The Davis Art Museum at Wellesley College welcomed a group from the Acton Woman’s Club on April 29. Dr. Semente, the museum’s curator of education and public programs, gave an intimate 90-minute talk that included a discussion about the current exhibit of photographs by German photographer Ilse Bing. Born in 1899, Bing was an independent-minded photographer shooting pictures using what was considered at the time to be “incorrect” techniques by the male-dominated field of photography. She used the small, handheld Leica camera, earning her the moniker, “The Queen of the Leica”, for her avant-guard work. The collection of her photographs will be on display through May 24, 2026.
Dr. Semente also discussed some of the impressionist paintings at the Davis. Monet’s painting of Waterloo Bridge in London was especially interesting. Monet painted the same view of Waterloo Bridge several times. In most of the series, the bridge is easily discernable. The painting at the Davis is so foggy that the viewer usually sees something else, not a bridge over water. It is after being told what the scene is that the viewer can see it. No one in our group of 14 people saw a bridge over water before Dr. Semente pointed it out. It was pretty cool!
Among local artists represented at the Davis is Fitz Henry Lane. One of his paintings of Gloucester Harbor is on display.
After the tour with Dr. Semente, the group from the Acton Woman’s Club was surprised by an unexpected offer from two Wellesley students. The students explained that the academic year was almost over, and they still had guest meals on their meal tickets which would go unused. They asked if the group would like to use them for lunch in the Wang Student Center. It was a generous and delightful treat accepted by the group!
The exterior architecture of the Wang Student Center is unusual and quite interesting to view. Be sure to check it out if you visit the Davis Art Museum! Admission to the museum is free and open to the public Tuesday-Sunday, 11-5. Handy lightweight folding seats are available for visitors to use when viewing artwork of interest or simply to rest. For more information visit https://www1.wellesley.edu/davismuseum.
For information about the Acton Woman’s Club visit https://theactonwomansclub.org/
Joan Milnes is a member of the Acton Woman’s Club, a retired director of college internships and career services, and a former food columnist for the Beverly Citizen. She and her husband live in Acton.
