Schedule: 

This course will take place on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM for five weeks (4/16/24 - 5/14/24) at various museums listed below.

Course Description:

The Boston area is internationally known for its rich abundance of art and culture. Come experience five leading local art museums connected to major educational institutions. Students will visit a different museum each week and enjoy a dedicated docent-guided tour, which will last from 60-90 minutes. Students are responsible for transporting themselves to each venue and are requested to arrive at 1:30pm.

April 16. McMullen Museum at Boston College. 2101 Commonwealth Ave, Boston. 

The McMullen Museum’s permanent collection spans the history of art in diverse media from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. For information about parking and public transportation:

 https://mcmullenmuseum.bc.edu/visit/. 

April 23. Harvard Art Museums. 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge.

Enjoy a special tour for Rainbow students, focusing on 6-7 pieces of art from an LGBTQ perspective, from Sergeant to Warhol. Parking available by online purchase prior to class. Easy access via public transport. https://harvardartmuseums.org/visit/directions/ 

April 30. Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy. 3 Chapel Ave, Andover. Comprised of more than 25,000 works in all media—painting, sculpture, photography, drawings, prints, and decorative arts—from the 18th century to the present, The Addison Gallery’s collection of American art is one of the most important in the world. https://addison.andover.edu/visit/plan-your-visit/. Free parking and accessible by bus. 

May 7. MassArt Art Museum. 621 Huntington Ave. Boston.

A special exhibition—“The Myth of Normal: A Celebration of Authentic Expression”— looks at societal norms that have been codified over our collective past. Focusing on the achievements of MassArt’s alumni, this exhibition is guest-curated by Mari Spirito ’92 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Paid parking nearby. Easy access by public transit. https://maam.massart.edu/

May 14. MIT List Visual Arts Center. 20 Ames Street, Bldg. E15-109, Atrium, Cambridge. 

As the contemporary art museum at MIT, the List Center has three gallery spaces where curators present a dynamic program of six to nine contemporary exhibitions annually. The List Center typically offers artists their first museum presentation. Paid parking and public transport with a15-minute walk. https://listart.mit.edu/

Instructor:

Various museum docents

Required Course Materials:

No required materials or preparation.

Schedule: 

This course will take place on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM for lfive weeks (4/17/24 - 5/15/24).  

Course Description:

TED Talks have become a very popular (virtual) method for sharing thoughts and ideas from a wide variety of disciplines. They provide original viewpoints that can stimulate your mind and open you to new knowledge, hear how others think, and provide you with a new way to explore the world. Each week 1, 2 or 3 TED Talk videos will be shown in class, and students will engage in lively facilitated conversation sharing their perspectives on the ideas raised. There will be five different presenters from our Rainbow community--one for each class--each one focusing on a different topic.

Per the TED Talks website: "The organization is on a mission to discover and spread ideas that spark imagination, embrace possibility and catalyze impact” and are “devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda ... (for those) who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others ...” 

April 17: Home and Belonging vs. New Experiences 

Alison Morgan, Presenter 

In this session we will discuss what home and being settled means to us, and then discuss embracing new “first experiences” and getting outside our comfort zones. 

April 24: Neurodiversity 

Betsy McGinnity, Presenter 

The incidence of autism has risen dramatically over the last two decades. Our understanding of neurodiversity has also expanded. There is currently a Broadway musical whose performers are all on the spectrum. This session will explore the reasons for the increase in the numbers of children identified with autism and offer some examples of people who are neurodiverse. 

May 1: Your Future Healthcare: Robotics, AI, Wearable Tech (and maybe doctors, too) 

Carole Friedman, Presenter 

Evidence-based studies are already demonstrating the advantages of health care by digital devices over that offered by human providers. Amidst the gains, is anything lost? Can we have it all? 

May 8: The Human Microbiome 

David Rooks, Presenter 

Over half the cells comprising our bodies are actually not human! In this session we’ll learn about the Human Microbiome--the huge collection of bacteria, fungi, molds and viruses living on and inside us that are essential to good health. 

May 15: Fun Unites and Energizes Us! 

Bonnie Hallisey, Presenter 

Rather than being a waste of time, fun can be a force for good. Weaving playfulness into everyday life makes us healthier and more productive. Explore your fun personality type and embark on your mission of joy. 

Required Course Materials:

None