[DAC] Allan Rohan Crite Exhibition: last chance

[Kirsten Alexander]

Hi all-

This week is your last chance to see the special memorial installation 
of "the Dean of New England African-American painters" Allan Rohan Crite 
at the Boston Athenaeum, now through this Saturday Feb. 2. Hours are 
Tuesday-Friday 9-5 and Saturday from 9-4.  The exhibition is free and 
open to the public -- the 16 paintings in the permanent collection at 
his landmark library are hung in several spaces on the first floor of 
the Boston Athenaeum, in addition to several prints. After this week 
they will go back to their normal spaces (including one in my office, 
lucky me!). So this is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see 
these works.

If you have lived in Boston for a long time, these scenes of everyday 
life in the South End and downtown will feel familiar to you. Most were 
painting during the 1930s and 1940s and depict street scenes, with 
children playing joyfully in the streets, families promenading, groups 
of children walking home from school, and shoppers downtown.  Yet 
somehow these depictions of ordinary people seem to always transcend the 
every day. Allan Rohan Crite died in September at the age of 97 - would 
that we could each live such a long and vibrant life.

It has been gratifying to meet so many fans of the painter during this 
installation. I have never seen an artist touch so many lives.  He gave 
so much of himself - visiting classrooms, giving paintings and drawings 
to many people who ordinarily could not have afforded them, and making 
donations of his works to local non-profits, including the South End 
Head Start Center. Mr. Crite's work was exhibited several times during 
his life at the Boston Athenaeum, and after looking at "my" painting for 
the last six months, it's been wonderful to see all the paintings out 
together in a larger context.

The Boston Athenaeum is located at 10 1/2 Beacon Street, between the 
State House and King's Chapel, a short walk from Park St. or Government 
Center T stops. There is flat-rate Saturday parking in the lot across 
the street for $10, and similar pricing at the Common Garage. Frog Pond 
skating is going on too.

www.bostonathenaeum.org

It's a good lunchtime or Saturday excursion.

After this, the next scheduled exhibition is All Shook Up: Thomas 
Kellner Photographs the Boston Athenaeum, opening Feb. 13. Thomas 
Kellner is a contemporary German photographer, and he'll be coming to 
Boston for this exhibition. He was the artist in residence during 2006. 
http://www.tkellner.com/   If you are especially interested in this, let 
me know and I can probably get you in for something special that week.

I'm always happy to welcome fellow DAC members, and give impromptu tours 
beyond the first floor visitor area (George Washington's personal 
library anyone?). New members are always welcome, especially the 
artistically talented and delightful people of Dorchester!

Cheers,

Kirsten Alexander
DAC member and Marketing & Communications Officer at the Boston Athenaeum
office direct line: 617-720-7654
alexander at bostonathenaeum.org