On Friday, April 10, the Davis Museum hosted its only event created by students, Davis After Dark: Masks and Mystery, inviting students to dress up and experience art on a masquerade-themed night, with live music, delicious food and craft activities.

Dr. Semente, Curator of Education of Public Programs, shared, “It’s a way to bridge the gap between the full student body and the museum. Today, it happens to be at the end of thesis deadlines, so it ends up being an end-of-semester kind of celebration.”

The event also served as a platform to highlight the museum’s newest exhibition, The Immortal Magu. Donated in 2023 by a Wellesley alumna, the hanging scroll painting of the Taoist immortal deity representing longevity and beauty underwent years of conservation led by Dr. Yuhua Ding, Kemper Assistant Curator of Collections and Academic Affairs.

Semente noted the historical changes in how Magu was perceived: “She can be a bird; a woman; she can be scary; she can be beautiful. People depicted her in different ways based on the political and social climate of what they wanted her to be associated with.”

The crafts and activities were intentionally and thoughtfully designed to reflect key elements of the exhibit. A nail painting station resembled Magu’s long bird nails, while colorful boas referenced her feather garments and gourd decorating alluded to the wine cup that gave Magu her immortality. 

The masquerade-style theme also aligned with Wellesley College’s own rituals and traditions. The night celebrated the mystery in all student traditions, including those that were secretive, have been banned or are just beginning to rise. The themes of mystery and ritual in both the student body and the museum came together to celebrate one another’s sense of community.

In designing Davis After Dark, the Davis Museum Student Advisory Committee (DMSAC) considered both creativity and accessibility. Jingru Zhao ’29 shared her experience as part of the Activities Committee, highlighting the group’s emphasis on “thinking about what the students of Wellesley would want to see. One of the main points that [they] envisioned was inclusivity in everything, from the dress code to the different activities.”

The goal behind Davis After Dark was to bring students inside the Davis and help them realize that they do not need to be an Art History major or have an in-depth knowledge of art to enjoy the exhibits the Davis has to offer. Moreover, the event aimed to bring forth a new community between artistic and non-artistic individuals. 

“Orientation is super exciting as a first year because you can meet so many new people. But throughout the school year and beyond, you meet less and less people, and you’re kind of surrounded by only your friends,” Zhao shared. “We tried to make Davis After Dark a place where students can meet other students from different years, backgrounds and disciplines. One of the ways we did that was by incorporating fun crafts that everyone could do and find inspiration together.” 

Harvard Art Museums, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston and other museums also hold after-hours events. However, what makes Wellesley’s event unique is that it is entirely student-run. Through this process, students in DMSAC can have a voice in how they want to activate the space each year in a way that will be most engaging to the student body. The addition of student performers last year added an extra dimension to the event, allowing guests to enjoy both the exhibits and performances from Wellesley Blue Jazz, the Tupelos and the Chamber Music Society. DMSAC hopes to expand student performances to collaborate with more student groups in the coming years. 

By placing students at the center of planning and execution, Davis After Dark continues to shape how the museum functions within campus life, as both a space for quiet observation and active community engagement. 

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Amanda Wang and Chelsea Tarringer