Modeled after a Venetian palazzo, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston houses one of the wor
Operating as usual
Join as a Gardner Museum member at the Under 30 level now and you'll soon receive an invitation to "A Journey through the Gardner," an exclusive event for Under 30 members. Come build intimate connections with art, museum, and horticulture in a community of peers. Learn more about membership at the Gardner at https://bit.ly/2HXJMSm
Today we welcome our communities with free admission every first Thursday of the month from 3-9 pm and on select holidays, as well as free or discounted admissions offers available every day. Thank you to all the library and community partners who make these offers possible. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2JsZrv8
120 years ago, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum opened its doors, "for the enjoyment and education of the public forever." After years of speculation by the press, The Boston Globe reported that, “An inspection of the palace settles a much-disputed point unequivocally, and that is that the establishment is not a private residence with an art gallery attachment but is really an art museum in every sense of the word…” Learn about the early experience of visiting the museum on the Inside the Collection blog (https://bit.ly/3B92x21) and visit us soon and often. Isabella's museum is here for you.
Get your tickets now for March Free First Thursday, a night of music, poetry, art-making, discussion, and more! https://bit.ly/40P8z4p
Step inside. Come see "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums" on view through May 21. This exhibition features pages from nine albums Isabella created upon her return from travel around the world between 1867 and 1895.
This Thursday, February 23, discover how two remarkable women- celebrated contemporary artist Betye Saar and museum founder Isabella Stewart Gardner- found creative inspiration in world travel. Get your tickets at https://bit.ly/3isHgLM
Look closely. On view in "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer," Saar's "Objects, Obsessions, Obligations" is a modern critique of the historic cabinet of curiosities and is juxtaposed here with an 18th-century cabinet, and its hundreds of objects, from the Gardner Museum Collection. "Heart of a Wanderer" is open through May 21.
Did you know that there are dozens of items related to American presidents in the Gardner's Collection? In the Presidents and Statesmen Case in the Long Gallery, you'll find autographed photographs of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft and other mementos. The photo of Roosevelt, a reproduction of which is own view and shown here, may have been a gift from John Singer Sargent who had painted the president's portrait in 1903. The Museum is open on Presidents' Day. Advance tickets are required as popular times will sell out.
Happy birthday to painter, sculptor, and etching artist Anders Zorn (1860-1920). Isabella was one of Zorn's most important American patrons. She went on to become Zorn’s most important supporter in America, amassing a collection of five oil paintings, six drawings, and seventy-eight etchings. Learn more in recent Inside the Collection blog post: http://bit.ly/3qbun6y
"For all Saar’s wanderings, the 'Migration' pieces hit home. Powerful and poignant, they leave you wondering what 'home' even means for a culture and people torn from theirs and denied for centuries the chance to truly reroot, an ocean away. Saar reclaims agency with her own travels, but never forgets that she and countless others began their journeys cut adrift," says Boston Globe art critic Murray Whyte of the exhibition "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer," on view now.
Read his full review on the Boston Globe's website at
‘Heart of a Wanderer’ has a softer edge than the explicitly political work that made Saar’s name, but it has an edge all the same.
On this day in 1884, Isabella Stewart Gardner and her husband Jack traveled through India. In this page from her travel album, you can see notes in Isabella's own hand stating, "Partly by train + party by Tonga to Kunur - February 13. Hotel at Kunur in the Nilgiri’s - Left there Thursday February 14, by Tonga. Arrived at Magras 7 a.m. Feb. 15 - Left there Feb. 16 5 P.M. for Lanauli."
In Jack's diary, he wrote, "Mrs. G. went to see women embroider. Drove to the currency office in the Fort - Took a walk on the Pier. Started for Bombay in the 5 p.m. train. Reserved compartment as far as Raichur."
Please note: This post uses place names as used in the 19th century. Additionally, the transcription may contain spelling errors.
"Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums" opens today with "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer" and "Adam Pendleton: Untitled (Giant not to scale)." Learn more at gardnermuseum.org.
Available now , the beautifully illustrated exhibition catalog "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer" sheds light on this renowned contemporary artist's creative process and how the artist’s work conjures the transporting experience of a voyage to a faraway place. Get your tickets now to see the exhibition, opening February 16, and pick up your copy of the catalog at Gift at the Gardner.
Happy Valentine's Day from the Isabella Stewart Garnder Museum! Is there anything more romantic than a gondola ride in Venice? Isabella and Jack certainly enjoyed floating along the canals of this amorous city! Here they are pictured with their friends Anders and Emma Zorn in 1894. Is that a mellifluous serenade we hear?
