FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FALL OPEN HOUSE AT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON CELEBRATES THE FENWAY ALLIANCE
OPENING OUR DOORS 11TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
Activities Include Hispanic Heritage Month Short Film Festival; the New Michael C. Ruettgers Gallery for Ancient Coins;
and Performances by the Boston Conservatory and the Anikai Dance Theater
BOSTON, MA (September 6, 2012)––The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), will welcome visitors to its annual Fall Open House on Monday, October 18, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. In conjunction with the Celebrations Around the World theme, the Museum will present the Hispanic Heritage Month Short Film Festival, which highlights contemporary Spanish short films. Visitors can also visit the new Michael C. Ruettgers Gallery for Ancient Coins, the first gallery dedicated to coins at a major US art museum. Explore the five hundred ancient Greek and Roman coins from the Museum’s world-renowned collection on one of several iPads stationed throughout the gallery. Additionally, this family-friendly free day will include performances by the Boston Conservatory, the Anikai Dance Theater, DJ Berbere, as well as family art-making activities in the galleries and tours. Full schedule and details listed below.
SCHEDULE OF FREE FALL OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES
SPECIAL EVENTS
Hispanic Heritage Month Short Film Festival
1 p.m. & 3 p.m., Alfond Auditorium
An energetic and poignant collection of short films spans generations and countries to share the breadth of excellent contemporary Hispanic films coming from renowned international venues such as the Los Angeles Film Festival and South by Southwest Film Festival.
Boston Conservatory of Music presents MuzikoMonda
11 a.m. & 2 p.m., Remis Auditorium
As a world-renowned institution for educating undergraduate and graduate students, the Boston Conservatory fosters musicians from around the world. Enjoy a performance of world music featuring percussion, harp, and strings by the truly international ensemble, MuzikoMonda.
Anikai Dance Theater
11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m., Edward H. Linde Gallery 168
ANIKAI Dance Theater will present a new, choreographed piece commissioned specifically for the MFA’s Fall Open House. Performed by Boston-based Wendy Jehlen and her team of captivating dancers, the performance weaves many world dance traditions into the structure of a “tillana,” a dance of celebration and ecstasy from the Bharata Natyam repertoire.
DJ Berbere
2 – 4 p.m., Calderwood Courtyard (Rain Location: Edward H. Linde Gallery 168)
DJ Berbere is Jonah Rapino, member of world-renowned Ethiopian funk collective Debo Band, one-third of silent film score performers Devil Music Ensemble, violinist, DJ, singer, and composer. As a resident of Jamaica Plain, Rapino is pushing the boundaries of what a DJ can be as he samples and loops from Middle Eastern, African, and Eastern European underground records and tapes. On top of this framework is Jonah’s innovative violin and vocal synthesis. The end product of DJ Berbere shows his American upbringing but highlights the international village of 21st-century Boston.
ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES—Drop in from 10: a.m. – 4 p.m.
Rangoli Designs
Druker Family Pavilion 159
Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, and design your own Rangoli to welcome visitors into your home.
Silver Embossing
Koch Gallery 250
Find inspiration in silver objects that were once used during celebrations around Europe. Emboss your very own silver vessel or plate design.
Drawing in the Galleries
Gallery 207
Visit Juno, a Roman goddess, to get drawing tips and ideas from an artist as you sketch in the gallery.
Passport to the Americas
Sharf Visitor Center
Pick up your Passport for an adventures in the Art of the Americas Wing. Travel through each floor of the Wing with activities and fun facts.
Art Connections
Sharf Visitor Center
Pick up an Art Connections card exploring “Celebrations” around the world.
TOURS —Available throughout the day
Introduction to the Museum Collection Tours
Participants meet at the Sharf Visitor Center
*Spanish Language tour will take place at 2 p.m.; ASL tour will take place at 1:30 p.m.; Feeling for Form Tour will take place at 2:30 p.m.
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.; and Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. Admission (which includes one repeat visit within 10 days) is $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students age 18 and older, and includes entry to all galleries and special exhibitions. Admission is free for University Members and youths age 17 and younger on weekdays after 3 p.m., weekends, and Boston Public Schools holidays; otherwise $10. Wednesday nights after 4 p.m. admission is by voluntary contribution (suggested donation $25). MFA Members are always admitted for free. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. For more information, visit www.mfa.org or call 617.267.9300. The MFA is located on the Avenue of the Arts at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.
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