Update 3/27/2024: New start date for planetarium show: Vincent’s Starry Sky

Additional Van Gogh offerings include an exhibit of related works from the permanent collection, an original planetarium show, and Museum School classes

The Springfield Museums is excited to announce the return engagement of Van Gogh for All, on view March 29-September 14 at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Designed to engage 21st-century audiences in the 19th-century art of Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), this experientially rich exhibition uses modern technology and participatory learning to introduce audiences to Van Gogh’s genius, his personal struggles, and his creative process.

The Springfield Museums was selected to premiere Van Gogh for All on the East Coast in 2019, and it immediately captivated audiences of all ages with its blend of entertainment, education, and art appreciation. “We are committed to offering fully accessible, hands-on, interactive programming, learning spaces, and exhibits to enhance visitors’ experiences in our galleries,” says Kay Simpson, CEO and President of the Museums. “We are absolutely thrilled to bring Van Gogh for All back to the Northeast, especially because this exhibit is dedicated to making art accessible for people of all backgrounds.”

Visitors can literally step into Van Gogh’s artwork to discover the unusual perspective of The Bedroom, go behind the shutters of The Yellow House, or become part of one of the artist’s famous landscapes. The exhibit offers multiple photo opportunities and space to create your own art—with stations for drawing a still life or a portrait. Many of the elements in the exhibition are interactive, offering the visitor the opportunity to interact with the artist’s work, including a 12-foot-wide, electronic version of the iconic The Starry Night.

“Van Gogh for All is a fantastic opportunity to experience the artist’s life and work in a new way,” says Curator of Art Kris Ludwig. “Whether you want to immerse yourself in Van Gogh’s world, sketch your own portrait, or learn more about the artist’s remarkable life, this exhibition offers something memorable for everyone.”

Ludwig curated a companion exhibition, entitled Van Gogh’s Threads of Influence, in an adjacent gallery. This selection of paintings and prints from the Museums’ permanent collection reveals the connections between Vincent van Gogh and the artistic movements that shaped his vision, showcasing revolutionary artists such as Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, Paul Signac, and Japanese master Andō Hiroshige. These artists, who inspired or befriended Van Gogh, transformed late 19th-century art with innovative techniques that challenged traditional approaches, ushering in a new era of creativity.

Gauguin’s Te Faruru (The Annunciation) is the highlight of Threads of Influence. Rarely on view to limit its exposure to light, the work is a prime example of the artist’s stylistic approach, incorporating symbolic motifs from his imagination. Te Faruru also stands in contrast to Gauguin’s collaborator Van Gogh, who preferred to paint directly from life. Famously, the two artists lived and worked together at the Yellow House in Arles for a brief period: Gauguin left after Van Gogh, in a state of mental distress, threatened him with a razor and later cut off his own ear.

In keeping with the Museums’ multidisciplinary approach, staff at the Springfield Science Museum developed Vincent’s Starry Sky, an original planetarium show that utilizes forensic astronomy to determine the night sky views that may have inspired Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. The Seymour Planetarium’s full-dome Zeiss projectors illuminate the planets, stars, and astronomical phenomenon that lit up the sky in late 19th century France and the Netherlands when Van Gogh painted them in his signature striking blues and yellows. Audiences will also hear excerpts from letters the artist sent to his younger brother Theo during the last six years of his life and career, narrated by Kari Njiri, host of All Things Considered on New England Public Media. Vincent’s Starry Sky will be shown on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2 pm beginning on April 18.

“Art and science blend perfectly together in the work of Vincent van Gogh,” said Jenny Powers, Director of Science. “I hope that this planetarium show will inspire visitors to cross the Quadrangle Green between the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and the Science Museum for a complete Van Gogh experience!”

Related Programming
Register at SpringfieldMuseums.org/programs

Silk Scarf Painting: Van Gogh Style
Wednesday, April 9, 10 am-2 pm
Create a special accessory for your own wardrobe or a unique handmade gift for a special recipient. Registration required.

Van Gogh Together!
Sunday, April 13, 10:30 am-12 pm
Get ready for a morning full of sensory fun in the special exhibition for toddlers and their families. Registration required.

Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers
Thursday, April 17, 12:15-1:30 pm
Documentary film exploring the artist’s years in the south of France, where he revolutionized his style. Van Gogh became consumed with a passion for storytelling in his art, turning the world around him into vibrant, idealized spaces and symbolic characters. Registration suggested.

Painting and Cooking in Provence
Saturday, May 3, 10:30 am-1 pm
Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir made pilgrimages to Provence to paint in its brilliant Mediterranean light. Experience the region through its cuisine. Examples and tastes provided. Registration required.

Gel Plate Printmaking: Van Gogh Edition
Sunday, May 4, 1-3:30pm
Explore mark-making and printmaking techniques and create seven one-of-a-kind prints. Registration required.

Etch That Sketch: Van Gogh Edition
Saturday, May 10, 10:30 am-2 pm
Experiment with a variety of methods etch to beautiful designs on copper and brass. Tools and materials included. Registration required.

Van Gogh Portraits at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Wednesday, May 14, 8:15 am-5:30 pm
Experience the first exhibition dedicated to the Roulin portraits and the deep bonds of friendship between the artist Vincent van Gogh and this family. Admissions, bus travel, and driver tip included. Registration required.

Van Gogh for All is produced and designed by Dolores Kohl Education Foundation, in collaboration with Luci, and fabricated by Ravenswood Studios. The exhibition is sponsored locally by bankESB, PeoplesBank, Teed Capital Management of Raymond James, and Connecticut Public.

MassMutual is the season supporter of the Springfield Museums.