Everett residents will receive free admission to the MFA for the entirety of the show
When famed Wynn Resorts designer Roger Thomas was honing his skills at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) School in the 1970s, he spent countless hours in the halls of the MFA looking at art of all kinds, and sketching relentlessly the styles that moved him.
One style he saw that he never forgot was the work of French master Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) – whose depictions of the French bohemians, celebrities and brothel performers captured the attention of the world in the late 19th Century.
Now some years later, an accomplished luxury interior designer and artist for the Wynn company, Thomas returned on Monday morning to those same old galleries at the MFA to open up something very new – a great partnership between Encore Boston Harbor, the Boston Public Library, and the MFA.
Standing in the atrium, Thomas said he was moved as a student by Toulouse-Lautrec.
“It was the work of Toulouse-Lautrec that dazzled me when I arrived (in 1970),” he said. “It captured my attention and fostered a bold attitude that I carry on today in my own work with interior art and design.”
Thomas said that Encore was very excited about the opportunity to help sponsor the arts, something that he said is very important in their resorts. In fact, he said, they often try to create museum-like environment with wonderful art in public spaces for everyone to enjoy.
That was also a primary reason they pushed to make sure as many people as possible would be able to enjoy the show for free.
“When Encore Boston Harbor signed on to this collaboration, we only had one request,” he said. “That was to make sure we extend admission to as many people as possible starting with the people of Everett. With a utility bill or a driver’s license, they will be able to get admission to the MFA for free from April 7 to Aug. 4. In June, Boston Public Library cardholders will be able to gain admission to the museum and exhibit for free as well. That was important and exciting to us…Toulouse-Lautrec and the Stars of Paris will be the most accessible exhibition in the museum’s history.”