ArtSake

No Asian Longhorned Beetles Need Apply: The Arnold Arboretum is looking for artists to participate in the 2010 Artists in the Arboretum. Local artists are invited to submit work inspired by the plants, landscape, and collections of the Arnold Arboretum for the upcoming show organized in conjunction with Jamaica Plain Open Studios. For more information: 617-384-5209 or arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu. The submission form is online.
Deadline: July 14 at 4pm.

Sniffing out an Opportunity: Amesbury Plaza Community Day is looking for artists and craftspeople to participate in their event on July 17, 10am-4pm at 58 Macy Street, Route 110, Amesbury, MA (right on the Powow River).  Nine businesses in the Amesbury Plaza are participating. Organizers say it’ll be a great way for local artists and area groups to gain visibility in the community of Amesbury. Contact Christina Meriah (508-250-5157) for a table or booth application.

Running with the Pack: North Adams Open Studios is looking for artists – with and without studios – to participate in its sixth annual autumn showcase of local artisans to be held October 15-16, 10am - 6pm. The annual event showcases a diversity of artwork and art forms, and offers visitors a glimpse inside the creative spaces of working artists in the city, along with the opportunity to learn more about the artistic process. Information for the non-juried event, along with guidelines and information for artists needing to rent space, is available at the North Adams Open Studio Web site.
Deadline: August 31, 2010

Sit, Stay, Wag: South Shore Art Center has call out to artists for their show Body Language. Open to all artists and all media. No geographical restrictions. Work must have been completed since January 1, 2008 and not previously shown at South Shore Art Center. All work must be for sale.
Deadline: September 17, 2010

Image credit: Photograph by Peter Griffin. From public domain Web site.

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When the ceramics artists and artisans of Potters Place in Walpole, MA open their doors to the public for a Spring Show and Sale on April 30-May 2, they’ll be paying tribute to a singularly influential figure: Mom.

The cooperative, non-profit pottery studio has an open studios twice a year, and the current theme is “Mom’s Favorite Dish” – a way to celebrate Mother’s Day as well as the 90th birthday of the mother of Potters Place co-chair Carol Bradley.

How are members interpreting the theme? Sue Brum of Walpole is making beautiful ceramic water cans (her mother is an avid gardener). Susan McFarland of Norwood is using her mother’s dishes for molds and also making little black purse vases for her daughters. Lisa Walker of Westwood has adorned her vase with some of her mother’s favorite flowers. Jane Wojick of Westwood makes chip and dip bowls because she’s a mom, and that’s her favorite dish.

There will be a free artists’ reception on Friday, April 30, 6-9 PM. The show continues on Saturday, May 1st from 9am – 5pm, and Sunday, May 2nd from 10am – 4pm. Both functional and non-functional pottery will be available for purchase directly from the 22 Potters Place artisans. See more images here.

Check out the Potters Place website for more info, as well as details about the organization’s upcoming workshops and class schedule.

Images: Ceramics featured in the Spring show and sale at Potters Place (top to bottom): group shot; Susan Leblanc Brum; Susan Shields McFarland; Lisa Walker. Photos by Dave Bradley Photography.

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Brookline Artists, Cambridge, Fort Point Arts, Lexington, Needham, Somerville (including Joy Street, Mudflat, and Vernon Street Studios), SoWa Art Walk, West Medford.

What’s the unifying thread here?

All have April or May open studios events, where artists kick open their studio doors (or politely nudge them ajar, depending on the artist) to let the general public see their art, right where it’s made.

To get in the mood for Spring open studios season, we thought we’d share images from artists participating in the first annual Watertown/Belmont Open Studios (WBOS), on April 24-25. WBOS is a collaboration of the Arsenal Center for the Arts, Belmont Art Gallery and artists and businesses throughout the two cities to enable an exciting interaction between the local arts community, residents and visitors.

Meet over 50 artists at the Watertown/Belmont Open Studios, and discover unique paintings, jewelry, fiber arts, ceramics, photography, mixed-media, and more. This event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Belmont Cultural Council, and Watertown Cultural Council.

For more open studios, take a gander at the list of Massachusetts open studios on ArtistLink (MCC’s  resource dedicated solely and proudly to artist space).

Images: works by participating artists (top to bottom) Dawn Scaltreto, Karla O’Brien, Adrienne Sloane, Paul Angiolillo, and Ellen Crenshaw.

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The above image by Aimee Belanger and the three below are among the many works on display this weekend (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1) at the South Boston Open Studios. The event is free to the public, rain or shine, noon to 6pm each day. Public transportation is easy – take the Red Line to Broadway and walk east, or take the #7 City Point bus from South Station to Elkins St. Artists working in watercolors, video, fabric, and just about everything in between are showing at The Distillery, King Terminal, and Norman Crump Studio.

Did we mention how much we like open studios? They’ve got a real win-win thing going on. They’re good opportunities for artists to meet directly with art-loving folks who might be interested in purchasing their work, and they provide those same art-loving folks with a unique view of the lives of working artists.

Anyway, more work from Southie:

If you’re interested in attending/getting involved in a future open studios, we have a *full listing of Massachusetts open studios on ArtistLink.org.

Images: Work by Aimee Belenger (studio #210 W), Scott Chasse (#412 W), Dan McCole (#201B M), and Kenji Nakayama (#209 M). All artists are showing work at The Distillery this weekend.

* If we’re missing any, let us know.

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Will it go round in circles
Will it fly high like a bird up in the sky…

Hold on tight, the Open Studios are swinging into high gear. For a more complete list check out ArtistLink to find one in your area.

East Boston Open Studios
October 10 & 11 2009
Noon – 6pm

Fort Point Arts Community
October 16
4pm – 7pm &
October 17-18
Noon – 6pm

Dorchester Open Studios
October 24 & 25
12pm – 5pm

Image credit top to bottom: East Boston Artist Francois-Xavier de Costerd, Jardins du Louvre 1, 2003-2006, digital archival print, 1 of 2, 30″ x 40″; East Boston Artist Melissa Kulig; Fort Point Artist Ann Scott, Wrack Line #1, 16″ x 20″, oil; Fort Point Artist Deena Schnitman, Les Cavernes, 12H x 14W x 1 1/4D; Dorchester Artist Susan Krause, Black Tulips,16″x20″, oil; Dorchester Artist Judith Brasard Brown, Many Blessings, 2007, mixed media, 20″ x 16″

Will it Go Round in Circles, by Billy Preston

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ArtSake knows that when the acorn falls from the mighty oak, the bounty produced in hundreds of artists’ studios will emerge ripe and ready for another season of Open Studios. So artists, emerge from your studios, let the shows begin, good luck to everyone participating, and may you prosper and be healthy.

September Freebies in Boston:
7th Annual Boston Arts Festival takes place at the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park (which is near the Aquarium Blue Line T stop), on Commercial Street (also near great coffee and pastry shops in the North End). The festival runs from September 11-13 from 12 pm to 6 pm. Here’s a list of the participating performing artists and visual artists.

South End Open Studios
Home to over 250 South End artists gone wild with creative output.
September 19-20 from 11 am to 6 pm.

16 Annual Jamaica Plain Open Studios
Not to be outdone by their South End counterparts, the 200 plus strong JP artists get ready for two days of meet and greet studio groove. September 26-27 from 11 am – 6 pm.

Image credit in order clockwise above:Peter Zimmerman Designs in Glass,
Judith Solomon, Soojin Kim and Judy Riola.

Please let ArtSake know of your upcoming Open Studios and we’ll share it with the rest of the class.

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