November 19, 2022 – March 5, 2023

Join us for an exploration of the surprisingly rich history of pigments and dyes and their impact on art and culture. The story of color, and the search for ever more vibrant pigments, is a fascinating one, tying into biology and human evolution, alchemy, philosophy, chemistry, exploration and colonial exploitation, language and cultural meaning-making and artistic expression.

Most of us take for granted the dazzling array of hues available to us in everything we see, buy and surround ourselves with. That easy availability is a recent development, however. For most of history brilliant colors were expensive, rare and hard to get. Sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic, the story of how pigments and dyes have been sought after, traded, fought over and accidentally discovered is a window into our wider human story. [Read more…]

October 8, 2022 – January 8, 2023

Featuring more than 50 banjos from an unparalleled private collection, this exhibition presents the compelling stories and surprising artistry of this often overlooked instrument and its music. An instrument with African predecessors and singular American roots, the banjo has played an important role in many musical genres, including minstrelsy, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and pop.

America’s Instrument provides a fascinating look at how the banjo was deeply woven into the history, arts, and society of nineteenth century America, ultimately becoming a powerful cultural symbol embodying a complex story of transformation and transition.

The guest curator for the show is Darcy J. Kuronen, formerly the Pappalardo Curator of Musical Instruments at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

               
Left: Banjo, c. 1860s, made by Levi Brown, Baltimore, MD. Collection of James Bollman. One of five known examples. Right: Presentation Banjo, “Double Gryphon Electric” model, c. 1895. A.C. Fairbanks Company, Boston, MA. Serial #15406. Collection of James Bollman.

September 10 – November 6, 2022

The large paintings that form the core of Catherine Christiano’s exhibition, Album of Flowers | Interesting Times chronicle a year, each month’s panel juxtaposing naturalistically painted seasonal flora with a collage of content from The New York Times. The still lifes are placed directly within the context of 2016, the emotionally charged election year during which the series was conceived.

The backgrounds, designed to resemble a front page, represent the omnipresent backdrop of societal activities in everyday life. As in a newspaper, mundane and seasonal activities appear alongside historically important and catastrophic events. Each panel also includes at least one reference to the death of a public figure, a reminder of the transience of life in both humanity and nature. [Read more…]