Latest news with #LaneTurner
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
As MFA director steps down, a look at a decade of tumult
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up While previous generations of museum leaders were prized for their connoisseurship, sway with donors, and ability to build big, Teitelbaum has presided over the MFA as museums across the country have become arenas of cultural struggle — the battle over which stories we tell about ourselves, and, critically, who gets to tell them. Advertisement As director, Teitelbaum has had to carve a sinuous path through today's fractured cultural landscape, balancing the desires of wealthy donors, the needs of the broader community, and the demands of activists — all while caring for a world-class collection of some 500,000 objects. He sought early to create Advertisement But these successes were at times overtaken by upheaval and controversy. The MFA faced alarming allegations of racism in 2019. It suffered severe economic turmoil after it closed during the pandemic, an excruciating chapter that resulted in Activists have called on the MFA in recent years to address problematic artworks, such as Cyrus Edwin Dallin's "Appeal to the Great Spirit," which sits outside the museum. Lane Turner/Globe Staff On balance, though, the MFA looks good roughly 10 years after Teitelbaum succeeded longtime director visitor numbers recently topped 1 million for the first time since the pandemic. Still, Teitelbaum's successor, Advertisement 'Running a museum is an extremely complicated endeavor, one where you're frequently balancing competing rights, as opposed to right and wrong,' said Jill Medvedow, former director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. 'Matthew Teitelbaum has really tried to lead from both his head and his heart. That is admirable and it is honest.' Teitelbaum notched a major win in 2017, when he secured Under Teitelbaum's leadership, the MFA's collection of 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings has become the nation's finest. Lane Turner/Globe Staff 'It's all joined together by the spirit of the different ways to understand these works of art,' said Teitelbaum, who has also sought to establish definitive collections of Boston artists But Teitelbaum, who specializes in modern and contemporary art, also had some important misses. The museum, often criticized for its Advertisement 'I can't actually fully understand what happened there,' said Teitelbaum, who recently secured 'It is a necessary commitment [to newer art] that has to be evident to every visitor,' he added. 'If we don't achieve that, we will always be seen as somewhat incomplete.' Teitelbaum, who specializes in art of recent vintage, secured a $25 million grant to enhance the museum's modern art program. David L. Ryan Teitelbaum's first big leadership challenge came in 2019, when a group of Black and Latino students on a field trip Some museum supporters urged Teitelbaum to push back against the allegations. Activists clamored for reform, and the attorney general's office, then under Maura Healey, It was a defining, lonely moment for Teitelbaum, who sought to validate the students' experiences, while also holding that MFA staff did nothing wrong. 'My position very early on was that both can be true,' said Teitelbaum. 'That's where I went quickly.' But some longtime supporters, as well as staff, felt the mild-mannered director rolled over too easily. 'The museum took a black eye that some people felt was unjustified,' said one donor who asked not to be identified in order to speak freely. 'It was with good intentions, but he lost some support.' It was an education for the Canadian-born Teitelbaum, an artist's son who'd previously run the Art Gallery of Ontario. Advertisement 'I had not experienced the hardness around positions that was expressed so quickly,' he said. 'Sometimes it felt like: How will we get through this?' Teitelbaum's first big leadership challenge came when a group of Black and Latino students alleged racist treatment while on a field trip at the museum. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff The museum eventually entered a Teitelbaum also launched a host of efforts geared at democratizing the museum, including a robust paid internship program, community forums about upcoming exhibitions, and two new positions dedicated to community engagement and belonging and inclusion. Questions of racial sensitivity tested him anew in the fall of 2020, when the MFA, along with three other prominent museums, announced they would postpone a jointly organized career survey of Philip Guston that included his cartoon-like depictions of the Ku Klux Klan. Their reason: The museums needed time to reconsider the show given the racial tumult that followed George Floyd's murder. The decision was met with howling derision in the art world, where the postponement was described as When the exhibition The MFA, along with three other major museums, was widely criticized for postponing a comprehensive survey of Philip Guston over concerns about the artist's so-called Klan paintings. (City Limits, 1969. Oil on canvas.) