The Associates of the Boston Public Library is pleased to invite you to the 29th Annual Literary Lights awards dinner.

Join the BPL on Sunday, April 23, 2017, at the Boston Park Plaza for a spectacular black tie (optional) evening honoring distinguished authors from the Northeast for their contributions to literature and the written word. The evening begins with a reception at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner and the awards program at 7:00 PM.

The Associates of the Boston Public Library are honored to recognize the following authors as their 2017 Literary Lights:

Kwame Anthony Appiah 

Presented by: Hentry Louis Gates, Jr.

Appiah is a philosopher, novelist, professor and cultural theorist.  He grew up in Ghana and earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Cambridge University in London. Professor Appiah has lectured around the world and taught at Princeton, Yale, Cornell, Duke and Harvard Universities before moving to New York University where he now teaches in the Department of Philosophy. In 2009 Forbes Magazine named him one of the world’s most powerful thinkers, in 2010 he was on the list of Foreign Policy Magazine’s top global thinkers, and he was awarded the National Humanitarian Medal at a White House ceremony in 2012. Appiah, the author of numerous books and articles, has traveled around the world giving lectures on multiculturalism, global citizenship, courage, identity, and religion. One of his early books, In My Father’s House, which explores the role of African American intellectuals in shaping contemporary African life, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and the Herskovits Award for the most important scholarly work on African studies published in English. Appiah is well known for his columns and podcasts as the Ethicist for the New York Times.

Susan Faludi

Presented by: Christopher Lydon

Faludi is a journalist and author who has written extensively on gender issues. In 1991 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism for a piece on the leverage buyout of Safeway Stores, focusing on the “human cost of high finance.”  After graduating from Harvard University, where she wrote for The Harvard Crimson, she was a contributor to the New Yorker, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Nation, as well as many other publications. In the 1980s Faludi wrote several pieces on the feminist movement and the resistance to it, resulting in her 1991 book, Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women, for which she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction.  She went on to write Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man, The Terror Dream, and, most recently, The Darkroom, which was inspired by her father’s transsexuality. She was a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies in the 2008-2009 academic year and a 2013-2014 Tallman Scholar in the Gender and Women’s Studies Program at Bowdoin College.

Wally Lamb

Presented by: Andre Dubus III

Lamb is the best-selling author of She’s Come Undone, I know This Much is True, The Hour I First Believed, and Wishin’ and Hopin’. His first two books were selected for Oprah’s Book Club, were New York Times best-sellers, New York Times Notable Books of the Year and, between them, have been translated into 18 languages. His latest novel is We Are Water.  Lamb has also edited two volumes of essays: Couldn’t Keep it to Myself and I’ll Fly Away, written by students in his writing workshops at a women’s prison in Connecticut. He has taught creative writing in the English department at the University of Connecticut, was founder and director of the Writing Center at Norwich Free Academy, has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Connecticut Commission for the Arts, and was honored with the Connecticut Center for the Book’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Brian Selznick

Presented by: Gregory Maguire

Selznick graduated from RISD where he studied illustration and, while there, took classes in set design at Brown University. After graduation, he worked at a children’s book store in New York City while writing his debut book, The Houdini Box. In 2008 he won the Caldecott Medal from the American Library Association, for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the first such award for a book this long; 533 pages with 284 illustrations. The book was adapted into a 2011 film, Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. He has also been awarded a 2002 Caldecott Honor for his illustrations of Barbara Kerley’s The Dinosaurs of Waterhorse Hawkins.  In addition, Mr. Selznick has received the Texas Bluebonnet Award, the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award and the Christopher Award, given to media which “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.”

Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall (Keynote Speaker)

Presented by: David Leonard

Marshall was born in South Africa where, as a student, she led the National Union of South African Students, working to end oppressive minority rule and achieve equality for all South Africans.  Marshall first came to the US as a high school exchange student in Wilmington, DL in 1962, as the civil rights battles were beginning to boil over, and later returned to the US for graduate school, where she became involved with the anti-war and the women’s movements. After Yale Law School, she entered private practice, became President of the Boston Bar Association, Vice President & General Counsel for Harvard University, and then went on to the State’s Supreme Court, where she became the first female Chief Justice of the oldest continuously serving appellate court in the Western Hemisphere. Though she has had many accomplishments, Justice Marshall is most renowned for her 2003 opinion which led Massachusetts to become the first state in the nation to outlaw the ban on same-sex marriage. Although she loved her time on the bench, Justice Marshall stepped down in 2010. She now mentors young lawyers at her former law firm, Choate Hall & Stewart, and teaches at Harvard University.

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of these outstanding writers, proceeds from Literary Lights support the David McCullough Conservation Fund, William O. Taylor Art Preservation Fund, Associates Endowment Fund, and the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s operations. The Associates created the McCullough Fund in 2001 to provide a consistent source of funding for the conservation and preservation of books, manuscripts, works of art and historic documents in the BPL’s Special Collections.

If you would prefer to receive a mailed invitation or for more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Associates office at associates@bpl.org or (617) 536-3886. Thank you.

Join Stephanie to celebrate the opening of her new gallery on Newbury Street!

Migrating Colors – Opening and Cocktail Reception

Join us for an enlightening panel discussion and presentation on Haitian art and culture as we celebrate the Le Mois de la Francophonie 2018 and the opening of Migrating Colors, our March exhibit on view in our gallery.

Charlot Lucien, President of Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts (HAAM), will introduce us to Haitian art, while several artists will lead a discussion regarding their origins and influences.

This panel discussion will be followed by a book signing and cocktail reception. All proceeds from the book sale benefit HAAM.

About Migrating Colors: This book is the result of 20 years of cultural advocacy and partnerships with cultural, state, city institutions, poets and storytellers throughout the New England area. It benefited from the support of professional photographers, editors and art partners from Rhodes Island to New Hampshire. The books contains foreword comments by Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat, recipient of the 2009 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, Massachusetts State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and Edmund Barry Gaither, Director and Curator of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) who has since the Haiti earthquake helped curate various exhibitions of the Assembly.

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.

Let Back Bay Social Club take your #SundayFunday to the post-season level.

The boys in blue are in the playoffs (once again), and Back Bay Social has been waiting all season long to host you & the #SundayFunday football gang for a POST SEASON VIEWING PARTY!

Watch the same on Back Bay Social’s giant screen with surround sound with a bucket of wings and some beer — or order from the full brunch menu.  Be sure to register while space is still available!

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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/

Learn from industry leaders how social media can help you successfully build your business.

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.

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!

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