Emerging artists celebrated in spring shows

BOSTON and MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (May 1, 2018)—The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University is celebrating graduating art students in its degree programs with three spring exhibitions across two Tufts campuses in greater Boston.

Graduating master's degree candidates will present their work at the Master's Thesis Exhibition from May 14-20. This year's show, titled "(T)HERE," moves from Boston to Tufts' Medford/Somerville campus, to join the campus's commencement week celebrations. Spread across three buildings – the Aidekman Arts Center, Eaton Hall and Lane Hall – the show represents two years of students' close work with SMFA at Tufts' faculty to develop their vision and shape the future of their careers as working artists. The variety of works include large-scale sculpture and installations, performances, and even a temporary tattoo parlor. The opening reception celebrating the master's thesis candidates and their work will be held at the Aidekman Arts Center on Friday, May 18, from 7:30 – 10 p.m.

Serena August's "Ordinary Nexus" (mixed media on canvas, 2018). This piece is on show at the Year End Show as a Dana Pond Award Winner. (Image courtesy of artist)

The Year End Show, running May 1 through May 21, is an exhibition spanning multiple spaces at the SMFA at Tufts Fenway campus. This show highlights the works of graduating students and other exceptional pieces from the year. The Grossman Gallery, Anderson Auditorium and Weems Atrium will display the works of 52 students in a variety of media, including sculpture, painting, drawing and video installation. In order for work to qualify for the show, the piece must be created by a member of the Class of 2018 or have won an award during the 2017-18 academic year.

The SMFA at Tufts' Senior Thesis Exhibition features art created by senior Bachelor of Fine Arts students participating in the SMFA at Tufts thesis program.  From May 19-23, the seniors' thesis work will take over the Third Floor Studios at the SMFA at Tufts' Fenway campus. The paintings, sculptures and installations of 20 graduating students are critiqued by a panel of SMFA at Tufts faculty, including their thesis advisors. The Senior Thesis Exhibition will hold its opening reception on Saturday, May 19, from 5 – 8 p.m., which will include live performances.

All SMFA at Tufts spring shows are free and open to the public.

The SMFA at Tufts will hold its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2018 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on Sunday, May 20, at 6 p.m. The celebration will include speeches from students and administrators.

Graduates of the SMFA at Tufts will also participate in the university-wide commencement festivities on Tufts University's Medford/Somerville campus on Sunday, May 20, at 9 a.m., including an address by Ellen Kullman, former CEO of DuPont and a Tufts alumna.

Master's Thesis Exhibition
Aidekman Arts Center, Eaton Hall, Lane Hall
Tufts University's Medford/Somerville campus
40 Talbot Avenue, Somerville; Tufts Academic Green, Medford
May 14 – 20
Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., May 20: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Opening Reception: May 18, VIP 5:30 – 7:30, Public 7:30 – 10:00 p.m.

Year End Show
Grossman Gallery, Anderson Auditorium, Weems Atrium
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University campus
230 Fenway, Boston
Through May 21
Hours: Mondays – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., closed Sundays

Senior Thesis Exhibition
Third Floor Studios
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University campus
230 Fenway, Boston
May 19 – 23
Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., May 21: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., closed Sundays
Opening Reception: May 19, 5 – 8 p.m.

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About the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts was established in 1876 as part of the Museum of Fine Art’s mission to educate through the arts. After a more than 70-year relationship with Tufts University, it officially became part of Tufts' School of Arts and Sciences in July 2016. The SMFA at Tufts is extraordinary in being affiliated with a world class museum and part of a major research university. Tufts, located on campuses in Boston, Medford/Somerville and Grafton, Massachusetts, and in Talloires, France, is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States. Tufts enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence and for the preparation of students as leaders in a wide range of professions. A growing number of innovative teaching and research initiatives span all Tufts campuses, and collaboration among the faculty and students in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across the university's schools is widely encouraged.