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Three years later, that criticism has largely faded, and Teitelbaum is often praised for his sustained effort to open the MFA to new audiences. Advertisement 'He's really grounded us in the city, and brought people in who had not really had a presence in the museum,' said honorary trustee Lisbeth Tarlow. 'It's not a bricks-and-mortar kind of flashy accomplishment, but it's every bit and more so in terms of an impact on the museum.' But perhaps the most consequential events of Teitelbaum's tenure came during the pandemic, when the MFA closed for roughly eight months. With earned revenue at a standstill, Teitelbaum presided over a painful round of layoffs, which in turn prompted staff, energized in part by the resurgent social justice movement, to join a nationwide effort to unionize. The MFA, like many museums, is still recovering from the fallout. 'Who has led a public institution in your lifetime where revenues stopped in a 24-hour period?' asked Teitelbaum. 'The catastrophic shock of that is deeper for cultural institutions than many of us imagine, and we're still working through it.' The MFA closed for roughly eight months during the pandemic, an interruption that is still felt at the museum. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Even so, Teitelbaum asserted, he's leaving the MFA with 'a lot of momentum.' 'I feel good about the direction,' he said. He added that he plans to split his time between Boston and Toronto, though he remains uncertain about his next act. 'I'm not running away from the issues,' said Teitelbaum. 'On the contrary, my challenge is, 'How do I stay in them without a structure around me?'' But those questions would have to wait. For now, he was content to amble through some of the museum's newly renovated galleries. En route, Teitelbaum stopped off in a stairwell, where he made an unprompted offer to photograph a young visitor. As he regaled her at length with tales of the museum's founding, the outgoing director never once let on his role in shaping the institution. 'Evolution, not revolution,' was how he'd repeatedly described his stewardship earlier in the day. Now, as Teitelbaum wandered the galleries in his waning days as director, he was facing a bit of both. Malcolm Gay can be reached at
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Welch's hopes for fruitful future with new Waltham headquarters
In brightly lit rooms with multicolored fruit decals lining the walls, the juice giant's engineers are already at work on new products and packaging. The pace of product development has increased since the company began to transition its workers from Concord to Waltham three weeks ago, said Christine Kinahan, Welch's chief people officer. Kinahan said she hopes employees and visitors can feel the 'spirit of innovation' in the new labs, where the building's architects included large windows so people can see the work in motion. Welch's last June Advertisement A scientist worked inside the R&D Lab at the official opening of Welch's new corporate headquarters. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Welch's moved its headquarters to Concord more than 40 years ago. After launching the search for a new home, it considered 37 properties in Greater Boston before selecting the Waltham location and signing a 15-plus year lease, said Kinahan. Advertisement Welch's leaders say they hope the move to a more central and visible location will make the company's Massachusetts roots more widely known. 'Having the proximity and the visibility of the brand on 128 is tremendously important to us,' said Kinahan. 'Being buried in Concord on Route 2, people didn't know that we were located in Massachusetts. Everybody knows the brand, but nobody knows that we're located here, so we need to connect the two.' Welch's is a cooperative owned by more than 700 family farmers across the United States, according to the A tour group tastes new products at the official opening of Welch's new corporate headquarters. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Welch's is hiring to expand its workforce at the headquarters. Kinahan said she hopes the new location's proximity to several colleges and universities will bolster the company's recruiting. 'We want to be an employer of choice in Massachusetts,' said Kinahan. The office has an open layout to encourage collaboration when employees — most of whom work hybrid schedules — are in the office. Over the past year, said Kinahan, company leaders asked employees for feedback on the design, seeking opinions on everything from the mix of communal and private working spaces to the office's lighting and color scheme. Before cutting the ribbon to the new headquarters, Waltham Mayor Jeanette McCarthy reminisced about her own childhood as she held up a bottle of Welch's Grape Juice. 'As a kid of the '50s and '60s,' she said, 'we loved it.' Maren Halpin can be reached at
