May Culture Fix
by Rivah Clemons
Photography by Madeleine Arch
I know—it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re drowning in research papers and calc problem set upon calc problem set. But believe it or not, the weight of finals and end of semester projects will be off your chest in mere days, and what better way to revel in your newly found freedom than with a day out in Boston? Check out some of the cultural highlights May has to offer:
MFA: Megacities Asia: April 3-July 17
In response to the exponential increase of megacities in the past several decades, this culturally immersive exhibit features the work of 11 Asian artists who have observed the political, social and environmental consequences of these developments first hand. Artwork and sculptures made out of day-to-day items like forks and bicycles are scattered throughout the museum and offer insight into what urban life is like for inhabitants of these densely packed cities.
Independent Film Festival Boston: April 27-May 4
Want the film fest experience but don’t have the cash to fly out to Sundance? IFFBoston has some plenty of interesting preview screenings, discussion panels and filmmaker Q&As this season. With most of the movie tickets coming in at just $14, this festival is a viable (and affordable)
alternative to the exclusive TIFF and SXSW scenes.
Public/Private-- Art at MIT: May 1
Get a special look at some of the contemporary gems at MIT’s List Visual Arts Center. Predominantly kept for the use of the MIT community, the center is offering staff led tours of the collection to the public on May 1 in celebration of ArtWeek Boston so that visitors can get insight into the modern artistic works from the experts themselves.
South End Market Opening Day: May 1
Photo Courtesy of newenglandopenmarkets.com
A sure sign summer is on the way, the much loved South End Market with officially be opening up Sunday, May 1. Offering plenty of food and music to enjoy, the market is also hosting over 140 local designers and artists this year.
Gastropod, Live at the Museum of Science: May 4
Podcasters Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley will be serving up their popular cuisine show Gastropod live this May for the first time ever. The weekly podcast investigates food from a scientific and historical standpoint, examining everything from the cell structure of cheddar cheese to the effect environmental factors have on our taste buds.
The Lobster: May 13
If alternative cinema is your thing, this month look no further than Yorgos Lanthimos’ newest cult comedy The Lobster. Colin Farrell stars as the recently divorced David, who in accordance with societal rules, has only 45 days to find true love or else he will be transformed into an animal and released into the woods. Rachel Weisz and Lea Seydoux also star in the offbeat flick.
Alice Through The Looking Glass: May 27
Six years removed from the massive success of the 2010 remake, Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska find themselves in Wonderland once again in Alice Through the Looking Glass. With producer Tim Burton opting to take a more back seat role this time around, relative newcomer James Bobin takes the reigns as director. If the trailer is any indication, this sequel is poised to match the previous film’s visual grandeur and fantasy appeal.