Summer in the City

Frank Hatch Free Thursday Night

Thursday
August 6, 2026
5 - 9 pm
Throughout the Museum

As you enjoy all that summertime in Boston has to offer, be sure to spend some time in the cool galleries and airy Courtyard of the Gardner Museum. Kick off the month by writing poetry with Black the Creator, basking in the Latin-inspired jazz of guitarist Carlos Odria, and inventing stories in the studio with artist Kirk Wallace. Then come back to join us for free on Thursday evenings throughout the month.

Program

Mindful Poetry with Black the Creator
5:30 and 7:30 pm (1-hour sessions), Living Room
Found poetry is a form of collage poetry in which the artist uses fragments from existing texts to piece together new meaning. Black the Creator will gently guide participants to pair what they learn from deep engagement with the Gardner’s collection with wisdom from their own lived experiences to craft found poetry. These 45-minute sessions conclude with a share circle, giving participants the opportunity to witness others’ creations.

Kirk Wallace Activation
5 – 8 pm, Bertucci Education Studio
Join artist Kirk Wallace as he brings his distinctive art-making process to the Gardner! Inspired by Isabella’s collection, Kirk will lead live demonstrations and share how he creates playful, innovative characters from even the most ordinary or fantastical objects. Chat with Kirk, grab some supplies, and you’ll soon be ready to transform any shape into a story.

Performance by Carlos Odria
6 – 8 pm, Courtyard
Enjoy a live performance of Latin-influenced jazz standards and more, performed by classical guitarist Carlos Odria in the Palace Courtyard.

Artist Bios

Photo of Neighborhood Salon Luminary Black the Creator

Kirk Wallace is a Massachusetts-based, self-taught illustrator and animator. His freelance studio, known as BoneHaüs, is character-driven and known for bold, playful work and authentic storytelling. Kirk creates animations, illustrations, and branding for organizations and corporate clients, blending strategy with style to craft memorable visuals. Outside of his client work, Kirk enjoys sharing his process through teaching sessions and workshops, and he spends time building wooden toys, tackling DIY projects, and exploring new ways to make creativity approachable and fun.

Kirk Wallace Website: bone.haus/about

Instagram: @bonehaus

Neighborhood Salon Luminary Black the Creator is a queer, Afro-Indigenous healing and teaching artist. Black’s creative/healing practice is a weaving of artistry, advocacy, and ancestral veneration. At the heart of their offerings as a transdisciplinary artist, creative coach, and therapeutic arts facilitator is a fervent commitment to community care, collective liberation, and intergenerational healing.

Website: www.thecreatorblack.com

Instagram: @thecreatorblack

Peruvian-born guitarist Carlos Odria has been described as a “breathtakingly talented musician . . . with an immense technical skill” (Worcester Telegram) and a “guitar wizard” (Gamble Rogers Fest). His original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards and Latin-American tunes deliver an exciting blend of international styles such as bossa nova, Afro-Peruvian festejo, rumba flamenco, and Afro-Caribbean vibes with an improvisational approach inspired by the rich tradition of American jazz.

Website: https://www.carlosodria.com/home

How to Get Tickets | Museum Admission

Tickets will become available each Tuesday of event week. This event is free but advance registration is required to save your space.

Get tickets online or:
• By calling the Box Office at 617 278 5156, Wednesday–Monday, 10 am–4 pm
• In person* at the ticket desk, Wednesday–Monday, 11 am–4:30 pm

Questions about accessibility? Please call the Box Office at 617 278 5156 to request accessible or companion seating, or to inquire about other accommodations.
*Walk-up, day-of tickets are not guaranteed.

Frank Hatch Free Day is held annually in honor of Francis "Frank" Hatch (1925-2010), longtime Gardner Museum trustee, community advocate, and supporter of the arts and culture in the city.

Free days are supported in part by the Wallace Minot Leonard Foundation, the Board of Advisors 2022 Fund for Access, and Thomas G. Stemberg Charitable Foundation.

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

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

The Neighborhood Salon is supported in part by the Anne Hawley Fund for Programs, the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.