Join us for FREE First Thursday on March 2! Feel the beat with Caribbean fusion by the Fabiola Mendez Trio, warm your soul with poetry by Yara Liceaga Rojas, make your own accordion book with artist Yuko Okabe, and learn about rarely seen albums in the collection with the Museum's archivist! So much more awaits, but hurry—these tickets sell out fast. Reserve your FREE ticket today- https://bit.ly/40P8z4p
Happy Birthday to Harvard professor and politician A. Piatt Andrew (1873-1936), a leading member of "Dabsville," a group of artists and intellectuals who lived in Gloucester, MA. Isabella was an honorary member of the group. His portrait, painted by Anders Zorn in 1911, is on view in the Blue Room. See the portrait in full in our Collections database online. https://bit.ly/APiattAndrew
While Isabella Stewart Gardner collected very little fine art during her extensive world travels from 1867-1897, she frequented marketplaces, photographic studios, stationers' shops, and tourist kiosks picking up interesting objects and souvenirs.
This medicine case believed to be purchased during her 1883 trip to Japan depicts a cicada alighted on a piece of wood and opens at the side to reveal five tiny drawers. The netsuke is crystal carved in the shape of an eggplant; the sliding clasp (ojime) is amethyst.
Learn how Isabella travelled the world in the exhibition "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums," opening February 16. https://bit.ly/3wkTiKq
"The Larger Landscape Conversation: Design of Disability" is one month away on March 9. Join us for a conversation with: Victor Calise, director of global culture, equity, and inclusion at Walmart and former commissioner in the NY Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities; Elizabeth Guffey, professor of art history at SUNY Purchase and author of "Designing Disability: Symbols, Spaces, and Society"; and, Sara Hendren, professor at Olin College of Engineering and author of "What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World." Get your tickets now at https://bit.ly/TLLC_DesignofDisability
Artist-in-Residence Adam Pendleton has created a new work for the Garnder's Anne H. Fitzpatrick Facade. For "Untitled (Giant not to scale)," on view now, and a detail of which is shown here, the artist uses collage and juxtaposition to create a new visual language of cultural encounter and association. Learn more about his residency and past exhibitions at the Museum: https://bit.ly/40yHnXh
In 1994, contemporary artist Betye Saar visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. In her talk, she compared her own assemblages with the installations Isabella created throughout her Museum. Learn more about Saar's talk this week on the Inside the Collection blog at https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog
Pictured here are Isabella Stewart Gardner, her husband, and their friends at a luncheon in Seville during their 1888 trip to Spain. Isabella's travel album from her trips to Spain and Portugal is on view in the exhibition "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums," opening February 16. Head over to the Collections database at http://bit.ly/3jpcnby to see a photo of a busy street that Jack took during their trip to this southern Spanish city.
It's your last chance to see "Stacy Lynn Waddell: Home House" on the Gardner's Anne H. Fitzpatrick Facade. This beautiful reflection on family and community honoring the artist's grandmother will come down on February 7. (Please note: Facade change overs may be impacted by weather; exhibition dates are subject to change.)
Look closely.
Betye Saar, "Globetrotter," detail, 2007. Mixed media assemblage. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles. Photo by Robert Wedemeyer.
On view in "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer," opening February 16
It's Groundhog Day! Many animals appear in the paintings, textiles, sculptures, and tiles in the Gardner's collection, but none that we know to be a depiction of a groundhog. So, instead, take a look at this odd, but delightful, creature at the base of a Southern Italian marble column from the 13th century and now in the Spanish Cloister. Confused as he peeks into the Gardner's always blooming Courtyard, he believes every season is spring!
Very limited tickets are still available for Free First Thursday- Spades Night this Thursday, February 2. https://bit.ly/FebFFT
Sold out this month? Tickets for March Free First Thursday are available later this week!
On Thursday, February 23, discover how two remarkable women- celebrated contemporary artist Betye Saar and museum founder Isabella Stewart Gardner- found creative inspiration in world travel. Get your tickets at https://bit.ly/3isHgLM
Happy birthday to violinist, composer, and dear friend to Isabella, Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935). Loeffler built a steady career within Boston’s musical community with Isabella as his patron.
Casts of celebrity's faces and hands were popular mementos in the 19th century, and Loeffler and his friend Mabel Hunt Slater gave this cast to Isabella for Christmas in 1914. Many letters and photographs related to the composer are in the Collection and a portrait of the artist by John Singer Sargent (completed in only 3 hours!) hangs in the Yellow Room (https://bit.ly/CMLoeffler)
Images: Cast of C.M. Loeffler's hand with violin and front and back of card from its makers. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Collection.
