Hi,
Welcome to Looking Around Boston, a newsletter about art and culture in Boston and beyond. If you aren’t already signed up, you can do that here.
This issue is going to be a break from coronavirus stress (I promise), but first: Please take care of yourselves and your neighbors. Wash your hands. Stay put. Let’s protect ourselves and the most vulnerable in our community.
Okay, with that housekeeping out of the way…
According to a study by a UCL professor, looking at art that you like triggers the same pleasure centers in your brain as romantic love. If you’re facing a couple weeks or more of staying indoors, consider that contemplating art might be a nice, mood-boosting way to pass the time, or take a break from refreshing Twitter.
Multiple art museums are stepping up their game on social media, even as they close their doors. So I wanted this mini-issue to be recommendations of accounts you should check out as a break from the hysteria in your feed.
The National Gallery of Art in DC is posting a tour of one room in their museum each day the facility is shut down. Here’s a picture they posted today. Check out that red Alexander Calder mobile—a quintessential example of the 20th century artist’s geometric style.
MoMA in New York has begun posting pieces from their collection regularly. They posted this lovely Matisse painting today, “Goldfish and Sculpture” (1912). I love the soothing blue backdrop, the pretty flowers, and the soft lines.
Finally, if you’ve been to Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, you know that it’s a treasure trove of unexpected discoveries and beautiful works of art. You can explore their collection on their website. I recommend going room by room. Here is John Singer Sargent’s “El Jaleo” (1882), showing a Spanish dancer in dramatic lighting.
If you don’t already, follow me on Twitter and Instagram @cordeliadmiller where I will be reposting plenty of art for your enjoyment. I’ll likely be writing more of these in the coming weeks as I have more time at home, so please let me know what you’d like to see! And please comment below if you have a favorite piece of art you’d like to share—or to share thoughts on the images above.
Stay healthy. Thanks for reading.
Cordelia
Cordelia, I am very impressed with your site! We enjoy reading and learning what you have to offer. Keep up the great work!!!
Exciting!