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Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring A Classic at the MFA

Earlier this week I took advantage of one of my membership privileges at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and checked out the Members Preivew of their new exhibit, “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring A Classic”. The exhibit features over 200 works mostly from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London,  and has a variety of letters, original drawings, and photographs. This exhibit is UTTERLY charming, and I was glad to have a chance to see this early. I can’t wait to go back and see it again!

There’s a little bit of something for everyone in this show; you can see everything from examples of Pooh in Pop Culture to Ernest Shepard’s original drawing of the Map of the 100 Acre Wood.

There are photographs of the Milne family, including a particularly tender photo of a Christopher Milne with his teddy bear.

One of the most special items in the exhibit, in my opinion, is the recording of A.A. Milne reading an excerpt of Pooh and Piglet go hunting, and nearly catch a Woozle. It dates from 1929, and is the only known recording of Milne reading from his Winnie-the-Pooh books. To listen to the recording, you pick up the “telephone” installed on the wall and can sit in the comfortable window seat directly adjacent to enjoy this delightful piece of the exhibit.

There are areas of whimsy and fun that will appeal to children of all ages as well as the young at heart. Want to ring the bell at Pooh’s house? Go for it.

Pretend to throw Poohsticks at the Poohstick bridge? They’ve got you covered.

There’s a table for drawing, as well as comfy rugs and spots for reading, and my favorite, Christopher Robin’s stairs where he sits, “Halfway Down”.

There are Instagram-worthy photo-ops galore so don’t be afraid to live a little and let your inner child come out and play. (There’s even a small slide if you feel like you need some extra movement!)

I have to say this exhibit is full of heartwarming moments that make you harken back to childhood memories of frolic and play. Shepard’s images are so classic, so iconic…don’t be surprised to find yourself time and again standing in front of a drawing and saying “awwww…” It’s delightfully sweet!

Give yourself plenty of time to meander your way through this exhibit. I spent just about 90 minutes there and could have easily stayed longer. Because of the tickets’ timed entry (more on that below!) the crowds in the exhibit are kept to a minimum. There’s room to explore, to drink in and enjoy all the Winnie-the-Pooh magic.

Have I inspired you to visit? The MOST IMPORTANT THING to keep in mind when planning your visit is that entry to the exhibit is TIMED, and tickets are REQUIRED for entry. All the information you need on tickets can be found here: https://www.mfa.org/tickets/winnie-the-pooh/ticket-information

The MFA highly recommends purchasing your tickets in advance. (Are you a member? Members see the exhibit for free, but still need to reserve tickets.) When you purchase your ticket, it covers your admission to the Museum for the day as well as the ticket for your specific time window to see the Pooh exhibit.

Other things to note:

– Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while visiting the Museum.

– Strollers are permitted at the MFA,but due to the limited space and interactive nature of the exhibition, strollers will not be permitted in “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic.”

– Photography is welcome and encouraged, but no flash photography is allowed.

This is a really fantastic exhibit, and one that’s worth taking the time to plan and purchase your tickets in advance. The MFA Signature Gift Shop, which is located across from the ticketing desks at the Huntington Avenue entrance, has the main collection of memorabilia and Pooh related gifts. If you’re looking for the Catalog from the show, you’ll have to head to the Signature Gift Shop. (It’s $39.95, members price is $35.95!)

And for my environmentally minded friends, the large blue balloons in the hallway outside of the Torf Gallery where the exhibit lives are made of fiberglas, and are not floating helium balloons. They are an art installation that hangs from the ceiling.

Looking for more info on Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic? Visit the exhibit’s page: https://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/winnie-the-pooh

If you aren’t a member, now may be a great time to consider membership at the MFA. In addition to seeing special exhibits like this one for free, members get discounts on parking, dining, and the gift shop. It’s easy to become a member! https://www.mfa.org/membership I love being a MFA member especially when it comes to seeing exhibits during the Member Preview week!

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Zimmerman House Advance Tickets Now On Sale!

Tucked away in a residential area in the north end of Manchester, NH lies the architectural gem known as the Zimmerman House. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the home was built in 1950 and is the only Wright designed building open to the public in New England. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Tours of the Zimmerman house are managed by the Currier Museum of Art, and advance ticket sales are now open! Public tours begin on Monday, April 16th.  Tours are offered through the week except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All tours begin at the Currier Museum on Ash Street in Manchester, and visitors are transported to the Zimmerman house by van.

Things to keep in mind: Children under 7 are not permitted. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested. There is no bathroom on site at the Zimmerman house, but bathrooms are available at the Currier Museum Art. The tour of the house is approximately 90 minutes. Photography is only allowed of the exterior of the house.

Visit the Currier’s page about the Zimmerman house for more information and to reserve your tickets! http://currier.org/education-programs/zimmerman-house-tours/

On the web page you’ll also find information on Zimmerman House Focus Tours, as well as Twilight Tours. Both of these special tour options are also open for reservations. I know personally I’d love to go on one of the twilight tours, as well as the September 15th Behind the Scenes of the Restoration of the Zimmerman House tour!

