From Nov.18 to Dec. 19, the McInich Art gallery on the first floor of Robert Frost Hall will be displaying prints, paintings, photographs, and drawings showcasing different examples of architecture in New England. Different buildings, both antiquated and modern, come to life in the vivid portraits. Curated by Professor Colin Root, the art work embraces New England architecture from the colonial to the contemporary.
“New England is unique,” says Professor Root, “different periods, different styles, different ventures intermingle in the same space. We don’t really tear down our buildings, we allow them to grow old next to the new ones.”
In the center of the room is an ionic pilaster capital designed by the architect Charles Bullfinch. This pilaster was once part of the original Fanuel Hall in Boston which was extensively remodeled and expanded by Bullfinch in 1804. The piece itself is wooden and conjures images of Boston’s rich history.
An antique print of Quincy Market also hangs in the gallery, a delicately sketched rendering of how the building appeared in 1882. “It really shows the historical side of Boston,” said Amanda Fakiri, gallery attendant and Boston local.
Other interesting art pieces include the blueprints of the Everett A. Black in Lincoln, MA. This home is an example of the Bauhaus movement, an artistic trend that combined functionality and beauty. The gallery also showcases the oldest surviving aerial photo, an 1860 photograph taken 2,000 feet in the air. The photo was taken by James Wallace Black from the hot air balloon “Queen of the Air.”
One of the most visually impressive pieces in the gallery is Peter Vanderwarker’s photograph of the John Hancock tower. At first glance, the photograph can be easily mistaken as a painting due to the way the scenery around the tower reflects off of the windows. “You’re actually seeing the reflections of this great mixture: Trinity Church, Boston Public Library . . . Each of the windows becomes an abstract painting of the buildings surrounding it.”
The “Architecture In New England” gallery show provides a beautiful glimpse into the many different forms of local architecture. It’s definitely worth a visit if you want to admire different ways art and buildings can intersect
