Room of Wonders is the first in a series of annual summer exhibitions that foregrounds and celebrates the Worcester arts community at the Cantor Art Gallery. Each year, a Worcester-based arts professional is invited to curate an exhibition of their choosing with the objective of focusing on the local community. 

In this inaugural show, Birgit Straehle—co-owner of The White Room celebration hall and gallery and formerly co-manager of the iconic Sprinkler Factory—invites nearly 30 creatives to participate in this group exhibition. Each artist is based in or has a connection to Worcester, celebrating the individuality and scope of the talent in our community.

The word Wunderkammer translates to “cabinet of curiosity,” which refers to the mid-16th century European tradition of displaying personal collections of fascinating and unusual objects. The collections typically included all manner of scientific specimens, natural phenomena, artworks, antiquities, and anthropological artifacts. Straehle updates the tradition in a uniquely Worcester Wunderkammer that includes the spoken word, hand-crafted musical instruments, auditory experiences, fashion, and other works of art and wonder.

Opening Reception
Friday, June 6 | 5-8 p.m.

Artist/Curator Talks
Saturday, June 21 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Holy Cross Faculty & Staff Appreciation in the Gallery
Thursday, June 26 | 2-3 p.m.

Gallery Talk: All About That Smile with Bill Wallace
Thursday, June 26 | 3-4 p.m.

Curator’s Talk: Look Into The Wunderkammer with Birgit Straehle
Thursday, June 26 | 4-5 p.m.

Artist/Curator Talks
Friday, June 27 | 12:30-2 p.m.

Artist Talk and Soundkammer Performance: Michael Rosenstein and Stella Silbert
Friday, June 27 | 2-4 p.m.

Shiny-Shop with Birgit Straehle: Metal Leaf Application Workshop
Saturday, June 28 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Luthier Talk and Soundkammer Performance: Dan Hunt with Charles Ketter & Nynez Lopez
Saturday, June 28 | 12-2 p.m.

Artist Talk and Fabric Painting Workshop: Caelum Lam
Wednesday, July 9 | 3-4 p.m.

Poetry Reading: The Poem Next Door: Worcester in Poetry Collaboration with Professor Beth Sweeney
Thursday, July 10 | 1-2 p.m.

Artist/Curator Talks
Wednesday, July 16 | 12-5 p.m.

Room of Wonders Closing Reception
Thursday, July 17 | 5-7 p.m.

Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays | 12-5 p.m. (closed June 19, July 2-4)

Saturday, June 21 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, June 28 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.