MFA Director Malcolm Rogers, center, is pictured with some of the invited dignitaries at the official groundbreaking ceremonies for "Building the New MFA" back in November of 2005. (File photo by Hilda M. Morrill)
 

On Friday, June 20, 2008 the doors of the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Fenway entrance will open, and "a new era for the Museum's handsome face to the Fenway" will begin.

It seems like only yesterday when we were invited to the groundbreaking ceremonies for the redesigned entrance and the new American Wing, which will showcase the Museum's collection of American art-one of the most important in the world.

In fact, it was November 14, 2005! The new wing is scheduled to open in 2010.

In the meantime, with improved lighting and access for visitors of all abilities, a brightened façade, and new landscaping, the redesigned entrance will present a welcoming front to the north side of the building and the Fens, and the neighborhood beyond.

The opening of this entrance re-establishes the north-south axis as originally designed by architect Guy Lowell.

In celebration of the renovation and reopening, three exhibitions are planned in the adjacent Museum galleries: "Winslow Homer: American Scenes"; "Great Company: Portraits by European Masters"; and " Preserving History, Making History: The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston."

"Preserving History..." will trace the history of the MFA and the vital role it has played in the community from its founding in 1870 through the current building project. For instance, included will be photographs showing that between 1876 and 1909, the MFA was housed in Copley Square, at the current site of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

On Sunday, June 22 the MFA will sponsor a "Community Day," with free admission for all through the Fenway entrance.

After the State Street Corporation Fenway entrance opens, work will begin on the Huntington Avenue entrance to install access ramps and a new lobby and ticketing area. Both entrances will be open in the winter of 2008-09, giving visitors two easy, welcoming ways to enter and enjoy the Museum.

Ultimately, the West Wing entrance will close to the public and will be used solely for visiting school groups and Museum staff. Both of the surface parking lots on the Museum's west side will be reconfigured to welcome public parking and school bus parking, with easy walking access provided to the entrances at Fenway and Huntington Avenue. Museum Road itself will become a two-way street, with parking on both sides. Traffic will be able to exit the west-side parking lots in either direction-to Huntington Avenue or to the Fenway. Garage parking will continue.

We can't wait! Congratulations and Best Wishes to all!

Clara Barton Humanitarian Awards Dinner

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay "Annual Clara Barton Humanitarian Awards Dinner" takes place on Wednesday, May 7 at the Westin Copley Place, Boston, beginning at 6 p.m.

This year, the Red Cross is honoring Ronald E. Logue, President and CEO of State Street Corporation, for championing the cause of corporate philanthropy both on a community and global scale, and the "Boston Women Build in the Bayou" coalition.

A group of 36 women, ranging in age from 16 to 70, the "Boston Women..." traded in their briefcases and schoolbooks for hammers and saws to head to New Orleans to help build "The Boston House," one of the several new homes constructed for musicians and other families displaced by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Co-chaired by Massachusetts First Lady Diane Patrick, Boston First Lady Angela Menino, Carol Fulp and Ann Marie Wilkins, the coalition of women contributed hundreds of hours over the course of several days.

The Awards Dinner co-chairs are James R. Boyle, President, John Hancock Insurance Group; Nancy L. Leaming, Chair, American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay; and Michael G. Olivieri, Publisher, "Boston Business Journal." Liz Walker of CBS4, Boston, will be the Mistress of Ceremonies.

For tickets or more information about this event, please call 617-274-5238.

Free Concert Admission for Mothers and Grandmothers on Saturday, May 10

The Waltham Symphony Orchestra will present a "Mother's Day Weekend Concert" on Saturday, May 10 at the Kennedy Middle School, 655 Lexington Street, Waltham, beginning at 8 p.m.

The music of Mozart, Ravel and Brahms will delight Mothers and families alike at this concert dedicated to conductor Patrick Botti's good friend, the late Jean-Claude Parreau.

Mr. Parreau was born and raised in Paris. We had the pleasure of first meeting him in 1998 when he was the President of Amities Sans Frontieres in Boston, and he kindly invited us to attend a performance of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

According to his friend, Joan Quinn Eastman of Hopkinton, "He was omnipresent in the French social scene.... He was our little French accent in Boston, and truly had joie de vivre - a joy of life."

The concert dedicated in Mr. Parreau's memory is free to all Moms and Grandmoms. For more information, please call 781-642-1050 or visit www.walthamsymphony.org.

Enjoy!

In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." 
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