Calendar

Jan
11
Fri
Opening Reception: French Eyes on Boston at the French Cultural Center
Jan 11 @ 5:14 pm – 6:14 pm

The Center is proud to host the show French Eyes on Boston, a collection of portraits and landscapes painted by Marguerite Wibaux, who moved to Boston from France in 2017.



Marguerite’s landscapes marry the Renaissance perspective tradition with an American expressionist approach. The paintings engage with the artist’s perceptions of various points of view in Boston. From a pictorial standpoint, the landscape series explores various mediums and techniques, mixing oil and spray paint with acrylic and collage.

But what is a city without its people? The second component of Marguerite’s work explores Boston’s youth through portraiture.

These paintings aim to pay tribute to a rich diversity of styles, personalities, genres, origins, and cultures in a visually thriving and energizing series.

The gallery opening will include a presentation of Marguerite’s work and a reception with light refreshments. Registration required.

Feb
15
Fri
French Eyes on Boston Painting Workshop at the French Cultural Center
Feb 15 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

French artist and Boston resident Marguerite Wibaux will lead a workshop on alla-prima, a technique made famous by Matisse.

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Marguerite will lead this fascinating workshop, which will begin with an explanation of the technique and a presentation of the model. The attendees will then be invited to pick up their brushes and produce their own portraits, alla-prima.  Easels, canvas, brushes and acrylic paint provided will be provided to all attendees.

About Marguerite Wimbaux

A member of the Center since 2017, Marguerite has quite the atypical career. After graduating with an MBA from the prestigious HEC Paris, Marguerite worked in advertising for the most-renowned French Maisons, from Cartier and Hermès to Van Cleef, Hennessy, the Italian Cavalli, and Armani.

These past experiences in the realm of couture translate into Marguerite’s art. There is a passion for patterns and an obsession with composition and structure, while staying true to the energy and character of her subjects.

The colorful diversity of Marguerite’s artwork is also influenced by her childhood. Marguerite was born in Argentina, and has lived in Peru, Italy, China, France, and the USA.

Currently, Marguerite’s pieces are commissioned and sent to galleries across the globe, from Milan to New York. 

To learn more, visit Marguerite’s website: https://margueritewibaux.com/

Feb
24
Sun
Ellie Fund’s Red Carpet Gala at Fairmont Copley Plaza
Feb 24 @ 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Didn’t get your invite to the Oscars? It’s just as well because the Ellie Fund is hosting their 23rd Annual Red Carpet Gala the same evening with an epic awards watching party and tasting event.

On Sunday, February 24th, head on over to the Fairmont Copley Plaza to join Boston’s top movers & shakers in a celebration of film, philanthropy and food from some of the city’s best chefs. You’ll have the chance to meet Stefano Zimei of Chopps American Bar & GrillDelio Susi of SulmonaPatrick McRell of Our FathersTatiana Rosana of Outlook at the EnvoySean MacAlpine of City TableStan Hilbert owner of ForageEfe Onoglu of Nahita and Brian Mercury of Oak + Rowan.

In addition to the chef stations, there’ll be a cocktail reception, silent & live auctions, streaming of the awards show straight from Hollywood, dancing and live music. The night is all in support of the nonprofit’s mission to help breast cancer patients with transportation, light housekeeping, grocery assistance and more. Tickets are $300 per person, and you can reserve an entire table if you’ve got a group of eight — get more details and find the tickets this way.

Photos and text from Boston Chefs

Mar
12
Tue
An Evening with Renée Fleming at French Cultural Center
Mar 12 @ 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Join the French Cultural Center for an intimate dinner and conversation with renowned opera and Broadway star Renée Fleming.

About Renée Fleming

COVER_briottetRenée Fleming is one of the most highly-acclaimed singers of our time. Winner of four Grammy® awards, she was presented with the National Medal of Arts by President Obama in 2013. In 2014, she became the first classical artist ever to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, and she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Diamond Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

Renée earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the 2018 Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Her recent tour schedule has included concerts in New York, London, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, Tokyo, and Beijing. She is heard on the soundtracks of the Best Picture Oscar winner The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and as the singing voice of Roxane, played by Julianne Moore, in the film of the best-selling novel Bel Canto. As Artistic Advisor to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, she spearheads a collaboration with the National Institutes of Health focused on music, health, and neuroscience.

