By Carolina Gazal
Last Friday, Boston College students made their way to the McMullen Museum of Art to participate in the first Student Opening of the year, dedicated to the new exhibitions “Nature’s Mirror: Reality and Symbol in Belgian Landscape” and “Esteban Lisa: The Abstract Cabinet.”
Students were greeted by performances by the Music Guild and Jammin’ Toast.
The back wing that holds the private collection was open for students to try Belgian and Argentinian desserts, and to create string art by hammering nails into hand-cut boards of wood. The results varied from abstract string constellations to animals to plants, and even the McMullen logo.
The second floor was dedicated to the Belgian version of the card game “Whist.” Students gathered in groups of four to partake in the highly amusing card game. One group of students even created their own spin-off game called “Whast.”
The third floor was dedicated to creating a giant collaborative piece, based off of a landscape painting in the “Nature’s Mirror” exhibition. Using a gridded example, students picked one square to focus on to contribute to the larger image. A Belgian themed movie was playing as students created their masterpieces.
Outside the museum, students could play a Belgian lawn game called “Rolle Bolle.” Similar to bowling or curling, the game is a team effort that students could join in.
The night culminated in a performance by the Music Guild.
The trivia winners received their choice of a free catalogue of Nature’s Mirror and a McMullen tote bag or umbrella.
In our main gallery, we’re starting off the year with Nature’s Mirror: Reality and Symbol in Belgian Landscape curated by Boston College’s very own Jeffery Howe. Continuing the home-grown tradition, our third floor corridor is again adorned with the paintings of a BC professor. Alston Conley’s luminous skylines bring Belgian and Netherlandish landscape traditions across time and sea to contemporary New England. Both will be on view starting September 10th. And finally, the colorful abstractions of Esteban Lisa complete our third-floor space, which opens the 16th.
As always, the McMullen is holding an exclusive Student Opening—complete with games, refreshments, and live performances—on September 22nd. But before that, we’re taking advantage of Boston’s last few weeks of summer for a night of visual culture trivia out on our namesake Terrace. Trivia Night marks just the beginning. We hope you’ll join us here throughout the semester, whether it be our student exclusives, our normal hours, or late on Thursday nights. Here’s to a brand-new year, to new adventures we’re thrilled to be sharing with you, at your museum.