General admission for children 17 years and under is always free

June Free First Thursday

Thursday, June 1, 2023
3 - 9 pm

Join us for an exciting evening of community, celebration and self-expression. Revel in Pride! Come as you are and celebrate Pride with a dynamic range of performances, art-making activities, and talks highlighting historical connections to LGBTQIA+ stories in the collection.

Create flower crowns with crafts-extraordinaire Alex Makes Art, enjoy performances by Nova One and Karim in Jordan Garden, and hear from curatorial assistant Adrienne Chaparro about how Isabella Stewart Gardner supported queer communities and individuals during her lifetime. Café G is open late for dinner and drinks.

Revel in Pride!

Bloom in Pride! | 5 - 8 PM
Bertucci Education Studio

Drop by the Studio and work with artist and craftsmaker Alex Makes Art to create colorful flower crowns expressing individuality and pride in who you are. Invite family and friends to make crowns that celebrate each of their own senses, self-expression & personality! All materials will be provided.

Ask A Curator | 5:30 - 7 PM
Chinese Loggia, Historic Palace

Meet Curatorial Assistant Adrienne Chaparro and learn how Isabella Stewart Gardner supported and made space for queer artists, individuals, and communities in turn of the century Boston.

Music in the Garden | 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Jordan Garden

Nova One | 6:30 pm - 7:15 PM
Nova One makes lush, dreamy music that celebrates and centers vulnerability, self-love, self-expression, and queer futurity. This Providence-based band performs songs from their newest project, create myself, celebrating self-acceptance, becoming, and inviting each of us to find our own voices and see ourselves with compassion and love.
Karim | 7:30 - 8:00 PM

Karim makes powerful, soulful music that speaks to his creativity, connection to self, and identity. This Boston-based, multidisciplinary artist and designer performs songs from his latest work and covers blending sounds of neo-soul, indie pop, and alternative rock.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nova One makes lush, dreamy music that celebrates and centers vulnerability, self-love, self-expression, and queer futurity. This Providence-based band performs songs from their newest project, create myself, celebrating self-acceptance, becoming, and inviting each of us to find our own voices and see ourselves with compassion and love.

Nova One, Maurisa Mackey.

Karim is a multidisciplinary artist and Boston native drawing on the musical styles and influences of R&B, gospel, soul, and jazz music. In 2014, Karim began producing beats on his phone eventually debuting his first EP in 2019, Huemanity, which blends elements of neo-soul, indie pop, and alternative rock. His performances have been presented throughout the city of Boston including Urbanity Dance, MIT Open Space, Trans Resistance Festival, and more.

Photo image: Ian Spencer (@ianspencerphotography)

Alex Adamo is a mixed media artist, avid ally, and purveyor of celebrating the beauty of individuality and uniqueness through creativity. Alex is the Lead Artist at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's Community Arts Initiative for 2022-23, whose current project titled, From Farm to Craft Table invited children from twelve Boston-area community organizations to learn about the wonders of wool. This 10-month experience included a trip to the farm with English angora bunnies, multiple fiber-based process art projects, and influence from the Museum's collections. Alex Makes Art all around the city and beyond, creating unique, intergenerational crafting experiences and public installations that are fun, engaging, and educational.

Image credits by Carlie Febo

Free days are supported in part by the Wallace Minot Leonard Foundation and the Liberty Mutual Foundation.

Education and community programs receive support from the Vertex Foundation, Rowland Foundation, the Yawkey Foundation, The Beker Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation, and Janet Burke Mann Foundation.

Studio activities are generously sponsored by the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust.

The Neighborhood Salon is supported in part by the Barr Foundation ArtsAmplified Initiative and the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust.

The Museum receives operating support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is supported by the state of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.