The Scene In and Around Boston . . . We share another photo from Boston Lyric Opera's recent "The Century Gala," which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the opening of the original Boston Opera House on Huntington Avenue (November 8, 1909). The building was demolished 1958. The festive fundraising gala, attended by 200 guests in vintage attire and black tie, was held at The Four Seasons and toasted the artistry, legacy and future of opera in Boston. It was a lavish, multi-media theatrical celebration that featured leading artists from the 2009-2010 Season. Proceeds exceeded expectations by approximately $22,000 for a total of $280,000, which is geared for BLO's education and community programs.
Jen Mergel to Join Museum of Fine Arts Curators Malcolm Rogers, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), has announced the appointment of Jen Mergel as the MFA's Beal Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art. Mergel, who will join the Museum in February 2010, is presently associate curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston, where she has worked since 2005. "Jen Mergel will play a key role in enhancing the appreciation of contemporary art within the context of our encyclopedic Museum," said Rogers. "Her vision will enable the MFA to reach new audiences as we expand the presence of contemporary art at the Museum with new galleries, exhibitions, installations, and educational programs." The appointment is the culmination of a year-long search by an MFA 11-person committee, composed of Museum Trustees, Overseers, members of the Contemporary Visiting Committee, and MFA staff. As Beal Family Senior Curator, Mergel will set the curatorial direction for the Department of Contemporary Art and MFA Programs, chaired by Edward Saywell. Her responsibilities will include managing the contemporary collection, organizing exhibitions, identifying acquisitions, advancing scholarship, expanding programs with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), as well as furthering outreach to local and national communities and donors. In addition, Mergel will work with Saywell on the development, planning, and organization of the Museum's new galleries in the Linde Family Wing, scheduled to open as the MFA's center for contemporary art in June 2011. "Our family is very pleased with the appointment of Jen Mergel as the Beal Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art," said Bruce A. Beal. "After an extensive search, the best candidate was a Bostonian with strong connections to this community. We are impressed with Jen's outstanding scholarship, boundless enthusiasm, and innovative vision for the future of contemporary art at the MFA." Mergel received her Master of Arts degree at the Center for Curatorial Studies and Art in Contemporary Culture at Bard College, where she was awarded a scholarship, fellowship, and research assistantship. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in visual and environmental studies at Harvard University. Mergel's honors thesis was in sculpture, and she was the recipient of John Harvard, Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, Clifford, William Byrd, and Stride-Rite public service scholarships. A native of Boston, Mergel has longstanding ties to the local arts community. She took courses at the MFA throughout grade school and high school. Following her studies at Harvard, she taught studio art courses there and, more recently, curatorial studies at Boston University. Mergel continues to be active in community arts outreach through lectures, programs, and reviews at the Cambridge Art Association; the New Art Center, Newton; the Villa Victoria Center of the Arts, Boston; Massachusetts College of Art; and the SMFA.
BSO Announces Exclusive Caterers The Boston Symphony Orchestra announces that two Boston-based companies, Boston Culinary Group and Gourmet Caterers, are partnering together to serve as the exclusive food service company for the BSO's two performance venues, Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, beginning in May 2010 with the start of the Boston Pops spring season. This new relationship will allow the BSO to expand the number of events and the scope of food service activities at its venues in both Boston and the Berkshires, where hundreds of functions-from galas to business meetings to weddings-take place each year. BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe comments, "We are thrilled to be able to work with Boston Culinary Group and Gourmet Caterers. Both have great reputations and expertise, which will ensure that the dining experience at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood is on par with what patrons have come to expect from their concert experience. The quality of the food and beverage service has become an integral component towards enhancing the overall customer perception, and this new contract will allow us to excel in this area." The two companies plan to maximize their vast resources in Massachusetts to deliver the best in-class service they are both known for. "We are perfectly positioned to provide the BSO with an extraordinary food service program," said Joe O'Donnell, Chairman of Boston Culinary Group. "Our management team and line-staff have been servicing the Boston cultural theater community successfully for years at the Wang Center, the Shubert Theater and most recently, the Opera House. Our knowledge of the service patterns, the market and our strong presence in western Massachusetts make this a good fit for us. We've got a great partner, too." The management team of Gourmet Caterers is quite familiar with Symphony Hall. They have been presenting catered events there for decades. "I have been involved, in one form or another, with the BSO since 1973," said Bob Wiggins, President and Owner of Gourmet Caterers. "We were pleased to see that the BSO had decided to pair the Hall business with the Tanglewood business and appoint an exclusive provider. We felt that was a smart move. Our team is eager to get in there and start building the business." Enjoy! |
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Mary and Sherif Nada were among the sponsors of the BLO's "The Century Gala," which was held at The Four Seasons. (Photo by Roger Farrington)