E-Mail This Article to a Friend The wide world of art The MFA investigates its "Japanese Collection," the ICA showcases Mexican artists and more

The art world I: Letter from Japan

The Museum of Fine Arts has some pretty cool Japanese stuff — this Friday it opens "In a New Light: Investigations of the Japanese Collection," the result of a reappraisal of its holdings that uncovered a few forgeries and led to a few "surprising re-attributions." And come March, the MFA will put its stamp of approval on the mailbags of the rising sun with "Art of the Japanese Postcard: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection." Comprising some 350 examples minted between 1900 and 1940 (a fairly tumultuous span in the country’s development), the exhibit features cards from the humorous to the historical, from Art Nouveau–inspired designs to advertisements and holiday greetings, including pieces by some of Japan’s most important artists. It runs March 10 through June 6, and to underline the connection between the 20th-century Japanese postcard and the country’s traditional woodblock prints, the MFA has also organized a sister exhibit, "Japanese Design in Transition, 1900-1940," that’ll set the stage with contextual examples of frontispieces, prints, posters, matchbox covers, sculpture, and textiles. That’ll run February 5 through July 11. The MFA is at 465 Huntington Avenue; call (617) 267-9300.

The art world II: Border patrol

The Institute of Contemporary Art wraps up a bushel of disparate works into a burrito of an exhibit entitled "Made in Mexico/Hecho en México," a title that’s only slightly misleading since it explores the influence of our neighbor state "on a current generation of Mexican artists as well as their contemporaries around the world." Which means that in addition to modernist work that actually was made in Mexico — by the likes of Gabriel Orozco, Damián Ortega, Pedro Reyes, and Teresa Margolles, whose En el aire/In the Air employs a bubble machine that dispenses water previously used in a morgue — there are also works by artists from as far afield as Germany, Russia, Spain, Britain, and Japan, including Yasumasa Morimura’s portrait of himself dressed up like Frida Kahlo. The ICA is at 955 Boylston Street, and the exhibit is up January 21 through May 9; call (617) 266-5152.

Prairie Home away from home

Garrison Keillor brings his NPR folksongs-and-stories staple A Prairie Home Companion to the Wang Theatre for a live broadcast on February 21, with musical guest Susan Graham. The Wang is at 270 Tremont Street in the Theater District; tickets, at $33 to $63, go on sale this Monday at 10 a.m., and you can get them at the box office or by calling (800) 447-7400.

White-light motorcade

One of our favorite (relatively) recent holiday traditions is Somerville’s "Illuminations Tour," a 45-minute trolley troll past the town’s most flamboyantly lit holiday homes — which have been assiduously scouted each season for the past seven years by the folks at the Somerville Arts Council. The one-night-only affair, which this year will take place next Saturday, December 20, regularly sells out in advance, so it’s a good idea to get your tickets now. Tours depart Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, at 4:30, 5, 5:45, 6:15, 7, 7:30, 8:15, and 8:45 p.m.; tickets are $10, $5 for children and seniors. Or you can buy the SAC’s map for $2 and do it yourself. This year, in addition to the traditional cocoa and carols, City Hall will be hosting "Somerville After Dark," a photo exhibit that’ll be on view December 15 through January 15. Call (617) 625-6600 extension 2985 or visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org.