Get out and about
April arts scene blooming in Boston
You can actually do stuff in the real world! Of course, you’ve gotta be safe and performance venues and arts organizations wisely remain vigilant. But finally your options range beyond streaming this and Zooming that. Nervous? Us too, so we’ve included virtual programming as well in this April arts preview.
Staxville — A celebration of Stax Records, Thursdays in April, The Porch
Nephrok! fronts this all-star celebration to the mighty Stax sound. And he fronts it every week. As venues slowly figure out how to reopen, this Medford spot offers a weekly tribute to the legendary Stax sound (Hits! Deep cuts! Otis Redding!) when you feel ready to experience live music in the flesh. (theporchsouthern.com)
“Far East Deep South,” April 7-11, virtual
ArtsEmerson’s theater spaces have been dark for a year, but the organization has offered amazing on demand films and online productions. In this documentary, Charles Chiu, a Chinese-American man from California, travels to the South to visit the grave of the father who left him as an infant. During the trek, locals and historians begin to explain the legacy the Chinese Exclusion era had on the segregated South. The showing features a post-event conversation with the filmmakers. (artsemerson.org)
Monet and Boston: Legacy Illuminated, April 17-Oct. 17, Museum of Fine Arts
Garnered from the Museum’s astounding collection of works from Claude Monet and outstanding loans from local private collections, this exhibit of 25 pieces spotlights a master who captivated our city. From his early career to connections with Japanese art, “Monet and Boston” outlines the artist’s development and pairs his output alongside works by predecessor Jean-Francois Millet and contemporary Auguste Rodin. (mfa.org)
Stave Sessions, April 21-24, virtual
This Celebrity Series digital festival champions musicians with expansive views on genre, composition and music itself. Cristina Pato is a classical pianist and a master of the Galician bagpipes. Ethio-American vocalist Meklit draws influence from her days as an organizer in San Francisco and tours that have taken her from Addis Ababa to London, Montreal to Rio. Born in Chennai, India, and raised in the States, Sid Sriram says he built a style where Tamil, R&B, blues, gospel, pop and Carnatic music clash and blend. And that’s just a taste, for the full lineup and more details go to celebrityseries.org.
Movies back on the big screen with your pod, ongoing, the Brattle and Coolidge theaters.
Did you know you can rent the Brattle or Coolidge and play film programmer for your pod? Safety is key, so following the rules is a must, but the Brattle will allow up to 15 people for $350 per show ($250 for Brattle members). The Coolidge has a range of options depending on the room you rent that run from $250 to $500 for up to 24 people (discount for members and frontline workers available). Too soon for you? The Criterion Channel just added a “Cooley High” and “Rock ’n’ Roll High School” double feature! (brattlefilm.org, coolidge.org and criterion.com)