Renée’s most recent album Renée Fleming: Broadway was released in September by Decca. She has recorded everything from complete operas and song recitals to indie rock, jazz, and the soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings. Among Renée’s awards are the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal, France’s Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, Germany’s Cross of the Order of Merit, and Sweden’s Polar Music Prize.

http://www.reneefleming.com

About Mosaïque

COVER_briottetCultural programs are at the core of the French Cultural Center’s mission to promote the vibrant growth of Francophone cultures and the French language in New England. From art exhibits, concerts, and film screenings to author talks and children’s workshops, we continually seek to welcome experts in various cultural fields to provide a window onto the diverse cultures of the Francophone world.

Support Cultural Programming in Boston

Gifts made in honor of the Mosaïque Award Ceremony are 100% tax-deductible and provide critical support for cultural programming at the French Cultural Center.

Make checks payable to: French Cultural Center
Mail to: French Cultural Center
Attn: Joyce Grippen, Director of Development 
53 Marlborough Street
Boston, MA 02116

Apr
23
Tue
Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris at the French Cultural Center
Apr 23 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

An evening of remembrance, community, and support.

In light of the recent fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, the French Cultural Center will host an evening to honor and celebrate this iconic landmark. 

Professor Antoine Picon of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design will join us for a presentation on the marvelous architecture of Notre-Dame de Paris, including what was lost in the fire, and its significance today.

The 25-minute presentation will be followed by a reception with light refreshments. Guests will have the opportunity to make a donation to support restoration efforts – from $5 to $5,000, every dollar counts!

All donations will benefit the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, an organization dedicated to restoring this iconic cathedral.

Click here to RSVP.

May
12
Sun
350th Anniversary Celebration at Old South Church
May 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

May 12, 1669 was the first gathering of Old South.

In the 350 years since, Old South Church has taken bold stances and pursued justice and mercy. The church of Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Adams, of Phillis Wheatley and the Boston Tea Party, they continue to make history in the 21st century. And they think that deserves some celebration! The schedule of events for the day includes:

  • 11:00am Festive Anniversary Worship Service
  • 12:30pm Ceremony: Heraldic trumpets, dignitaries, an interfaith blessing.
  • 1:00pm 350th Birthday Party: Cupcakes & ice cream, magician, games, reenactors, and dance music by Keytar Bear & DJAB Entertainment
  • 2:30pm Finale: Pealing of the Tower Bell.
May
16
Thu
31st Fresh Paint Auction & Gala at Copley Society of Art
May 16 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Fresh Paint is Copley Society of Art’s largest and most important fundraiser of the year.

Come score original works of art by over 70 artists in our silent auction, as well as various raffle prizes.

Interested in becoming a Fresh Paint sponsor? Email CoSo at info@copleysociety.org for more information. Individual sponsorship opportunities for Fresh Paint will include your name on the gala program and their website.

Aug
21
Wed
Two Centuries of French Fashion at the French Cultural Center
Aug 21 @ 5:53 pm – 6:53 pm

An Ephemeral Exhibit with the Lasell Fashion Collection and Boston Fashion Week

Join the French Cultural Center in celebrating Boston Fashion Week with a unique look at curated French pieces from the Lasell Fashion Collection. This unique exhibit and separate private tour of the collection are for one evening only!

Free and open to the public, the general reception will start at 7:00 PM and run through 9:00 PM, with light refreshments.

Ephemeral Exhibit: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The Fashion Collection team at Lasell University have curated an exceptional intimate fashion retrospective spanning two centuries and multiple designers. On display will be 17 pieces from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykiel, Jeanne Lanvin, and Comme des Garçons among others. These select pieces, including an original 1880 Parisian opera costume, will face each other in an exhibition that tells the story of their eras through their designs and the techniques used in their creation.