Boston Globe
11-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Archeologists scour Charlestown for Revolution-era artifacts, seeking stories of the forgotten
Boston 250 seeks to learn more about the ordinary Bostonians in 1775 whose lives have been historically ignored, such as women and children, and Black and Indigenous people. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The folks that get talked about in the 250th are the older men who were in the battle,' Bagley said, 'but there's thousands of people impacted by this day. And we really want to tell those other stories.' Advertisement Archeologists and volunteers sift for artifacts in a backyard in Charlestown as part of the city's Boston 250 Archaeology project. Lane Turner/Globe Staff In a private Charlestown backyard this month — a property that belonged to the The Trumbull property had a house, a barn, a leather tannery, and a distillery, which was probably converting molasses into rum, Bagley said. Advertisement 'That distillery is going to have direct connections to the slave industry,' he said, because it was 'bringing molasses up from the Caribbean. All of that is produced by enslaved people.' He has no evidence that the Trumbull family were enslavers. As Bagley and his crew dug and sifted, other team members conducted Volunteer Tim Riordan inspects an excavated artifact in a backyard in Charlestown as Boston 250 archeologists conduct a dig. Lane Turner/Globe Staff The City Archaeology Program, part of Boston's 'To be honest, a lot of our work is self-created,' Bagley said. 'We decided amongst ourselves that Boston history is very well covered, but there's a lot that hasn't been told — so we're going to focus on underrepresented histories.' They reached out over social media and in public meetings, and Charlestown residents offered up possible excavation sites. The team has forthcoming digs at A trench is measured so any found artifacts can be identified by depth in a backyard in Charlestown in one of Boston 250 Archaeology's excavations. Lane Turner/Globe Staff 'Charles Bulfinch is a huge architect, and we don't often get to see the buildings that are gone now,' Bagley said. 'It's not going to be much of it. Maybe the basement. But still.' Advertisement Before excavating, the team found a treasure trove in their documentary research. Charlestown leaders had called on residents to submit 'They were going to submit to the new country and say, basically, 'Hey, it would be great if we could get refunded for all these losses,'' Bagley said. 'It took them forever to recover. It devastated the town.' 'It's an amazing set of documents. It's also a tragic set of documents,' he added. 'They never got a restitution for anything that they lost.' A trench is excavated inch by inch in a backyard in Charlestown as City of Boston archeologists research ordinary life at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Boston City Archaeology, with offices and an exhibition space in West Roxbury, has a roster of volunteers. Jennifer Reed, a retired elementary school library teacher from the North Shore, dove into the documentary research. 'When you look at these The researchers discovered a claim from Margaret Thomas, a Black woman who had bought a house in Charlestown from 'Given the time period, she likely was manumitted at some point in her life, or born to someone that was freed,' Bagley said. It's unclear how she came to own the property, but Thomas's life after the battle is better documented: She married William Lee, George Washington's enslaved butler, and Advertisement The stopper from a 20th-century bottle of perfume held by a team member after it was excavated in a dig in Charlestown. Lane Turner/Globe Staff As the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution unfolds, Bagley said the team will spread over Boston to dig up more untold history. Next year, they'll be at a fort in Roxbury, 'and we know there's Black soldiers there,' he said. They're looking at Boston Common, where British soldiers encamped with their families. He's interested in those women and children. What was their life like? 'It's a totally different story than I think people associate with the siege of Boston,' Bagley said.
