The Bruce Museum begins the New Year with an exciting schedule of compelling special events and programs, including the Bruce Presents program, Duchamp to De Kooning, Kahlo to Koons: 100 Years, 100 Works of Art, on Thursday, January 9; Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Day on Jan. 20; and the annual Night at the Museum Family Benefit on Feb. 7.
Admission to the Bruce is free through Jan. 31, as renovations to the main galleries are being completed. The construction work is in preparation for two major new exhibitions opening on Feb. 1: On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK—the National Gallery of Denmark and Under the Skin, which highlights recent scientific discoveries through a combination of remarkable imagery and real biological specimens.
The Permanent Science Galleries will close for renovation on Monday, Feb. 3. Remaining open are the Bantle Lecture Gallery, which is currently showcasing the Collecting Reimagined: A 2D Curiosity Cabinet exhibition, the Education Workshop, and Museum Store. The Bruce Museum Seaside Center, located in the Floren Family Environmental Center at the Innis Arden Cottage in Greenwich Point Park, is open on the first Sunday of each month free of charge and hosts talks at 2 p.m. by experts and family activities from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Below are select Bruce Museum programs and special events taking place in January and February. For complete calendar listings and to register for programs requiring reservations, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.
January
Sunday, January 5, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Seaside Center’s Fred Elser First Sunday Science Series: A New Dawn? Bat Diversity & Habitat Use Post White-Nose Syndrome. Over the past decade, white-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed upwards of 7 million North American bats. Chris Wisniewski, faculty member in the biology department at Southern Connecticut State University, will discuss his research into WNS, including new data that suggests all may not be lost. Family activities, 1:30 – 3:30 pm.
Thursday, January 9, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Bruce Presents: Duchamp to De Kooning, Kahlo to Koons: 100 Years, 100 Works of Art. Can a single work of art symbolize a year in history? Renowned art historian Dr. Agnes Berecz faced this dilemma while writing 100 Years, 100 Artworks: A History of Modern and Contemporary Art, which details one work of art to sum up every year from 1918 to 2018. Join Dr. Berecz – along with Katja Zigerlig, Vice President of Fine Art, Wine & Collectibles at Berkley One – for a discussion of the criteria that guided the choices found in the book. In a twist, the audience will be invited to vote on 10 artworks – one to represent each decade covered in the volume. For more information and to reserve your seat, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.
Wednesday, January 15, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Bruce Experiences: Drawing Workshop. Museum members are invited to a drawing workshop with teaching artist Grayson Kennedy. The drawing workshop will focus on simple one-point perspective, choosing from objects in the Collecting Reimagined: A 2D Curiosity Cabinet exhibition. Materials, wine/beer, and snacks will be provided. Registration required; to become a Museum member or to renew your membership, visit brucemuseum.org.
Monday, January 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. MLK Family Day. Commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by creating artwork inspired by Dr. King’s values of compassion, love, courage, and forgiveness. Live performances by Karima A. Robinson, PhD, at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm of “A So-Long Journey: The Early Years of Phillis Wheatley.” Wheatley was the first published African American woman poet and a leading figure in the early Abolitionist movement. MLK Family Day will also include a donation drive in partnership with Filling in the Blanks, which provides weekend meals to children in need.
Sunday, January 26, 1:00 – 2:30 pm. Bruce Explorers. Plant Pressing. This drop-off program is for children ages 7 to 15. In this workshop, our budding young scientists will learn all about basic plant anatomy. They will also get to make and take home their own herbarium sheets. Reservations are required for Explorers programs; visit brucemuseum.org or contact
Megan Brown at mbrown@brucemuseum.org or 203-413-6740 for more information.
Friday, January 31, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Opening Celebration for Patron Members. The Bruce Museum is pleased to celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated changing gallery spaces by presenting major new exhibitions of art and science: On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK – the National Gallery of Denmark and Under the Skin. Museum members at the Patron level and above are invited to a special Opening Celebration of these exhibitions. Make your reservations at brucemuseum.org. To upgrade your membership, contact Laura Freeman at 203-413-6764 or lfreeman@brucemuseum.org.
February
Saturday, February 1, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. New exhibitions open to the public: On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK—the National Gallery of Denmark and Under the Skin. Please visit brucemuseum.org for more information about these new exhibitions of art and science.
Sunday, February 2, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. Conservator’s Talk: Aspects of L.A. Ring’s Working Methods. Jørgen Wadum, former Director of Conservation at SMK and current Director of the Centre for Art Technological Studies and Conservation in Denmark, discusses how an examination of the complex structure of materials and techniques beneath the visible “skin” of L.A. Ring’s paintings reveals fascinating details of the artist’s intent. Free to Museum members and visitors with paid admission; to make a reservation, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.
Sunday, February 2, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Seaside Center’s Fred Elser First Sunday Science Series: March of the Fossil Penguins. Penguins have thrived in the southern oceans for more than 60 million years. In recent years, dozens of spectacular new fossils have shed light on their evolutionary history. Drawing on his research trips to South America and New Zealand, Curator of Science Dr. Daniel Ksepka will discuss how he and his fellow avian paleontologists are piecing together how penguins evolved and how they once grew to such enormous sizes. Family activities, 1:30 – 3:30 pm.
Tuesday, February 4, 5:30 – 7:00 pm. All Members Reception. Join us for a special evening for Museum members to view the new exhibitions of art and science in our renovated and expanded galleries. Register at brucemuseum.org or by calling 203-413-6763.
Friday, February 7, 5:00 – 7:30 pm. Night at the Museum Family Benefit. An evening filled with fun! For kids in their PJs: a scavenger hunt in the galleries, crafts, live performances by Songs for Seeds, pizza, and dessert. For grown-ups: the chance to enjoy the Museum after- hours with wine, beer, light bites, and raffle prizes. To purchase tickets, visit brucemuseum.org
Wednesday, February 12, 10:30 – 11:30 am. Curator’s Talk: Tales from the Cabinet. Hear the stories behind some of the strangest objects in the Collecting Reimagined: A 2D Curiosity Cabinet exhibition, from curator H.S. Miller, Zvi Grunberg Resident Fellow 2019-20. Free to Museum members and visitors with paid admission; to make a reservation, visit brucemuseum.org or call 203-869-0376.
Sunday, February 23, 1:00 – 2:30 pm. Bruce Explorers: Bug Pinning. This drop-off program is designed for children ages 7 to 15. Participants will explore the science of bug pinning, from learning about the bugs available, to prepping and pinning their specimens. For more information, contact Megan Brown at mbrown@brucemuseum.org or 203-413-6740.
Monday, February 24, 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Senior Art Workshop: Value. This acrylic painting workshop, for adults over the age of 55, will be led by teaching artist Eddie Nino. Nino will use the works of Laurits Andersen Ring as inspiration for a deep dive into the atmospheric effects of value in painting. All materials will be provided, and light refreshments will be served. Register at brucemuseum.org or 203-869-0376.
Every Tuesday, 1:30 pm, and Friday, 12:30 pm. Exhibition Highlights Tour. Guided tours of the current exhibitions led by a Museum Docent.
Every Tuesday and Friday, 2:30 – 2:45 pm. Marine Tank Animal Feeding.
Visit brucemuseum.org for information about the current and upcoming exhibitions, or details of other programs taking place at the Bruce in early 2020, including the weekend programs Art Adventures and Science Solvers, Bruce Beginnings, Learning to Look® Family Gallery Tours, Lifetime of Looking, and Design Time.
