New Blue and White + Kids' and Teens' Events

[Click to enlarge. Cockwise from the top left: Rodarte's 2011 "carved" wood heels with blue-and-white Ming-patterned upper; Rodarte's Ming dress, also 2011, silk with ribbon embroidery and printed hammered chiffon; Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe, New Dutch Blue, 2003. Porcelain with transfers. MFA, Boston.]

[Two Chinese lidded vases, Kangxi period (1662-1722), acquired by Elizabeth Duchess of Somerset in the late 17th century. They stand in front of a Chinese lacquer screen that dates from the same period but was acquired for Petworth in 1882 in the Hamilton Palace sale. ©National Trust Images/Christopher Hurst.]

With recent pieces by Rodarte, Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe, and other contemporary designers and artists, next year the MFA Boston will highlight works that, in one form or another, are continuing the millennium-old global phenomenon of using blue-and-white. The exhibition, simply titled New Blue and White, caught my attention because just last week the National Trust's Emile de Bruijn posted about 17th-century women and their blue-and-white porcelain collections. In the MFA's show, expect to see ceramics but also furniture, glass and textiles. This exhibition opens February 20, 2013.

 [Images (C) MFA, Boston.] 

Beginning next week, each day from December 26 to December 31, the Boston museum is offering kids and their families plenty of free activities, including jewelry-making, coin design, pet-related arts and New Year's postcard design.

[Image (c) High Museum of Art.]

And in Atlanta, the High is hosting free Open Studios for teens age 15 and older on alternate Thursday evenings from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There's an event this week, Jacket Remix and Handmade Gift Wrap on December 20, and the sessions continue through April 18, 2013. (These happenings are completely free, by the way, including free museum admission for non-members.) In addition to the stocked art studio, the museum offers use of sewing machines and fabric in the open Fashion Lab. Details here.