• About
  • Masthead
    • Editorial Board
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News
    • No image
      Performance at Punch’s Alley prompts confusion, safety concerns
    • No image
      UniLAd plans to support the local teacher union
    • No image
      Survey results reveal need for mental health support at colleges
    • News in Brief
    • Senate Report
  • Features
    • EnAct and YDSA hold crochet-in for climate action
      EnAct and YDSA hold crochet-in for climate action
    • Professor Cindy Ok Awarded Yale Younger Poets Prize
      Professor Cindy Ok Awarded Yale Younger Poets Prize
    • Trans non-binary runner talks about activism in running
      Trans non-binary runner talks about activism in running
    • Alumnae Spotlight
    • Faculty Focus
  • Opinions
    • It’s hard to not love ChatGPT
      It’s hard to not love ChatGPT
    • Under the “friendly” and “earthy” facade, Trader Joe’s hides unethical practices
      Under the “friendly” and “earthy” facade, Trader Joe’s hides unethical practices
    • Job insecurity for student workers has complex consequences
      Job insecurity for student workers has complex consequences
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Arts
    • Rio Romeo releases single “Over & Over”
      Rio Romeo releases single “Over & Over”
    • Dolly Parton confirms “Rock Star” collaborations
      Dolly Parton confirms “Rock Star” collaborations
    • MFA opens visiting exhibit “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”
      MFA opens visiting exhibit “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • No image
      What even is a BORG and why does it matter?
    • Indoor Track & Field Team Prepares for Outdoors
      Indoor Track & Field Team Prepares for Outdoors
    • What even are BORGs and why do they matter?
      What even are BORGs and why do they matter?
    • Athlete of the Month
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top ten times feminism led us astray
      Top ten times feminism led us astray
    • Song Victims
      Song Victims
    • How to: Prep your Preschooler for the College Application Process
      How to: Prep your Preschooler for the College Application Process
By Lilly Strieder Arts, ReviewsSeptember 23, 2015

Davis Museum opening impresses with new exhibits and lively reception

Guests gather for the opening night of the Davis Museum.

Rapper Travis Scott made news recently, when he encouraged crowds gathered in the area surrounding his Lollapalooza concert to climb over the security barricades. As disastrous as this might have been, I cannot help but admire the idea that inspired him to act: that in life there should be no barriers between the wealthy and those less fortunate. In the museum world today, one has the option to pay, on average, $20 to get into museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago or The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or to be pushed and prodded on the weekly freeentrance nights. This is not so at the Davis Museum of Art. Instead of putting up financial barriers, this museum, on Wellesley College’s own campus, is free to the public every day of the week.

Before arriving at Wellesley, my only knowledge regarding this museum was about the statue the curators placed out on the lawn a few years prior – the one that comes up several times over if you Google Image search “Wellesley College.” Thus, Wednesday night’s fall opening reception was a charming surprise. Given largely in honour of the recently retired professor, Bunny Harvey, whose work is now proudly displayed in this Fall’s feature exhibit (Bunny Harvey Four Decades, undoubtedly a reference to the artist’s forty years living and working at the college), this reception served as a promotion of the things planned for the year to come. One of those things, as announced by the curators, is the new catalog the museum will be presenting with Smith College of Art under Yale University Press. Another was the news that the Davis recently won the prestigious Museums for America Grant, which will fund a new Greek and Roman antiquity galley set to open Fall 2016. According to the Friends of Art manager, Jennifer Lewis, the museum is also excited to unveil its new Davis popup bookshop, which will feature promotional Davis Museum themed items.

When I arrived, I was presented with a delicious display of Mediterranean foods (hummus, pita bread, olives, etc.) and a well-stocked bar which took up much of the tiny, dim-lit lobby. As expected, the food was extremely delicious and did not last for long. After only a few moments the crowd descended upon it, and by the end of the evening, nearly all refreshments were gone. It seemed a challenge to take a single step. Funnily enough, it was not nearly as crowded in the galleries themselves. I found myself able to wander in and out of each gallery with ease. Certainly, this evening’s emphasis was on socializing, not so much on the art itself and the viewing of it. The smartly-dressed crowd was largely made up of non-students; many were followers of Ms. Harvey. Others were donors to the museum. There were also plenty of locals and faculty present, with a handful of students standing in the corners of the lobby and glancing at the artworks.

I will say that I was most struck by the caliber of the art itself, for it is not many a student museum that has in its permanent collection works by Jackson Pollock, Claude Monet and John Singer Sargent. Many of the special exhibits for this fall also proved satisfactory. Sight Unseen: The Davis Reveals Its Hidden Tapestries offers a lesson in history as well as art and Farideh Lashai: Only a Shadow is wonderfully thought-provoking. As a self-proclaimed art snob, I was stunned when I left inspired and riveted; the idea of there being such fine art in Wellesley, Massachusetts was not something I was expecting. In short, the reception was pleasant, albeit chaotic, but the art was the main triumph. I would consider it a shame if students did not make use of this resource. There are no barriers holding them back, and there is so much to gain from having an understanding and appreciation of art.

Photo by Alice Liang ’16, Managing Editor

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleWhy Not Mindy?
Next articleHacking Arts conference at MIT presents the future collaboration of technology and arts

You may also like

Rio Romeo releases single “Over & Over”

Dolly Parton confirms “Rock Star” collaborations

MFA opens visiting exhibit “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top