Discover the art of the letter at the Gardner Museum’s free Columbus Day event
This Columbus Day, you can explore some of the oldest printed books and the world of letter-writing.The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is hosting a free event on Monday for “Opening Our Doors Day,” Fenway Alliance’s annual community festival, the museum said in a statement.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors will be able to explore the museum’s gardens and galleries, as well as participate in several letter-writing themed activities. Free tickets will be given away every 30 minutes, according to the statement.
The event will focus on the museum’s “Beyond Words: Italian Renaissance Books” exhibit and celebrate the art of the letter, inspired by Gardner’s “love of correspondence,” the museum said.
Attendees can get a lesson in Letterlocking by Jana Dambrogio, who will show guests how to write, fold, and seal letters to keep them safe and hidden as writers did before the modern-day envelope was created, according to the museum. Reproductions of Gardner’s own signets will be available to seal letters.
Starting at 11 a.m., festivities will begin in Evans Way Park, including an Afro-Brazilian drum troupe, a hip-hop fitness class, and a storyteller. Performances by the Lance Martin Jazz Trio and Castle of our Skins will feature music from black composers.
“Opening Our Doors Day” brings together over 20 institutions, including the MFA and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, to celebrate the Fenway area’s abundant cultural offerings, according to the Fenway Alliance.
Adults, children, and families can enjoy several activities including classical and jazz performances, historical walking tours, and lectures.
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