May 24 to June 1, 2019:
Pictured above: Tim Hall (right) joins Cliff Notez at Hojoko at the Verb Hotel, May 18, 2018. (Greg Cook)
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Friday, May 24
“In the Vanguard: Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, 1950-1969” at Portland Museum of Art, Maine
In 1950, an experimental art school opened in Montville, Maine, named for nearby Haystack Mountain. This “first major museum exhibition focused solely on this school” showcases artists it attracted in its early years—Anni Albers, Dale Chihuly, Robert Ebendorf, Jack Lenor Larsen, M.C. Richards, and Toshiko Takaezu. As evidenced by 90 textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, paintings and prints, as well as correspondence, photographs, brochures, posters and magazine articles. Exhibition continues through Sept. 8, 2019.
Friday, May 24, 2:30 p.m.
Boston Calling Music Festival at Harvard Athletic Complex, Allston
Twenty One Pilots, Tame Impalia and Travis Scott headline this three day shindig, which continues on May 25 and 26.
Friday, May 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Reception: Eric Bornstein’s “Masks & Spirit” exhibit at First Church in Boston Unitarian Universalist
Bornstein, an artist in residence at the church, exhibits his masks.
Friday, May 24, 6 to 8 p.m.
Lani Asuncion’s “Human Garden | Handmade” at Boston Children’s Museum
Interactive performance and meet the artist event for Asuncion’s immersive multimedia project “that combines technology and nature, the work asks for a closer look at how both are connected.” The exhibition continues through Sept. 30.
Saturday, May 25
Cauleen Smith “We Already Have What We Need” at Mass Moca, North Adams
The LA artist—who creates what she’s called “a cornucopia of future histories”—fills the museum’s first floor galleries with a new immersive video installation dubbed “Every Sunrise and Every Sunset All at Once” about ecology and our basic needs. Plus tables displaying African figurines, plants, a model sailboat, musical instruments. The show also offers a survey of videos from the past decade, new textiles, banners from her “In the Wake” series, a manifesto, and drawings.
Saturday, May 25
“Japan on Paper” at Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge
Nearly 50 Japanese woodblock prints from the 17th to 20th centuries, including works by Suzuki Harunobu (1725–1770), Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Sharaku (active 1794–95), Itō Jakuchū (1716–1800) and Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849). Exhibition continues through Aug. 11, 2019.
Saturday, May 25
Annie Lennox “Now I Let You Go…” at Mass MoCA, North Adams
An exhibition that is “part material diary, part art installation” by the celebrated pop singer. “Juxtaposed against her public face, as we examine this excavation of remarkably personal objects, we will come to better understand some of the underlying and more private forces that motivate her work in song, and her passionately argued campaigns for justice, global health, and social equity across gender and race,” Mass MoCA Director Joseph Thompson writes.
Saturday, May 25, 11 a.m.
Spring Planting Moon Pow-Wow at Marsfield Fairgrounds
Massachusetts Center for Natival American Awareness hosts this pow-wow on May 25 and 26.
Dancing, storytelling, food, demonstrations of basket weaving.
Saturday, May 25, 6 to 9 p.m.
“Inner City Circle: An Intergenerational Show of Boston Artists” at Strand Theatre, Boston
Organizers write: “The seasoned artists of Inner City Circle have created their own opportunities for decades, but with a lack of steady recognition and support for artists in Dorchester and Roxbury the resources and accolades generated have not made the impact they could have on the emerging artists of today. The curators behind Inner City Circle propose that if these artists had a place to gather and share their work side by side, they could experience and build the kind of tradition and infrastructure that more affluent communities enjoy.”
Saturday, May 25, 8:30 p.m.
“HipStory Presents: Boston Answering” at Strand Theatre, Boston
Cliff Notez headlines this response to the “Boston Calling Music Festival” in Cambridge from May 24 to 26. HipStory, the organizers, write, “This is our chance to show the city what incredible talent and power Boston born and bred artists can produce.”
Monday, May 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Stand with Planned Parenthood Bake Sale at Rebel Rebel, Somerville
“All the proceeds go towards supporting our choices and our bodies.”
Monday, May 27, 8 p.m.
Live Band Beatles Karaoke with Boston Ill Harmonic at City Winery, Boston
The 7-piece rock orchestra performs “Rubber Soul” in its entirety, followed by a set of live-band Beatles karaoke.
Wednesday, May 29, 6 p.m.
Amanda Kolson Hurley discusses her book, “Radical Suburbs,” at 730 Tavern, Cambridge
The CityLab senior editor talks about two Lexington communities, Six Moon Hill and Five Fields, built by architects who wanted to bring Modernism to the masses. Free, registration required.
Wednesday, May 29, 7:15 p.m.
Toni Bee Features at the Boston Poetry Slam at Cantab Lounge, Cambridge
The Boston-raised activist and 2011 Poet Populist of Cambridge reads from her first poetry book, “22 AGAIN.”
Friday, May 31, 10 a.m.
Activist Dolores Huerta speaks at Harvard’s Radcliffe Yard, Cambridge
Dolores Huerta, who cofounded what would become the United Farm Workers of America in 1962, will be presented the Radcliffe Medal and speak along with a panel on “Nourishing America: Exploring the Intersection of Food and Justice.” Registration required.
Friday, May 31, 5 p.m.
“Creative Juices Art Show: Play” at FableVision Studios, Boston
The multi-media production studio crew showcases their projects ranging from artwork to games to food. Free, RSVP required.
Friday, May 31, 8 p.m.
Urbanity Dance performs its Spring Review at BU Tsai Performance Center, Boston
The Boston troupe’s end-of-season spring revue features works by Shura Baryshnikov, Mike Esperanza, and Andy and Dionne Noble, as well as Boston-based artists Chantal Doucett, Jenna Pollack, and Jacob Regan. Additional performance on June 1.
Saturday, June 1
“A Lasting Memento: John Thomson’s Photographs Along the River Min” at Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
A new exhibition of John Thomson’s 19th century photos of China’s Fujian province: more than 40 landscapes, city views and portrait studies. Photographs by contemporary artist Luo Dan, who was inspired by Thomson to undertake a similar journey in southwestern China, complement the presentation. Exhibition continues to May 17, 2020.
Saturday, June 1, 4 p.m.
Mermaid Promenade at Cambridge Arts River Festival, Central Square.
I’m helping bring the Mermaid Promenade to the Cambridge Arts River Festival (where I work part-time). Marching bands and giant puppets will dance down Massachusetts Avenue at 4 p.m. All are invited to join in the parade. Just show up in your favorite marine-themed costume and be part of the festivities. It’s part of the 40th anniversary festival, which begins with the madcap People’s Sculpture Race at 11 a.m. Then multiple stages come alive with music, dance and theater from noon to 6 p.m. Plus the Climate Action Extravaganza (featuring protest T-shirt making with Wee The People and Climate Change Carnival Games by my sweetheart Kari Percival), vendors selling crafts, international foods and craft brews. Admission is free.
Saturday, June 1, 6 to 10 p.m.
“Objects in the Monitor are Closer Than They Appear” at Dorchester Art Project, Boston
Group exhibition of artists repurposing current communication technologies to ask visitors to consider your relationship to the “post-industrialized world are ceaselessly engaged with.”
Saturday, June 1, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Somerville Arts Council’s Big Gay Dance Party in Union Square, Somerville
Celebrate the beginning of Pride month with a free, outdoor dance party for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies.
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If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon. And sign up for our free, weekly newsletter so that you don’t miss any of our reporting.