Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Announces September Programming

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In September, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), opens a new exhibition, kicks off Poetry in the Galleries, and celebrates the first annual Boston Women’s Film Festival. On September 21, Nigerian-American performer and writer Obehi Janice will host a live comedy and film installation about love, sex, power and more in conjunction with Casanova’s Europe: Art, Pleasure, and Power in the 18th Century.

WINNIE-THE-POOH: EXPLORING A CLASSIC – The beloved teddy bear at the center of Winnie-the-Pooh, first published in 1926 and translated into more than 50 languages, is one of the most famous children’s book characters of all time. Opening on September 22, Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic at the MFA, traces the history and universal appeal of the classic stories written by A. A. Milne (1882–1956) and illustrated by E. H. Shepard (1879–1976) through nearly 200 works drawn primarily from the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Original drawings, manuscripts, proofs and early editions, letters, photographs, cartoons, ceramics, and fashion take visitors on a journey exploring how the stories of Pooh and his friends have stood the test of time and continue to resonate with families around the world. In addition to a slide and footbridge for families to play on, children can go inside Pooh’s home and Christopher Milne’s childhood bedroom—complete with a bed for kids to sit on and read—as well as find spaces to play games and draw in the gallery.

ASL NIGHT – On September 26, the MFA will host its second-annual ASL Night, a celebration of Deaf culture welcoming members of the Deaf community and friends. Coinciding with Deaf Awareness Month, the program includes American Sign Language tours and spotlight talks, performances, art-making activities and more. All of the evening’s special events, talks, and tours are in ASL led by Deaf tour guides, artists and performers and are translated into spoken English. Presented in partnership with DEAF, Inc and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.

OBEHI JANICE: CASANOVA – On September 21, The Nigerian-American performer and writer from Lowell will explore love, sex, power, beauty and the politics of art. Responding to many of the themes present in Casanova’s Europe: Art, Pleasure, and Power in the 18th Century, Janice’s performance will combine comedy, storytelling, film and live music.

POETRY IN THE GALLERIES – This fall, discover the MFA’s special exhibitions through the art of poetry. Partnering with Mass Poetry, three poets-in-residence share their craft at the MFA every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 pm, inviting visitors to create their own poems inspired by art. September’s poet-in-residence, Regie Gibson, will share his work alongside French Pastels: Treasures from the Vault.

BOSTON WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL – From September 28-30, the MFA will celebrate the first annual Boston Women’s Film Festival, a showcase for new films by and about women with a mission to increase awareness and opportunity for women filmmakers. This year’s festival includes I Am Not a Witch, Rungano Nyoni’s surreal tale of a nine-year-old Zimbabwean girl who is accused of witchcraft; and Elizabeth Chomko’s new drama What They Had, about a family struggling with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease—featuring career-best performances by Blythe Danner, Hilary Swank, and Michael Shannon.

Feature Photo Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.