January-February
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COLLECTIONS CORNER PETITE FEET VOICES BEYOND Recently Acquired A Concert in Celebration BONDAGE of Artist Allan Rohan Crite An Anthology of Verse BOSTON ATHENÆUM by African Americans JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 NOW ON VIEW Concert with jazz ensemble Petite Feet The Athenæum recently acquired Interior with Figure, Antwerp by of the 19th Century Otto Grundmann. Grundmann, who had his earliest artistic training in Tuesday, February 23, 6-7 pm his native Dresden, came to America in 1876 to accept the directorship Registration begins February 9 at 9 am Book talk with literary scholars Erika DeSimone and Fidel Louis of the new School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He served P R Members $15 Non-members $30 in that role, and as a highly respected teacher, until his death in 1890. Thursday, February 25, 6-7 pm He specialized in genre painting (scenes of everyday life) in the Prolific Boston artist Allan Rohan Crite Registration begins February 11 at 9 am tradition of seventeenth-century Dutch masters such as Vermeer. created an extensive body of work featuring R Members Free Non-Members $15 This recent acquisition, the first painting by this important Boston the daily life of ordinary African Americans. P artist to enter the Athenæum’s collection, is in every way In celebration of his work, and in collabora- Voices Beyond Bondage: An Anthology of characteristic of his work. The painting can be viewed in the tion with the New England Conservatory’s Verse by African Americans of the 19th sitting room off the hallway leading to the Children’s Library. Community Performances and Partnerships Century is a collection of 150 poems culled PICTURING Program, the Boston Athenæum is proud to from burgeoning black-owned newspapers present jazz ensemble Petite Feet. Petite Feet FREDERICK DOUGLASS of the era, and offers a fresh perspective on will respond musically to a selection of Crite’s African-American life and identity. These An Illustrated Biography of works from the Athenæum’s collection. poems are penned mostly by everyday people the Nineteenth Century’s Most DOWN IN THE DUMPS compelled to write—despite being born into a NEWS YOU CAN USE View a selection of Crite’s watercolors and Reader to Reader Recs Photographed American world of fundamental inequity. Whether these drawings online, and see his paintings authors were formally schooled or self-taught, on view in the Bornheimer Room and In Athenæum jargon, the “dump” refers to the IMAGING STUDIO In celebration of the relocation of the Imaging Book talk with best-selling author whether they were slaves, free people, or the Membership Office. re-shelving area on every floor. Members in Studio (formerly called the Digital Lab) to the second floor of 10½ and Harvard University Professor descendants of slaves, African Americans put THE RACE for THE WHITE HOUSE in 2016 the know have been perusing these shelves Beacon Street, Patricia Boulos, Head of Digital Programs, and her team of English and African American ink to paper and declared their passions in Studies John Stauffer This program is supported, in part, by a grant for years. Can’t make it into the building for will host informal, drop-in open studio sessions on Tuesday, January verse. Until now, these poems—and an entire The New Hampshire Primary and Beyond from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, this serendipitous search? Don’t fret. View our 19, from 1:30-4:30 pm and Wednesday, January 20, from 4-6 pm. All literary movement—were lost to modern Are you a Monday, February 22, 6-7 pm a state agency. weekly list on the “Book Recommendations” members are encouraged to stop by and learn more about the Imaging readers. A panel discussion with The Boston Globe political reporters Shira T. Center, Registration begins February 8 at 9 am POLITICAL page under the “Library” tab of the website for Studio, where colleagues create the online images that bring our rarest Akilah Johnson, Annie Linskey, Jim O’Sullivan, James Pindell, and Matthew Viser Members $15 these Reader to Reader Recommendations. collections before the world. As visitors will learn, the new studio M R Can’t get enough poetry? Discover the poetry HISTORY offers optimal climate and security controls, and ideal proximity to of Phillis Wheatley, the first Black poet in Thursday, January 21, 6-7 pm, Tremont Temple, 88 Tremont Street, Boston JUNKIE? In this talk, John Stauffer will share with us Recent titles found down rare materials storerooms. America to publish a book, in the Athenæum’s M F R Registration begins December 28 at 9 am excerpts and images from Picturing Frederick in the dumps, include: circulating and special collections. PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURE CHECKLIST For the first time Douglass, a work that promises to revolution- Political reporters from The Boston Globe will discuss one of the most unpredictable presidential Check out our collection races in a generation. Just days before Iowa and New Hampshire voters make their picks for the Walker, Alice foreword ever, complete illustrated checklists