This spring we're thrilled to introduce three Museum Council members to you:

Hadley Planting

Hadley Planting, a Product Manager for the online auction marketplace, Invaluable.com, has been a member of the Museum Council since 2013, serving on the 2014 Summer Party planning committee and joining the Steering Committee this year.

This spring, she is looking forward to the New York weekend, which is anchored by the AIPAD Photography Show at the Park Avenue Armory. Open to Fellows and Patrons, the New York weekend is one of the most highly rated Museum Council events. Hadley described the highlights from last year’s trip, which included a visit to a private collection. Last year’s private collection filled a historic residence on the Upper West Side and the host, a woman who having collected modern art for most of her life, had sold her entire collection in favor of Old Masters. It was an inspiring glimpse into the psyche of a collector who was not afraid to make bold changes to a mature collection. “It really gives you the collecting bug,” Hadley said, “when you meet someone who has made it a central part of her life!”

This year’s NYC Weekend has been scheduled for April 17 to 18. While the itinerary for this spring’s trip has not been published yet, it will include opportunities to scour the AIPAD Photography Show with MFA curators, build friendships with other Fellows and Patrons, and almost certainly include opportunities to visit a private collection and other museums or galleries. In particular, Hadley is thrilled that Frederick Ilchman, Chair and Mrs. Russell W. Baker Curator of Paintings, Art of Europe, will also be the curator accompanying the group.

Justine Lynch

After graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges this past spring, Justine Lynch moved to Boston and recently decided to join the Museum Council as an Associate as a way to meet new people and take part in art-related activities and events.

Justine grew up coming to the MFA, and as such, she has a special fondness for the Museum: "There's so much to love about the MFA. I love that certain galleries bring back childhood memories, and I am very proud to be a member of an institution with such an impressive collection." Justine has found herself especially drawn to the American wing, citing Arthur Dove's That Red One and Childe Hassam's Boston Common at Twilight as among her favorite pieces in the collection. Her MFA memories and intimate knowledge of the pieces within the Art of the Americas galleries will likely come in handy next September, when Justine begins her Masters at Sotheby's Institute in American Fine and Decorative Arts.

Markus Sebastiano

Mark Comeau, or Markus Sebastiano as he is professionally known, is a contemporary artist specializing in digital printing, mixed media, Photoshop layering, custom stenciling, digital photography and metal fabrication who has been a member of the Museum Council since 2013. For the past few years, Markus has been developing one-of-a-kind techniques now being showcased in his current works. His use of photographic prints overlaid on Plexiglass and layered with repurposed materials such as wood, metal, vintage newspaper, and recyclables, make for truly exceptional finished pieces.

Markus’ work was featured and sold at this past year’s Summer Party. In addition, he has completed over 15 commissioned pieces for high end residential homes, businesses, and Boston's best restaurants in the past year; many of them were the result of the networking and connections he has made while a Museum Council Member.

For more information about Markus and his work, please visit: https://www.markussebastiano.com/

When you see them at the next Museum Council event be sure to say hello!

And, if you know of other Museum Council members who might like to be featured just let us know by dropping us a line at: [email protected]