January Events for the Design Minded, Part 1

The Shelburne Museum

January events for people who love design, architecture, and the arts.

You Can’t Get There from Here: The Portland Museum of Art Biennial
Through January 3
An exhibit curated by Alison Ferris featuring seasoned and emerging artists influencing the Maine contemporary art scene. Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine, (207) 775-6148, ­portlandmuseum.org

From Narrow Coves to Mountaintops: A Survey in American Realism
The Vose Gallery
Through January 9
A selection of paintings by important American artists such as Childe Hassam, Charles Woodbury, and Andrew Wyeth, among many others. Boston, (617) 536-6176, vosegalleries.com

Crafted Objects in Flux
Through January 10
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston displays the works of 41 international, cutting-edge artists in this exhibit dedicated to contemporary craft. See how today’s craftspeople are blurring the lines between design, fine art, and craft. Works range from furniture to jewelry to ceramics and beyond. Henry and Lois Foster Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, (617) 267-9300, mfa.org

Middlesex County Modern
Through March 20
This exhibition explores the region’s rich history in modernist design. Boston’s western suburbs were a hotbed of modernist design from the 1930s to the 1960s, as architects like Walter Gropius and Carl Koch experimented with modern forms. A series of events will complement the exhibit. Concord Museum, Concord, Mass., (978) 369-9763, concordmuseum.org

Birds of a Feather: Shelburne Museum’s Decoy Collection
Through May 6
Featuring 80 waterfowl decoys culled from the museum’s noted collection. A. Elmer Crowell, Charles “Shang” Wheeler, and Albert Laing are just a few of the master artisans featured. ­Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vt., (802) 985-3346, shelburnemuseum.org

Film Screening: Design Is One
January 8
Explore the creative world of influential designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli. This film is part of the 2015–2016 BSA Space Film Series: Keeping It Reel. 6 p.m.; $12 non-members, $8 BSA members. Boston Society of Architects, BSA Space, Boston, (617) 391-4000, architects.org

Old Newbury Day
Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm
January 9
Travel back in time to 1690 and tour the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm. The Newbury, Massachusetts, community celebrates the purchase of the town back in 1701 with a townwide celebration. As part of the event you can visit this Historic New England home, indulge in cider and doughnuts, then head to town for a bonfire. 3 p.m.–6 p. m.; free admission, parking $5. Newbury, Mass., (978) 462-2634, historicnewengland.org

Stone Wall Building Workshops
January 16
The hands-on workshops are held at Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg, Vermont, and are led by Vermont stonemasons trained through Britain’s Dry Stone Walling Association. Participants in the one-day workshop learn the basic techniques for building dry-laid stone walls, with a special focus on stone native to Vermont. The first workshop is January 16, with additional dates in February and March. Visit queencitysoilandstone.com for a complete schedule and details.