Free First Thursdays at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Join us for a relaxing evening featuring live music, art-making activities, and Tai Chi demonstrations. During August’s Free First Thursday, escape to the Gardner for a moment of respite and relaxation. Live music in the Courtyard, a meditative Tai Chi demonstration, and an engrossing brushwork workshop make this Frank Hatch Free Day a cool way to beat the heat... <a href="https://tnew.gardnermuseum.org/36083/36085">GET TICKETS</a>. And don’t miss the opportunity for a golden hour exploration of <a href="https://www.gardnermuseum.org/ming-fay-exhibition">Ming Fay: Edge of the Garden</a>, which features large-scale, playful sculptures of fruits, seeds, and hybrid plants. Also on view are <a href="https://www.gardnermuseum.org/flowers-isabella">Flowers for Isabella</a> in the Fenway Gallery and <a href="https://www.gardnermuseum.org/yu-wen-wu-exhibition">Yu-Wen Wu’s Reigning Beauty, 2025</a> on the Anne H. Fitzpatrick Façade (also featured as part of the <a href="https://www.thetriennial.org/">Boston Public Art Triennial</a>). <a href="https://www.gardnermuseum.org/visit/cafe">Café G</a> is open late for dinner and drinks, and be sure to shop at the treasure trove that is <a href="https://gift.gardnermuseum.org/?srsltid=AfmBOopZpgRNmL-8NIfgC1OJ8600FeapzSeXAfCQb8UX2WCXGUXGexq9">Gift at the Gardner</a>. Program Traditional Korean Brushwork Workshop led by artist Minhee Kim 5 pm–8 pm, Bertucci Education Studio This activity will be divided into four 30 minute sessions with a 15-minute break in between. Sign up for a spot in one of the four-30 minute workshops when you arrive at the Studio. There will be limited seating and Studio staff will reserve a time slot for you!<ul><li>5–5:30 pm</li><li>5:45–6:15 pm</li><li>6:30–7 pm</li><li>7:15–7:45 pm</li></ul>Experience the joy of creativity and self-expression as your unique ink flower comes to life. Through a technique that uses the balance of ink and water on mulberry paper to make a blooming effect, the natural flow of ink produces soft gradients and organic shapes, capturing a spontaneous beauty. Like a snowflake, no two ink flowers are the same. Tai Chi Demonstration 6 –6:30 pm &amp; 7– 7:30 pm, Jordan Garden Join Suzanne M. Clark as she demonstrates basic Tai Chi movements in the Jordan Garden. Visitors are encouraged to try these basic movements themselves throughout the demonstration.  Courtyard Music Performance  6:30 – 7:15 pm, Palace Courtyard Be delighted by the wonderful sounds of pianist and vocalist Ebba Dankel and Formas String Quartet in the Palace’s historic Courtyard.

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Free First Thursdays at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

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