June e-bulletin

Bowdoin College Museum of Art bulletin 6.2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026, who walked across the Terrace of the Museum during Commencement on May 23 to receive their diplomas. We wish them the best for what is ahead and can’t wait to see what they do next! We are also excited about the recent opening of Celebrating Independence! Fifty Years of Spindleworks, 1976–2026. The opening event on May 20 featured a completely full Kresge Auditorium–hundreds of supporters turned out to celebrate. Josefina Auslender: Drawing Myself Free, which closes on May 31, also received a strong response from audiences who have been moved by Auslender’s work.

We are also pleased to share that Stephen Perkinson, Professor of Art History, has been appointed interim director of the Museum and will serve in this capacity for the next two years. We note with gratitude that Anne Collins Goodyear and Frank Goodyear will assist Steve during this transition as they conclude their tenure as co-directors at the end of June.

exhibitions

A colorful illustration of the number 50

Now Open

Celebrating Independence! Fifty Years of Spindleworks, 1976–2026

Established fifty years ago, Spindleworks Art Center, based in Brunswick, Maine, is a nationally recognized progressive art studio that has become a vibrant part of the local community. This exhibition celebrates the vision of the artists who work in a broad range of creative practices.

Opening Soon

USA @ 250

On the occasion of the United States’ 250th anniversary, the Museum of Art presents a major exhibition that explores the nation’s history through a series of exceptional artworks created since 1776. All the selected works will come from the museum’s own collection.

spotlight

Reflections on Teaching in the Art Museum: Academic Year Recap

In her first year as Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, Anne Strachan Cross welcomed to the Museum over 1,600 students across 117 class visits—from Art History to Environmental Chemistry. From cross-disciplinary collaborations to a memorable visit from artist Josefina Auslender, Cross shares what has struck her most about teaching at Bowdoin. more

news

Bowdoin College Museum of Art Announces Interim Director

The BCMA announces Stephen G. Perkinson, Professor of Art History, as interim director for the next two years. A scholar of Medieval and Renaissance art and a longtime collaborator with the Museum, as curator, teacher, and recently president of the International Center of Medieval Art, Perkinson brings both deep expertise and a strong existing relationship with the BCMA to the role.

Thank You to Our Academic Year 25–26 Student Interns

Over the course of the 2025–2026 academic year, our six interns contributed across curatorial, education, and engagement roles. Their work ranged from co-curating an anniversary exhibition and researching for future exhibitions, to hosting middle school visitors, interviewing Hispanic visitors' museum experiences for a future podcast, and organizing new collaborations with student musicians. more

calendar

Friday, June 12, 2026

2nd Friday Art Walk at the Museum of Art: Meet Chunk the Whale!

4:00-7:00 p.m. | Outside the Bowdoin College Museum of Art

Saturday, June 27, 2026

USA @ 250 Opening Events

Keynote Lecture: “Our Atlantic Heritages: 250 Years of European, African, and American Cultures” with John W. Franklin

4:00-5:00 p.m. | Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center

Opening Reception | USA @ 250

5:00-6:30 p.m. | Bowdoin College Museum of Art

Museum Hours

Tuesday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 pm | Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. | Sunday: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. | Closed on Mondays and national holidays.

The Bowdoin College Museum of Art is open to the public free of charge. The Museum is wheelchair accessible through the Pavilion entrance.

Bowdoin College Museum of Art | 9400 College Station | Brunswick, ME 04011 | 207.725.3275

artmuseum@bowdoin.edu bowdoin.edu/art-museum

Banner: Kenyon Cox, Study of Small Wings, 1893, graphite on paper. Gift of Colonel Leonard Cox, Mrs. Caroline Cox Lansing, and Mr. Allyn Cox, 1959.3.3