Jill M. Carey, Professor and Curator at Lasell University, Stephanie Hebert, Collections Manager, and their team of passionate students will be available to guide guests in this exceptional journey enriched by interactive components.

This event will mark the launching of the website and digital catalog of the University’s own permanent fashion collection.

Private Tour: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Limited tickets to a private tour and presentation of historic French hand fans with fan historian and collector Shelly Goncalves, former president of the Fan Association of North America, are available for purchase.

 

About the Lasell Fashion Collection
Established in 1996, the Lasell Fashion Collection (LFC) contains approximately 3,000 objects and currently resides in the Donahue Center for Creative and Applied Arts. While the collection spans 200 years of fashion history, the LFC is notable for its 20th century designer fashions, with an emphasis on couture. In 2018, over 1,200 artifacts were transferred to the LFC upon the closure of the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA. This important acquisition enriched the breadth and depth of the LFC’s holdings, specifically in 19th and early 20th century everyday wear, undergarments, and accessories.

About Boston Fashion Week
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Boston Week! Boston Fashion Week was founded as a civic initiative in 1995. The force behind the week has been dedicated to creating opportunities that increase the viability and visibility of the local industry. The series of fashion related events throughout Greater Boston and beyond serves as a platform for both established industry professionals and aspiring newcomers to showcase their work as well as network with peers and the public.

Sep
20
Fri
Art on Science, 26 Études Opening Reception at French Cultural Center
Sep 20 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Join the French Cultural Center and the Boston / Strasbourg Sister City Association for a gallery opening.

“In the fields of science and art, new paradigms emerge only when we dare to go beyond what is established.” – Irene Georgakoudi, Tufts University, Biomedical Engineering 

The French Cultural Center is exploring science as the catalyst for artistic expression and art as the catalyst for scientific observation! Join them for the launch of their fall cultural programs with an intriguing gallery opening presented in partnership with the Boston/Strasbourg Sister City Association. The gallery opening will include a reception with light refreshments.

Free and open to the public, registration required.

Event in English with French transcripts.  

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Art on Science: 26 études (AS26) is a collaborative international art project sponsored by the Boston/Strasbourg Sister City Association (BSSCA) that crosses the lines between art, science, and culture. Thirteen artists from Boston and Strasbourg each were paired with scientists from their home city to explore a scientific theme. The result? A testament to the power of curiosity and creativity and 52 incredible works of art accompanied by written scientific commentaries.

Artists took tours of laboratories. Scientists made studio visits. Some pairs worked shoulder-to-shoulder with live specimens, while others communicated virtually to share ideas and resources. Come explore the fields of art and science with us as we unveil these intriguing works!

Mar
18
Wed
Co|So Workshop: Create Eye Catching Acrylics with Chris Firger
Mar 18 @ 9:30 am – Mar 20 @ 4:30 pm

During this 3-day studio workshop Chris Firger will share a variety of the techniques he uses to create bold, dynamic, and eye-catching work.

During this 3-day studio workshop Chris Firger will share a variety of the techniques he uses to create bold, dynamic, and eye-catching works with acrylic paint. For experienced painters and beginners alike, this class will explore subjects such as composition, brushwork, layering, even varnishing, all with the goal of bringing more life to each painting you work on. Each day students can expect a lesson and demonstration from the artist in the morning, followed by painting and one on one instruction in the afternoon. Students will be responsible for bringing their own painting supplies (*see below), lunch, and reference photos. To purchase tickets click here.

The program will run Wednesday March 18 – Friday March 20, 2020. 9:30 – 4:30 with a one hour lunch break each day.

Tuition is $300 ($250 for Artist Members of the Copley Society of Art and $275 for Patrons and Young Collectors. Please call the gallery to apply your discount to the workshop tuition fee)

Enrollment: Registration is open from December 15 to March 10. Workshop is limited to 14 students.

*A full supply list and syllabus will be provided upon registration. If you would like more details or if you have additional questions please contact either Chris Firger at christopher.firger@gmail.com or the gallery at info@copleysociety.org


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