On view at the Harvard Art Museums from August 29 through May 9, 2027 is the exhibition "The Way We Never Were: The American Professional Photographers Collection," an examination of idealized visions of life in the United States from the postwar period through the Civil Rights era. Drawing on more than 20,000 images in the collection, which was assembled at Harvard in the mid-1970s by sociologist, lecturer, curator, and photographer Barbara Norfleet, the exhibition features the work of 20 professional photographers and studios, offering insight into dominant ideals of prosperity, domesticity, and conformity.

     Wednesday, August 12-Sunday, August 16: Puppet Fringe Festival at The Clemente The 4th International Puppet Fringe Festival hits Manhattan with a sprawling, five-day low-tech takeover that defies the dusty constraints of traditional performance, leaning heavily into tactile storytelling, cardboard surrealism, and a timely showcase dedicated this year to Women in Puppetry. This multi-disciplinary gathering of 100+ international makers captures the creative en...