Full Exhibition Press Kit - updated

Contemporary Artist-In-Residence Exhibition
"LUISA RABBIA: TRAVELS WITH ISABELLA, TRAVEL SCRAPBOOKS 1883/2008" - Press Release

June 26-September, 2008 | Then traveling to The Merz Foundation, Turin Italy, in early 2009

A new video work by Luisa Rabbia inspired by Isabella Gardner's 1883 travels throughout China, Travels with Isabella adds a contemporary perspective to 19th-century China and engages viewers in an imaginary landscape steeped in nostalgia. Artist Luisa Rabbia layers original drawings, images and objects from the collection, and music by collaborator Fa Ventilato, upon images of photographs from 1883 China purchased and compiled by Isabella Gardner into an elaborate travel scrapbook to create a fantastical narrative steeped in nostalgia and a narrative on the human condition.The 26-plus minute video isaccompanied in the exhibition by an artist drawing (Untitled, 2008) and Gardner's 1883 China scrapbook, open to images of Shanghai and Hong Kong, and on view to the public for the first time.

Travels with Isabella is Luisa Rabbia's first solo U.S. museum exhibition - and sixth collaborative project with experimental musician Fa Ventilato.

Advance Press Preview Event: Wednesday, June 25th, 5:30-6:30 pm Please RSVP to karmstrong@isgm.org or 617 278 5107

• Press Release: "Travels with Isabella"
• Full PRESS KIT: "Travels with Isabella"

• Exhibition Images: Luisa Rabbia • Archival Images (1883 scrapbook)
• Exhibition Wall Text • Artist Interview: Luisa Rabbia
• Accompanying Programming
• Artist & Collaborator Bios: Luisa Rabbia, Fa Ventilato, Dragen Pantic

• Contemporary Art at the Gardner: An Overview • Gardner Fact Sheet

Seasonal Calendar Release
Season at the Gardner: SUMMER 2008
Detailed Exhibition & Programming Highlights: June-Aug 2008
A detailed look at this summer's contemporary Artist-in-Residence exhibition, courtyard garden installations, performances, events and promotions, lectures, gallery tours, thematic café menus, and other programming - in addition to world-class art in the permanent collection.

Advance Calendar Release
The Year+ Ahead: Summer 2008 through 2009
An advance look at historic and contemporary Artist-in-Residence exhibitions, annual garden installations, and programming highlights at the Gardner Museum in the coming year-plus. Updated regularly.

All-New Evening Events
"GARDNER AFTER HOURS"

Third Thursdays, September through May, 5-9PM
A new kind of night out... "Gardner After Hours" evening events series combines cutting-edge art, music, performances, cocktails and more in Boston's most inspiring setting.
• "After Hours" press release • Access "Gardner After Hours" web pages

EXPANSION & RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATES

Apr 10, 2008: Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) Approves Gardner Museum's Proposed New Building Project and Conceptual Design

Apr 1, 2008: Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) Board of Directors Approves Gardner Museum Restoration, Expansion Project and New Building Design by Renzo Piano

• New Building Image/Caption Sheet
• New Building Project FACT SHEET • Community Support / Quotes
• 2004 Architect Selection Press Release

Nov 29, 2004: Launching its Next Century, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Selects Renzo Piano for Planning and Design of an Addition on its Campus

Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Marks the 18th Anniversary of the March 1990 Theft of Thirteen Works of Art
Museum reissues its commitment to a $5 million reward, assures complete confidentiality for information leading to the return of the stolen artworks

• Stolen Artworks: Image Sheet

Free Classical Music Podcast: "The Concert"
The Gardner Museum launches a new FREE classical music podcast at www.gardnermuseum.org. "The Concert" features unreleased live recordings from the museum's weekly concert series, making the Gardner the first art museum to encourage file sharing and free distribution of its online programming by using a Creative Commons license.

Click here to access "The Concert":
http://www.gardnermuseum.org/music/podcast/theconcert.asp

"Thinking Through Art" Research Reveals that Children Learn to Think Critically by Learning to Look at Art
Important new arts education research reveals a strong correlation between the museum's "School Partnership Program" and improved critical thinking skills in children.
• Full Press Kit • Executive Summary • Study Overview • Findings Overview • Collaborator Bios • "Critical Thinking Skills" Rubric
• Visit "Thinking Through Art" online for access to the full research report, a documentary film of kids 'learning to look' at art, sample lesson plans, and more.