and he talks about his aspirations for artworks he has yet to make.

Transforming a user-unfriendly I.M. Pei designed (1981) West Wing into a permanent location for its contemporary collection of art, decorative objects and design, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts has unveiled a new comfortable setting for visitors. With care and sensitivity, seven new gallery spaces have opened up the possibilities of contemporary art and craft never before presented in such depth and variety by the MFA. Kudos to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Nelida Nassar provides an overview of cultural offerings for the week of August 15 to 21. From Harvard Film Archives to previews of the anticipated Broadway bound production of Porgy and Bess at American Repertory Theatre.

The Museum of Fine Arts is known to have the finest collection of Old Kingdom Egyptian art outside of Cairo. Its greatest treasure, which it acquired through shrewd negotiation in 1927, is the limestone, polychromed portrait bust of Prince Ankhaf. Egypt wants it back. The MFA response is more or less, bloody hell.

During the dog days of Summer, here are some interesting leads on entrainment and culture for the week of Augst 8 for those of you hanging out in Boston. Summer in the City may simmer, but there are many cool things to do in Boston.

Boston Calendar of Events. Welcoming a new feature of Berkshire Fine Arts. Clip and save.

The MFA's Fall season this year will be as change-making as last year's. The entire West Wing will be transformed to a contemporary art museum, featuring art from 1970 to the present. In the special exhibition galleries, "Degas and the Nude" should be one of the most important shows of the year internationally.

Last given in 2006, the Maud Morgan Prize was initially established as a purchase prize for under recognized midcareer women artists. The MFA has been criticized for nor awarding this prize by the local community. It has now been slightly changed to be a direct cash prize of $10,000 rather than the initial $5000 purchase prize. Another change is that recognition will now be given to more distinguished women artists. A small MFA exhibit of the artist's work is part of the prize. This year's recipient, Wendy Jacob combines high purpose with sculptural forms.

During a drive around Newport, Rhode Island's famed Cliff Walk one encounters not just those fabulous cottages of the Gilded Age but also the armed fortress of the Patriaca clan. It is not a tourist attraction and drive by fast if you know what's good for you. With its craggy coast of nooks and crannies from early on it has been a smuggler's paradise and now a haven for mavens, Best known for fabulous jazz on a summer's day and lots of other cool stuff. We have a complete cheat sheet with contact info. Clip and save for a glorious getaway from the steamy city. The Vanderbilts traveled by yacht but you can get there with a car.