A Miniature Rose

Today, Kate shares a local gem with an uncertain future:

"Like many Bostonians, I had never heard of The Rose Art Museum - located at Brandeis University - until financial concerns threatened to shutter its doors last winter. Newspaper articles covering the funding crisis also described a small but spectacular collection of modern art, largely unknown in a town famous for its large and crowd-pleasing museums. So we decided to take my toddler for a visit, to see the art and show our solidarity for an institution that is clearly going through tough times.
We had expected something interesting, and instead found a true gem of a small museum: a beautiful, discreet building with open and airy galleries designed to showcase large and colorful canvases of the 20th century. The space is small but perfectly proportioned for the art for which it provides a home, much of which could easily hold its own in the biggest museums. And the museum is child-friendly in three ways: no admission is charged, the crowds are small and relaxed, and the bottom floor consists of a serene pool of water, perfect for small hands to drop their first pennies.

The future of the Rose remains uncertain, as Brandeis struggles to find the funds to pay for basic operations let alone an art museum, and so the time is now to visit this miniature treasure right outside of Boston."

The Rose Art Museum, 415 South Street, Waltham; Tel: 781-736-3434