In one of the most intimate and touching photos remaining of Isabella Stewart Gardner, the young mother dotes on her infant son. Little "Jackie" died of pneumonia just shy of his 2nd birthday in 1865. His death left Isabella bereft, leading her doctors to recommend travel abroad to restore her health. Her 1867 tour of Scandanavia, Central Europe, and Russia was a point of transition for Isabella, ultimately leading her to create her museum. Learn about her travels in "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums," opening next month: https://bit.ly/ISGTravel2023Calendar
This week on the blog, learn about the elegant, and historically significant, cymbidium orchids. Isabella so loved orchids that the Boston Sunday Post wrote in 1907, "Pale elusive colors, delicate beauty, unexpected fragrance and odd beautiful varieties, these are what make the Gardner…orchids so much admired in flower show time." Read on at https://bit.ly/Blog_Orchids and visit the stunning flowers in the Midwinter Tropics display on view in our Courtyard just a few weeks more!
Opening on February 16, join us to explore the upcoming season at the Gardner. "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer" and "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums" celebrate the travels of two women who lived a century apart. Outside on the Facade, "Adam Pendleton: Untitled (Giant not to scale)" explores cultural encounter. Advance tickets are required; plan your visit today: http://bit.ly/3l1bSlf
Images:
Betye Saar, "Evening in Paris" (detail), 2010.
Photo from Isabella Stewart Gardner's travel album from Spain and Portugal, 1888.
Adam Pendleton, Artist's rendering of "Untitled (Giant not to scale)," 2023.
Happy birthday, Edouard Manet! This portrait of the artist’s mother is on view in the Blue Room. In 1909, Isabella Stewart Gardner asked art dealer Bernard Berenson to find her a portrait by Manet, perhaps to accompany her portrait of Madame Gaujelin by Degas. She purchased the work a year later.
Image: Edouard Manet (1832-1883, France), Madame August Manet, detail, 1863. Oil on canvas. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston.
Limited tickets are still available for "Canon, Canyon, Cannon," a night of poetry and performance with host and , , , , and . The "canon" encapsulates a literary and performance canon, one that these poets erase and recreate, propelling literature forward. The word "canyon," as in a gorge, is how we explore the depth of language. And, "cannon," is both defense, as in a sounding of the alarms, and the dismantling barriers for entry. Join us this Thursday, January 26. Advance tickets are required and are available at https://bit.ly/3YBziA7
Experience the dazzling superstar violinist Leila Josefowicz, performing with pianist John Novacek at the Gardner on March 19 in what promises to be a thrilling recital. Very limited tickets are available for this performance: http://bit.ly/3GYdPLh
Photo by Tom Zimberoff, 2022
On view through February 7: "Stacy Lynn Waddell: Home House" honors the artist's dearly loved grandmother and speaks to the lasting impact of portraiture. "Home House" can be enjoyed by all on the exterior of our building on Evans Way. Learn more about the work at https://bit.ly/3RkwnHc
Stacy Lynn Waddell (b. 1966, US) is an American artist who explores the storytelling power of portraits and how society articulates its values and social hierarchies visually through portraiture. She focuses on the correspondence between art historical narratives and economic, political, and social....
Come experience contemporary artist Titus Kaphar's powerful statement on mass incarceration and the history of representation in "The Jerome Project." He says, "I began to paint those mug shots...as religious paintings with gilded backgrounds. I then submerged those paintings into tanks of tar based on the amount of time that these folks had spent incarcerated." This exhibition has been extended through January 22. Learn more at https://bit.ly/JeromeProjectISGM
Return to Main Page Artist Titus Kaphar (b. 1976, Kalamazoo, Michigan) reflects on the history of representation of Black Americans in his
Are you a local college student or a member of a local college faculty or staff? You may be eligible for free museum admission and free or discounted tickets to public programs. Members are even eligible for discounted group tours! Check out the list of University Members on our website and contact your Student Life or Admissions Office for your school's promo code: http://bit.ly/3X3oIAP
A full new season of events is now live on our online calendar, many of which are presented in response to our upcoming exhibitions "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer" and "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums", opening on February 16. Learn more and plan your visit: http://bit.ly/2sBp48c
Beauty is in the details this month. Nestled among the green ferns and waxy jades are several varieties of stunning flowers, some muted, some bold. Look closely at the shapes of their petals, stems, and leaves. Which is your favorite?
