The Art and Craft of [Alumni] Greene and Greene

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is exhibiting works by brothers Charles Greene (1868-1957) and Henry Greene (1870-1954), MIT-trained architects who are now recognized internationally for their contributions to the American Arts and Crafts Movement.*

According to the MFA's Web site for the exhibit, "the Greenes' careful consideration of every detail of the buildings and objects they designed, including geography, climate, landscape, and lifestyle afforded them tremendous success. Their experiences in Boston during their academic studies and early career laid the groundwork for their later innovative style, which shows the strong influence of Japanese design."

If you're in town, check out the exhibit in person: Monday and Tuesday, 10am-4:45 pm; Wednesday (free admission after 4pm on Wed!)-Friday 10 am-9:45 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10 am-4:45 pm

Or tour the exhibit online:

*In a nutshell, Arts and Crafts proponents sought to reestablish ties between beautiful craftsmanship and workers, and their criteria for beauty hinged not just on pure aesthetics, but also on the extent to which a piece synthesized its surroundings, environmentally, economically, etc. Without being ardently anti-modern or anti-industrial, Arts and Crafts proponents strove for an honesty or authenticity that they felt was missing from mass-produced items.