 

 

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Need to Escape From Winter? Visit The Butterfly Place

New England is being hit by the second big winter storm in less than a week.  It’s hard to believe that Spring is only one week away when there’s more than a foot of snow outside (and more falling as I type!) Are you feeling those late winter blues? A great place to escape from this dismal weather is The Butterfly Place in Westford, MA. Just minutes off of Exit 34 on Route 3, The Butterfly Place is the perfect cure for winter fatigue.

If you’ve never been, The Butterfly Place is an indoor garden with hundreds of free flying butterflies. The temperatures inside are set at a balmy 80-85 degrees to keep the butterflies happy! (It keeps me pretty happy too!) It’s such a treat to leave a cold, wintry day behind for a little while and pretend like you’re somewhere tropical.

All areas are handicapped accessible and strollers are encouraged. According to their website, most visitors spend about an hour on an average visit. In addition to the large indoor garden space, they have displays about the life cycle of butterflies, including a 15-minute video.

The Butterfly Place is open daily from Valentines Day through Columbus Day; the hours are 10:00am – 4:00pm. For more information including admission prices and special offers, visit their website at: https://butterflyplace-ma.com/

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Visiting the deCordova Museum

The snow is falling outside as a type, and it’s hard to believe that last Wednesday was so beautiful and unseasonably warm! The combination of school break and fantastic weather had Townies 1, 2, and 3 and I heading to the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, MA. It had been a few years since our last visit so they were excited to check out the outdoor sculpture park.

The deCordova Museum has a rich and interesting history. The museum has been open since 1950, and is situated on the former estate of Julian deCordova. The sculpture park has 30 acres of woodlands and grassy lawns, as well as a short sculpture trail, and is the largest park of its kind in New England. There are over 60 works located throughout the outdoor park area, and many are on loan.  The museum building itself focuses on modern and contemporary art, with an emphasis on supporting local New England artists. I always enjoy seeing what’s on display at the deCordova, because my subconscious preconceptions of what defines Art are always challenged when I visit.

Don’t let the current snowstorm turn you off from the idea of a visit! The deCordova is a wonderful place to see any time of year. They offer a wide variety of programs and workshops, including snowshoe tours of the sculpture park.  In fact, there is a snowshoe tour coming up this Saturday, March 10th, that should be very successful with all this newly falling snow!

For more information on the deCordova including admission prices, directions, and current exhbitions, visit their website at: https://decordova.org/

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Don’t Lose Your Chance to See Toulouse!

The Currier Museum of Art’s Exhibit, “The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec: Prints and Posters From the Museum of Modern Art” is nearing its final days. This is the exclusive New England engagement for this exhibit, and it will only be on view through Sunday January 7th.  It’s definitely worth a visit Manchester, NH to see this special exhibition of Toulouse-Lautrec’s work.

I think many people can conjure up an idea of the colorful, graphic prints and posters that are iconic images of Toulouse-Lautrec. There are plenty wonderful examples of these types of prints on display, and they are both delightful and impressive. I also really enjoyed seeing the many monochromatic lithographs in the collection; to me, they have both a modern and timeless feel. The exhibit has video clips of Moulin Rouge dancers to enhance the experience, as well as interactive digital displays that allow you to browse some of the books with illustrations by Toulouse-Lautrec.

The exhibit also includes a last room full of prints from American contemporaries of Toulouse-Lautrec who were inspired by his style. Don’t write off this room because it isn’t T-L’s work; the pieces in this final gallery are exquisite examples of American advertising at its late-19th-century best. My favorites were lithographs by Edward Penfield and Will H. Bradley.

The Currier Museum of Art will be open the following hours this weekend:
Friday January 5th: 11am – 5pm
Saturday January 6th: 10am – 5pm
Sunday January 7th: 11am – 5pm

There is one remaining guided Focus Tour of the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit on Sunday, January 7th at 11:30am. Photography is allowed in the exhibit, and the museum has a beautiful catalog of the show available in their gift shop if you decide you’d like to bring the entire collection home.

Admission to the Currier Museum of Art is as follows:
Adult $15
Senior (65+) $13
Student $10
Youth (13-17) $5
Members and children younger than 13 are always free.

*There is a $5 special exhibition fee to view The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec: Prints and Posters From The Museum of Modern Art in addition to the general admission.

New Hampshire folks, check with your local library to see if they have museum passes to the Currier Museum of Art! You will still need to pay the $5 fee for the exhibit, but you can save up to $15 per person if a pass is available.

If you get hungry while you’re there, the Currier has a lovely, light-filled eatery in the museum’s center called The Winter Garden Cafe. It’s a perfect spot for a delicious lunch where you can enjoy salads, seasonal soups, sandwiches and pastries. The Winter Garden Cafe is open 11am – 3:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Currier has a parking lot on their property which is accessible off both Prospect and Ash streets; on street parking is also available if the lot is full.

Check out the Currier’s website for more information:
http://currier.org/