This week, Jared Bowen explores art in the great outdoors with “Fog x FLO” presented by Boston’s Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Yayoi Kusama’s “Where the Lights in My Heart Go” at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Then, it’s off to the Boston Ballet for “Genius at Play.”

“Fog x FLO,” on view at five locations across Boston’s Emerald Necklace parks through October 31, 2018

Fog x FLO
Fog rolls through the Arnold Arboretum in "Fog x Hill," one of five fog sculptures across Boston's Emerald Necklace parks
Melissa Ostrow, courtesy of the Emerald Neckalce Conservancy

To celebrate 20 years as stewards of the park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy presents “Fog x FLO,” a series of “fog sculptures” by Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya. On view at five locations throughout the Emerald Necklace parks, “Fog x FLO” is the first series of simultaneous installations of fog sculptures in Nakaya’s 50-year career. “She thought for a while in the 1950s and 60s how she could create a work of art that is both composing and decomposing and appearing and disappearing at the same time,” says curator Jen Mergel, “and it occurred to her, that's what a cloud does.” Using a patented nozzle and sprinkler system, the artist times each sculpture to appear and interact with the surrounding environment in what she calls “a conversation with nature.”

“Yayoi Kusama: Where the Lights in My Heart Go,” on view at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum through October 28 (off view October 1 through October 18, reopening on October 19)

Yayoi Kusama: Where the Lights in My Heart Go
The interior of Yayoi Kusama's "Where the Lights in My Heart Go"
Clements Photography and Design, courtesy of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

For the first time in the greater Boston area, one of Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Mirror Rooms” is on display at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. “Where the Lights in My Heart Go” is a 10’ x 10’ stainless steel, mirrored box perforated with a series of small holes that give those who enter the dazzling impression of stepping into an infinite void. Often described as the “Princess of Polka Dots,” Kusama has created works that focus on themes of eternity and the cosmos for almost 70 years. “It takes you outside of yourself,” says Executive Director of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum John Ravenal. “She calls it self-obliteration. Which is really both very personal and ... philosophical.” Created in 2016, this is also the first "Infinity Mirror Room" to exclusively utilize natural light to create an experience of infinite dots.

“Genius at Play,” presented by Boston Ballet through September 16

Genius at Play
James Whiteside, Paul Craig, and Isaac Akiba in Jerome Robbins' "Fancy Free"
Gene Schiavone, courtesy of Boston Ballet

Boston Ballet opens a new season with “Genius at Play.” Celebrating the centennial of choreographer and dancer Jerome Robbins’ birth, the program spans Robbins’ 61-year career. It begins with his second ever choreographed ballet, "Interplay," set to the music of Morton Gould’s “American Concertette,” highlighting his youthful and energetic choreography from the 1940s. Following "Interplay" is Robbins’ first collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on "Fancy Free," which inspired the musical “On The Town.” The evening concludes with the Boston Ballet premiere of "Glass Pieces," one of the last ballets Robbins choreographed, featuring 42 dancers moving intricately to the repetitive structure of Philip Glass’ music.

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