Time to Rethink Museums?

I like my museums like a good house party. I know, I know – how dare I put a museum and active fun in the same sentence. It’s like using foul language?

I want the vibe to scream, “Hip!”
Museums should be legendary places to hang. The cops should show up to shut the place down (or at least to stay for a little while).

I want museums to be places that take me where I’ve never been. Paintings, pictures, sculptures, and cool décor that I can’t do in my house. Sure, I want to see the expression of human creativity that I haven’t seen before, but I also want to keep coming back to a place with Aretha Franklin-kind-of-soul. Give me a crowded, buzzing spot where I can sweat, and look, and touch, and lean in, and have conversations that stretch me out. I want the museum to be unpredictable. A real place where, maybe, Esmeralda shows up and argues about the meaning of minimalism and pop; Coppola drops the needle; Junot schools me on politics; and, Bill T. gives me his take on history and the layouts in the place.

Museums should be places where no one thinks less of you if you are overcome with the desire to applaud, give a strong and noisy laugh, sing poorly, or dance.

This Thursday (September 23) the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA) is throwin’ down. It’ll be the spot that I hope all museums can be – a creative party for the rest of us. They’re throwing a shindig – College Night. Rumor has it that they’re setting up turntables, plugging in microphones, and letting us snack and dance. And, I’m going to experience the art, too.

See you there?

Peace.

P.S. Hope you know that you’re always welcomed at the MFA. Your Terrier card gets you in – no additional charge – on days its open. Your Terrier card also gets you into the ICA and a hook up with Symphony. Talk about cultured folk!

P.S.S. You’ll always have the choice to stand around, but when the music in the museum doesn’t work for you, here’s a playlist:

Wake Up Everybody (feat. Common & Melanie Fiona) – John Legend & The Roots
Squeeze Me – Deborah Cox
Yip Roc Hersey – Slim Gaillard and his Orchestra
Allison – Elvis Costello
Lesson Two – Double Dee & Steinski
Cry, Cry – Dwight & Nicole
My Baby Just Cares For Me – Nina Simone
Cantaloop (Flip Fantasy) – Us3
Naima – John Coltrane
Moon Dreams – Miles Davis
Moody’s Mood – James Moody
You, Me and the Bourgeoisie – The Submarines
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss – P.M. Dawn