of the Athenæum’s collections ize our knowledge of race and photography of 19th-century political presidential nominees, top political journalists from the Pulitzer-prize winning news organization and illustration by Shiloh of paintings and sculpture are available online — a first step towards in 19th-century America. Stauffer will paint ballots, available in the PROPRIETORS’ ANNUAL will convene for a panel on the campaigns they have been covering for the last year. Who will win McCloud. Hard Times our long-term goal of making a searchable online catalogue available a picture of Frederick Douglass as a leading Digital Collections the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary? Will the victors be the eventual nominees? Require Furious Dancing: to members and researchers around the world. The art lists appear in a pioneer in photography, both as a stately MEETING section of our website. Tuesday, February 16, 3:45 pm M R F And how will this influence who wins the White House in 2016? New Poems, Library of sidebar on the “Paintings & Sculpture” page under the “Collections” subject and as a prescient theorist who believed in the explosive social power of Congress Classification tab of the website. Proprietors will receive an email or paper invitation. PS3573.A425 H37 2010 what was then just a nascent art form. DIRECTOR’S NOTE ART PERIODICALS The organization of art periodicals is complete! Proprietors of the Boston Athenæum are invited to Interested in viewing some of Stauffer’s Readers will find their favorites in an attractive, well-organized, and the 2016 Annual Meeting. A reception will follow. “The horizon leans forward, Offering you space to place new steps of change.” primary source materials first-hand? Make freshly painted space outside the Upper Pilgrim elevator, just steps Guests are welcome to join the reception. For more Maya Angelou (from The Rock Cries Out Today) an appointment to view our 1865 Merrill & IN THE GALLERIES from their former location in the art reference section. information, please contact Catherine McGrath at Crosby photograph of Frederick Douglass. Happy New Year! At the Athenæum, 2016 offers fresh expanses for the intellect 617-720-7661 or [email protected]. and the imagination. A panel of Boston Globe journalists will assess the Collecting for the Boston Athenæum in the 21st PHONE BOOTHS Looking for a place to sneak away to make a phone presidential primaries; an MFA curator will reinterpret a beloved masterpiece; Century: Maps, Charts, & Plans brings together call? Try out our vintage phone booths repurposed as mobile phone use a geographer-neuroscientist will consider mapping in the age of GPS; a Harper an exquisite selection of materials from the stations that have been installed in the hallway leading to the Children’s Lee scholar will discuss Go Set a Watchman; a jazz ensemble will pay tribute institution’s rich cartographic collection. The Library. Phone calls can also be placed in the vestibule of the building. CLEMENS TEUFEL to the visual art of Allan Rohan Crite; our digital team will welcome members GLIMPSED third in a series, the exhibition celebrates the Talking on mobile phones is prohibited elsewhere in the building, and A classical piano concert featuring the works of Gershwin and Hanson to their new lab; and anthology editors will read poems by 19th-century AT 10½ Athenæum’s robust acquisitions program and on the terraces. African-Americans. showcases more than 50 objects that have been Sunday, February 28, 1-2 pm added to the collection since the year 2000. NEW FACES The Athenæum is pleased to welcome the following Registration begins February 12 at 9 am P R Members $15 Non-Members $30 colleagues: Alyssa Garcia, Development Intern, and Graham Skinner, The exhibition of Maps, Charts, & Plans is complemented by a new presentation During last month’s “Eye of the Expert: in the Sitting Room. Washington Allston paintings enliven the Children’s Library An Evening of Mystery and Mayhem” GALLERY TALKS with Curator of Maps Cataloging Assistant (formerly a Digital Programs Intern). In his solo debut concert, Clemens Teufel will feature the colorful compositions of neo-romantic corridor, and portrait miniatures appear in the Art Department. At times when program, Stanley Ellis Cushing, John Lannon are limited to 15 participants. master composer, Hanson, and the swing and glamour of the all-time favorite, Gershwin. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Clemens Teufel received his first piano lessons at the age of seven. Described winter weather complicates a visit, our website offers a respite from cabin fever. Anne C. and David J. Bromer Curator From event recordings to electronic resources—which now include Oxford Music of Rare Books and Manuscripts, Wednesday, January 13, 11 am-12 pm as “Red-hot German Pianist” by the Cape Ann Beacon and commended for “incredibly sensitive Online—to complete illustrated checklists of the art collection, there’s always discusses a print of the front elevation Registration begins December 30 at 9 am playing” by the Weilheimer Tagblatt, Teufel started his education at the University Franz Liszt in something new to discover.