Boston Globe
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Boston rally, vote calls for codifying LGBTQIA2S+ Office amid national rights rollbacks
The office, created by a Wu executive order, existed, until Wednesday's council vote, solely at the discretion of future mayors. 'In order for us to be a sanctuary city, we need protections in place,' Santana told the Globe. 'Codifying the LGBTQIA2S+ office ensures it stays here — no matter who the mayor is.' Speakers invoked the threats facing queer and trans people nationwide. The Trump administration has moved swiftly to Advertisement 'This year, we want to make a statement,' Santana said. 'People are living in fear. People don't feel safe.' City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana (right) listened to Sister Brother Freddie Anne Willing (both cq) of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during a speech in the City Council chamber at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall Wednesday. Lane Turner/Globe Staff For many in attendance, the stakes are deeply personal. Lauretta Hearn, a member of the Transgender Veterans Support Group, said recent federal policy changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which halted gender-affirming surgeries for transgender veterans, have already taken a toll on their family. Advertisement 'I'm worried about my stepmom — she's 72. She's been transitioning for almost 30 years,' Hearn said. 'She feels not seen, and she gets upset because medically she can't do the surgeries, but the hormones make her still feel like she can be a woman.' Thepeer-led group offers virtual support spaces for trans veterans and their families across the country. Hearn, who co-hosts a weekly family and allies group, said they've seen the direct effects of recent care restrictions in Massachusetts and beyond. Boston, MA. 05/29/2025 - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence members Sister Stella Tension-Hor (left) and Sister Brother Freddie Anne Willing (both cq) mingle at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall on June 4, 2025. Boston City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana and over 45 LGBTQ+ organizations hosted a Pride rally, reception, and celebration in and outside of Boston City Hall. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Phoenix Lee, a transmasculine Boston resident, said he's also bracing for ripple effects. 'I'm worried that my legal documents won't match up and I'll be penalized. I'm on MassHealth, and I'm scared that my hormones or gender-affirming care will be taken away,' he said. Still, Lee said he felt fortunate to live in a state with stronger protections than most. 'I call it the Massachusetts bubble. I'm so grateful to be able to be visible without fear,' he said. Many who attended demanded lasting change. Kimberly Rhoten, director of policy and strategic initiatives in the Mayor's LGBTQIA2S+ office, said the council's vote is about more than symbolism. 'Right now, our office exists only by executive order. Codifying it into law makes it one step harder to remove us,' Rhoten said. 'Most other offices in our cabinet are already codified. We're one of the last.' They added that the office is already on the front lines of a public health crisis affecting LGBTQIA2S+ residents, particularly youth. Advertisement 'Youth who identify as queer are far more likely to contemplate suicide, to experience housing instability, and to engage in substance use,' Rhoten said. 'These issues existed before the election. But now we're seeing ripple effects that are going to make it worse.' In response, the office has expanded its grantmaking and policy advocacy. Each year, it distributes $150,000 in 'Beyond Pride' grants to dozens of local organizations working on everything from emergency housing to gender-affirming sports leagues. A recent initiative provided $50,000 to the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition to support name and gender marker changes on legal documents, Rhoten said. 'We're focused on helping our residents, not just survive, but thrive,' Rhoten said. LaNiesha Bowles listened to speakers at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall Plaza. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Joy, too, played a central role in the rally. Coley Kelly, an 82-year-old member of Boston Prime Timers, a social group for older gay, bisexual, and transgender men, said the event was a sign of progress. 'I think that the LGBTQ movement has been transformed over the years to be more socially acceptable — to be who you are, whenever and wherever you want to be.' He added, 'I'm confident that the movement and the acceptance of gay life is going to continue, because just about every family now either has or knows someone who's gay.' Freddie Anne Willing, abbess of the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer activist and performance group known for using satire and spectacle to fight bigotry and support marginalized communities, urged the crowd to stay loud, visible, and unapologetically joyful. 'Just because we are joyful doesn't mean we are complacent,' she said. 'Just because we are joyful doesn't mean we're not angry. If it takes a little spite for you to be joyful — well, maybe that's Boston in 2025.' Advertisement Flags are held aloft at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall on Wednesday. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
Boston Globe
28-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Boston-area restaurants that accommodate gluten-free diners
