Galleries from the United States and Europe will offer more than 3,000 original works of art at the Sixteenth Annual Boston International Fine Art Show (BIFAS), November 15-18, 2012 at The Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts (BCA).  The show opens with a Gala Preview on Thursday, November 15 from 5:30 to 8:30pm to benefit Friends of the Children - Boston.  Gala tickets are $100 and $250.  Weekend hours are Friday 1pm-8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.  Tickets are $15, under 12 free.  For additional information visit www.FineArtBoston.com or call 617-363-0405.

BIFAS 2012 SPECIAL PROGRAMS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17

2:00pm - "Art of the White Mountains"

Be transported to the northern reaches of New Hampshire and its famous mountain range which inspired a "who's who" of American artists from Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer and George Inness to early modernism of William Zorach.  The works illustrate both the allure of New Hampshire's natural wonders and the significance of the region in the American landscape tradition.   Presented by Karen Quinn, Kristin and Roger Servison Curator of Paintings, Art of the Americas, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in conjunction with the exhibition by the same name on view in the MFA's Art of the Americas Wing through July 7, 2013.

3:00pm Panel - "What is it Worth? Establishing Fine Art Values"

In an art world awash in multi-million dollar works of fine art, how are art values established?  How do contemporary artists set their asking prices? How are prices determined in the secondary art market?  How do professional appraisers find a value for a work of art?  How can we find value in art in non-monetary ways? Moderated by Joshua Rose, editor of American Art Collector and American Fine Art magazines, with Michelle DuBois, Associate Director, New England, Winston Art Group; Elizabeth Ives Hunter, former director of the Cape Cod Museum of Art; and Lou Salerno, owner of Questroyal Fine Art, New York.  Bring your questions for a lively exchange of ideas and opinions!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18

2:00pm - “Saving Venice: Art Restoration in the World’s Most Fragile City”

To date Save Venice, Inc., has raised more than $20 million dollars and restored more than 400 works of art. Current restorations funded by the Boston chapter include: frescoes by Veronese in the church of San Sebastiano; Titian's monumental painting of the "Presentation of the Virgin" in the Sala dell'Albergo in the Gallerie dell'Accademia; the quincentenary of the Venetian Ghetto; and numerous others.  Presented by Christopher Carlsmith, Assoc. Professor of History, UMass Lowell, and Chair of Lecture Committee, Save Venice Boston Chapter, and Anne-Marie Eze, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Chair of Young Friends for the Boston Chapter.

“The show has become a fixture on Boston's social and cultural scene," comments co-producer Tony Fusco.  “We are especially grateful for the support we have received over the years from the museum community.  A dozen of the area's museum directors and senior curators now serve on our Honorary Committee, along with the Governor, the Mayor and notable Bostonians from all walks of life.  This support form the museums has had a major impact on the show over the years, and we are proud to be celebrating our 16th anniversary."

Last year at The Cyclorama, Fusco & Four also launched The Ellis Boston Antiques Show.  The company's spring show, AD20/21: Art & Design of the 20th & 21st Centuries, will celebrate its 6th anniversary March 21-24, 2013. For more information on shows produced by Fusco & Four/Ventures visit www.BostonArtFairs.com.