There's much to unpack this upcoming season at the Gardner in three exhibitions exploring travel and cultural encounter. "Betye Saar: Heart of a Wanderer" and "Fellow Wanderer: Isabella's Travel Albums" celebrate the travels of two women living a century apart. On the Facade is "Adam Pendleton: Untitled (Giant not to scale)." Together these exhibitions invite us to think critically about the complexities of travel and its impact on the traveler. Plan your visit. Advance tickets are required: http://bit.ly/3l1bSlf
Betye Saar (b. 1926, United States), Legends in Blue. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles, California. Photo by Robert Wedemeyer.
Thank you to the special group of artists and activists pictured here who joined us today to talk openly about love, compassion, and justice. Thank you to for bringing joy, music, and play to the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. And, thank you to all who came to experience the day with us. If you created your own message of hope today, please share it with us (tag ).
Pictured: Eric Anderson, Eric Gottesman, Yng-Ru Chen, Erin Genia, Sabrina Dorsainvil, Persephone Allen, and Hank Willis Thomas. .shadows.art
What do the words justice, equity, empowerment, and truth mean to you? Our visitors have shared their hopeful visions for our world, inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and by the artists and activists who joined us today.
25 Evans Way
Boston, MA
02115
| Monday | 11am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 11am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 11am - 9pm |
| Friday | 11am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 11am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 11am - 5pm |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum:
Are you eager for our August Free First Thursday with author and illustrator @OliverJeffers? You're not alone! Red here can't wait for next week. But if you don't have your ticket yet, don't delay! Select time slots are still available, reserve yours now https://bit.ly/3OuC4lf
Are you a people person with a love of art and museums? Share your passion by joining the Museum Teacher team at the Gardner! The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is seeking a diverse group of individuals to lead tours with all audiences. If you have an interest in open-ended teaching approaches, a desire to work with people of all ages and backgrounds, and strong communication skills then we want to hear from you! Interested applicants are invited to attend an info session July 21 from 6-8pm. To RSVP please contact Sara Egan at [email protected] or visit the link to apply to the team. Deadline is July 25. https://bit.ly/3abbKxQ
The Gardner Museum's Hanging Nasturtiums have arrived! An annual tradition started by our founder over one hundred years ago, the Hanging Nasturtiums Installation is a bright and beautiful signal that spring is finally here. Long vines of delicate orange blooms hang from the balconies overlooking the Gardner Courtyard, but they only last two to three weeks. Advance tickets are required for timed entry to the museum so get your tickets now to enjoy them as soon and as often as you can. Learn more about nasturtiums at the link: https://bit.ly/3Dp5AEx and see our post from March 30 for an Inside the Collection blog post about the flower's history and uses. http://bit.ly/2GaSmAa Video by Bearwalk Cinema (2021)
Limited tickets are available for our December 2 evening with pianist and composer Kevin Harris. This event will feature a live solo performance and the premiere of the film "Doorways." Film by La Palomita Productions. Please enjoy the film trailer and register for the event: https://bit.ly/3cPp2Ob
We are just days away from the premiere of a brand new film with the team at Abilities Dance! Watch the trailer featuring Abilities Dance founder and executive/artistic director, Ellice Patterson, who explains how the group responded to the exhibition, Titian: Women, Myth & Power. Register for free → https://bit.ly/3begm2Y
Join us on October 28th for an electric evening of art and music to reflect upon themes of gender, sexuality, race, and power at City of Women II. Only the incomparable Helga Davis, opera singer, podcaster, cultural creator, and Visiting Curator of Performing Arts, could put together a lineup this legendary! Helga has invited visionaries Toshi Reagon, Jomama Jones, Fabiola Jean-Louis, and Claudia Rankine to respond to questions of agency and representation as explored in our Titian exhibition. Grab your tickets here→ https://bit.ly/2VhNtOC
On Thursday, June 24, we're dropping the final film in our Luminary Lens series! Over the past year, we've invited a handful of the Neighborhood Salon Luminaries to create brand new works, inspired by items in the Gardner Museum collection. La Llorona: The Art of Resilience Through Loss and Grief by Veronica Robles is a moving response to Isabella's own story of grief and rebuilding, conveyed through Robles' incredible musicianship. Veronica Robles is a Mexican singer-musician and founder of Boston's First Female Mariachi. Learn more about the series and sign up for email updates: https://bit.ly/2TMx1lO 🎥: La Gringa Loca Productions
ASPECT: The Chronicle of New Media Art
Waltham StreetNational Center of Afro-American Artists (NCA
Walnut Avenue, RoxburyHo Family Student Guide Program
Cambridge 02138
ASPECT: The Chronicle of New Media Art
Waltham Street
McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College
Commonwealth Avenue
Powermeter Event 2016 at Artists for Humanity
Artists For Humanity Epicenter/100 W 2nd Street