Look for the Natick location of this homegrown burrito chainlet to roll out gluten-free homemade tortillas in the coming weeks; soon, they'll introduce the tortillas at each restaurant. 1265 Worcester St., Natick, 508-318-8960, Advertisement A Various locations, Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up The place to go when you need to please a crowd, with salads, bowls, seafood, steaks, and nachos — almost all of 'em available gluten-free. Plus, there's a kids' menu. 336 Moody St., Waltham, 781-899-0297, This 1271 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-945-1179, Advertisement Egg sandwich at Bom Dough in Cambridge. Lane Turner/Globe Staff An affable ale house that caters to gluten-free guests, with modifications for snacks like potato skins, poutine, even lobster-and-bacon grilled cheese and ice cream. 1885 Centre St., West Roxbury, 617-477-3298, This approachable, something-for-everyone chain offers a gluten-free version of its entire menu; this month, they're also donating a portion of dessert sales to Boston Children's Hospital Celiac Program. Various locations, Chef Jason Santos's Various locations, Fried chicken at Buttermilk & Bourbon. A favorite of gluten-free social media influencers (yes, this is a thing), sibling Italian restaurants Capo and Prima host gluten-free nights; Prima's is Monday, while Capo's is Tuesday. Most everything on the menus is gluten-free, from meatballs to pasta to arancini. 443 West Broadway, Boston, 617-993-8080, 10 City Square, Charlestown, Gluten-free pasta plates at Prima. A barbecue-oriented, comfort-food-focused pub with gluten-friendly options for baby back ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, and more. 780 State Road, Dartmouth, 774-992-0183, This North Shore duo, with locations in Beverly and Salem, lives up to its name with husky egg sandwiches, available on gluten-free cheese-and-herb bread. Various locations, North Shore pizza-goers in the know rely on Danvers Pizza for an admirable roster of gluten-free pies with all your favorite toppings, plus gluten-free subs, calzones, and fries. The menu is well-labeled and easy to navigate. 136 Andover St., Danvers, 978-880-7959, Advertisement This Italian stalwart, now celebrating 40 years, has changed with the times to offer a full, pasta-laden, gluten-free lunch and dinner menu. Various locations, This cozy, dedicated gluten-free bakery focuses on bread: fresh-baked and fermented for 24 hours, along with gluten-free provisions like pastas and sweets. 915 Elm St., Manchester, N.H., 603-600-1773, Chef Ken Oringer is known for his celiac-friendly dishes (he even wrote a 278 Newbury St., Boston, 857-991-1080, Sip craft sake — gluten-free, made with rice, koji, yeast, and water — alongside gluten-safe cocktails and mocktails. Pop-up food vendors are required to offer both gluten-free and vegetarian choices. 120 N. Meadows Road, Medfield, 508-242-5416, A Medford favorite, For Pizza lets guests build their own gluten-free pies with safe, house-made dough; there's plant-based pizza, too. 51 High St., Medford, 781-219-3139, At these Various locations, Ensalada de Remolacha, Puerco Asado, and Pulpo at Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar in Cambridge. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Advertisement A Newton staple for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and Kosher Pareve provisions, including gluten-free challah and sought-after latkes. 547 Commonwealth Ave., Newton, 617-795-2626, This popular Worcester-based bakery specializes in sweets safe for nut-free, gluten-free, and shellfish-free snackers; now, there's a branch at the Boston Public Market. It's a prime spot for allergy-friendly bespoke birthday cakes, too. Various locations, This doughnut shop serves 12 gluten-free varieties daily, made in a gluten-safe kitchen, in fun flavors like maple bacon and blueberry blast. Various locations, At this North End restaurant, all pasta (except ravioli) has a gluten-free alternative. 125 Salem St., Boston, 857-233-4500, This Various locations, Feast on breakfast bowls and gluten-free brioche French toast at this allergy-sensitive diner, with a dedicated gluten-free and meat-free fryer. 906 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-5301, The menu at this fried chicken and bubble tea destination — which resembles a 1980s arcade game — is more intuitive to navigate than a throwback round of Pac-Man, with a helpful allergy chart and plenty of celiac-safe options, including gluten-free rolls. 324 Walnut St., Newton, 617-433-8882, The artful poke bowls at this West End Hawaiian takeout spot are crafted in a gluten-free kitchen, which uses tamari instead of traditional soy. 103 Beverly St., Boston, 617-588-0889, Advertisement The kitchen at this 136 Haven St., 781-942-0001, Sarah Wade's comfort food restaurants offer gluten-free nights every Monday (Stillwater) and on the first Monday of every month (Sloane's), serving soothing plates like mac-and-cheese and spicy Nashville hot chicken. 197 North Harvard St., Allston, 617-693-8220, 120 Kingston St., Boston, 617-936-3079, A Porter Square haven for students on a budget, with a long menu of gluten-free alternatives that don't compromise on spice or flavor. 1933 Massachusetts Ave., 617-868-4200, Another hit from Ken Oringer (Faccia a Faccia), this time with pastry chef Monica Glass, with a 298 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-395-3125, A breakfast sandwich at Verveine Cafe and Bakery in Cambridge. Brooke Elmore This is Cambridge's go-to, gluten-free bakery, with a focus on special occasion cakes and cupcakes. 1782 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 857-500-2748, Prowling for even more resources? Visit the ever-popular, niche Facebook hit Kara Baskin can be reached at
