The Wellesley Society of Artists in partnership with the Wellesley Free Library (WFL)  present “Curating Vermeer” a talk with MFA gallery instructor Tracy Rubin on December 5 at 7:00pm in the Wakelin Room. The exhibition, “Vermeer” which opened at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in spring 2023 was more than a box office success.  It was sold out within days, if not hours, and people scrambled to somehow gain access.  

The exhibition lived up to all the hype because it was expertly curated.  It was an absolute delight to the eye and food for the soul.  The hanging of paintings, the wall text, the wall color palette all related artfully to the works and enhanced the experience. Tracy will “deconstruct” how the exhibition was conceived and presented, paying attention to what anyone who is hanging a show should consider.  Tracy  said “Hanging Vermeer” seemed like a better title for this talk, but alas, sounded rather threatening.  Hence, “Curating Vermeer”. 

About Tracy Rubin

Tracy Rubin has been a gallery instructor at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston since 1986.  Over that time she has led tours for both student and adult groups, as well as given talks as a guest lecturer.  Her MFA training was provided by museum curators and college professors from such institutions as Boston University, Wellesley College, Mt. Holyoke College, and Tufts University. Guides are only allowed to give tours in a museum collection upon completion of a year-long course in that subject area. It takes seven years to complete all the courses.  She also helped with research for the MFA exhibition and companion catalog, “The Art That is Life”, that was open in 1987.  Tracy has presented at various conferences in the United States such as the National Docent Symposium and the American Academy of Religion. She holds a B.A. from Smith College and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a concentration in the intersection of art and religion.