One of the best things about living so close to one of the nation's major cities is the vibrant gallery and museum scene that comes along with it. Here's a quick look at some of the exhibits and art shows that will be gracing Boston over the next month.
The AIGA BONE Show: This exhibition, sponsored by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, features submissions and winners from this year's "Best of New England" graphic design contest. Hyped as revealing "the future of design and communication in New England," the BONE Show has everything from product packaging and sticker-decorated storefronts to bluegrass CD covers and website graphics, all beautifully functioning as some sort of advertisement.
Where: Bakalar Gallery, M.I.T.
When: Through September 14
Cost: Free
New England Neon: Powered on since April 12, this shockingly bright exhibit will finally dim its lights for the last time later this month. New England Neon chronicles the history of the bright signs that have long illuminated neighborhoods in Boston. The exhibition follows the history of neon light from its first appearance in 1910 at an art show in Paris, through its introduction in the United States in 1923, and includes light-up pieces that date all the way up to the 1970s. The signs are all drawn from a local collection, so there's even a chance you might spot your grandparents' favorite Boston diner in the exhibit.
Where: National Heritage Museum
When: Through September 14
Cost: Free
Thomas Gainsborough, 1727-1788: This touring exhibition features over one hundred works of art by one of England's greatest artists. Thomas Gainsborough may be most famous for his portraits of the English nobility, but the collection also features his lesser known landscapes and drawings, as well as some of his more popular pieces. As the exhibit moves elsewhere in a grand tour across the nation, this may be your last chance to see so many fine examples of Gainsborough's art.
Where: Museum of Fine Arts
When: Through September 14
Cost: $20 general admission, $18 students
South Enders 2: You can't live in Boston for long without visiting its vibrant South End, and this exhibition seeks to capture the spirit of one of New England's most artistic neighborhoods. Featuring works of arts produced solely by South End artists, "South Enders" covers a wide variety of media and brings the flavor of Boston life to paint and canvas.
Where: Boston Center for the Arts
When: Through September 26
Cost: Free
An Architecture of Memory: Eight Jewish Argentinean Artists: Architecture is but an example of how art can penetrate our daily lives, and in this collection, eight different artists show their work to reflect on their unique heritage as Argentinean Jews. Featuring methods varying from painting to sculptures, "An Architect of Memory" spans the decades in its reflection on the conditions of Jews in Argentina. On September 17, the gallery is hosting a free "Director's Walkthrough," with refreshments provided.
Where: Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, Starr Gallery
When: September 7 through November 17
Cost: Free
Splat, Boom, Pow! The Influence of Cartoons in Contemporary Art: For many, it is hard to imagine growing up in a world without Doonesbury or Dilbert. The affect that cartoons have had on our perspective in modern society is almost indescribable. Splat, Boom, Pow! traces the development of this art form and its roots as a political device, following such artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Elizabeth Murray, Takashi Murahami, and Andy Warhol in their quest to define some sort of national identity through their work. Cartoons are often assumed to be "just for kids," and this exhibition seeks to refute this presumption, and exemplify that their effect on our day-to-day lives and ingrained beliefs has never been more palpable.
Where: Institute of Contemporary Art
When: September 17 through January 4
Cost: $7 general admission, $5 for students; free on Thursdays.
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