LYNN – ArtWeek, a 10-day festival that celebrates culture, creativity and the uniqueness of Massachusetts communities, will take place statewide April 27-May 6.
For the first time, the city of Lynn has been invited to participate. Marblehead, Nahant and Salem also will take part.
Carolyn Cole, director of the Downtown Lynn Cultural District, said several special events are planned in the city during ArtWeek. She is excited that residents and visitors from other communities will have the opportunity to experience some of what the city has to offer.
“So much is happening in Lynn, we can’t wait to show it off,” said Cole. “The majority of events statewide are free, family-oriented fun and they are something unexpected and different.”
Cole said “Our signature event, on May 5, will be free group tours (at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) of the Downtown Cultural District led by Judith Marshall of the Lynn Museum. Her focus will include past and distant history and the unheralded architecture downtown.”
Carla Scheri, owner of Lynn-based Kick It Up Consulting and former curator of Visionspace Gallery at Centerboard, has also played a major role in the Lynn ArtWeek planning.
“We started planning this about a year ago. Six months ago we got the official notification we were in. This is our sixth year as a cultural district, and we are so excited to be a part of this statewide celebration,” Scheri said.
Since its inception in 2013, more than 150,000 have taken part in ArtWeek events. It is presented by the Highland Street Foundation and produced by the Boch Center, under the direction of statewide partners the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
Here’s a snapshot of local ArtWeek events:
LYNN
OASIS Mandala Making, April 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE
Art therapist/Licensed Mental Health Counselor Christie Connolly will open OASIS, her Open Art Studio & Inspirational Space in the LynnArts Building at 25 Exchange Street, to ArtWeek visitors. During this workshop participants will learn and practice stress management skills and create a personal mandala.
Beyond Walls Mural Tour, April 27, 5 to 6 p.m. FREE
Beyond Walls staff will walk visitors through the vision, process, and execution of recent public art projects installed downtown. Weather permitting, it will include a first look at the installation of the new permanent LED underpass lighting and an increased number of publicly mounted vintage neon artworks. Meet at Land of a Thousand Hills on Munroe Street.
“Living in the District” video premiere, April 30, 6 to 8 p.m. FREE
Lynn Community Television will show the video premiere of “Living In the District,” a promotional video shot for the Downtown Lynn Cultural District. The video screening will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 181 Union St., but visitors are invited to arrive early to learn more about LCTV, membership and to see the studio.
“Lynn at the Great War: At Home and Abroad,” May 1, 2, 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Lynn at the Great War: At Home and Abroad” brings to light how Lynn influenced and was influenced by the events of World War I, both at home and abroad. Lynn Museum is at 590 Washington St. There is a fee for this event.
“All City Art Exhibit,” May 2, 4 to 6:30 p.m. FREE
Come support Lynn’s emerging artists during the Lynn Public School’s “All City Art Exhibit” at Lynn Arts, 25 Exchange St. Elementary school art will be displayed from 4 to 5 p.m.; secondary school art from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit runs May 2 to 16.
Tiffany Stained Glass Windows Tour, May 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. FREE
View the 41 Tiffany stained glass windows at St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church, 74 S. Common St. They are perhaps the oldest ecclesiastical Tiffany windows in the world. St. Stephen’s is the large red stone church on the corner of Blossom and S. Common streets next to St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The parking lot is off of Blossom Street.
“Explore Tour: At the Intersection of Art & History,” May 5, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. FREE
The Downtown Lynn Cultural District tour, led by Judith Marshall of the Lynn Museum staff, includes a historical lecture on the city’s remarkable old-school architecture. Buskers will be on each block and there will be numerous spots for photo op. Doors will be opened to art shows and the large-scale murals will be featured. Meet at Lynn Museum, 590 Washington St.
MARBLEHEAD
“Films About the Work of John Bonner,” April 27, 7-8:30 p.m. FREE
Painter John Bonner will screen several films about his work and creative process in the historic ballroom of Marblehead Arts Association’s King Hooper Mansion, surrounded by his invitational solo exhibit “Streetview.” After the screenings, there will be time for audience questions and interaction with the artist.
“Marblehead’s J.O.J. Frost: Folk Art Fish,” April 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also May 1, 2, 3 and 4. FREE
The paintings of renowned folk artist J.O.J. Frost offer a creative and insightful look into Marblehead’s history. Marblehead Museum’s J.O.J. Frost Gallery, 170 Washington St., offers some fishy fun with Frost! Use Frost’s whimsical paintings as inspiration to design your own “Frost Fish.”
“Methods and Materials: Drawing with Stitches,” April 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. FREE
Marblehead Arts Association artist member and Out of the Box Studio owner Stephanie Verdun will demonstrate techniques using sewing stitches with paper bag batik, watercolor and oil pastel. Attendees will create a few small samples of their own. Experimentation is encouraged.
“King Hooper Mansion; Architecture as Art,” April 28, 1 to 2 p.m. Also April 29, May 5 and 6. FREE
A special interactive walk and tour through the Marblehead mansion of 18th-century merchant ship-owner Robert “King” Hooper and his family. Explore his cellar kitchen and extravagant 18th-century rooms, including the neoclassical fourth-floor ballroom from the early 19th-century, with a focus on the extensive range of architectural artistry and craftsmanship in the mansion, which has been owned by the Marblehead Arts Association for more than 75 years.
“Gallery Walk and Talk,” April 28, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. FREE
Guests will accompany Cliff Hauptman, Marblehead Arts Association digital artist, on a tour of his solo exhibit “Geo/graphic.” Interaction and questions are encouraged.
“Architecture As Art” tours, April 28, 3 to 4 p.m. Also April 29, May 5 and 6. $5
Enjoy new perspectives on Marblehead during afternoon and/or almost-twilight walks sponsored by Marblehead Architecture Heritage, with an emphasis on the artistic aspects of its significant early architecture. This is a special chance to view some of the town’s nearly 300 colonial homes and buildings dating from 1776,.
“Painting Demonstration Workshop,” April 29, 2 to 4 p.m. FREE
Acclaimed Marblehead Arts Association artist Olga Gernovski will demonstrate how she approaches painting a flower; attendees are encouraged to bring canvas and paints or paper and drawing materials to paint/draw along with her at King Hooper Mansion. This program accompanies a solo exhibit on view at the Marblehead Arts Association through May 6. “The Joy of Color.”
“Make Poetry out of Paintings,” May 6, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. FREE
Poets have taken inspiration from art for centuries. Join Marblehead Writers’ Workshop’s Julianna Thibodeaux on a stroll through the Marblehead Arts Association galleries in King Hooper Mansion, to look at art, talk about art-inspired poetry, and then sit down to write. Sharing of drafts is optional. Writers of all levels and genres are welcome.
NAHANT
“Creatures Workshop,” May 6, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. $15
This unique workshop encourages participants to interpret and identify their own artistic portrayal of animals, and blend it with choreographed dance excerpts as well as improvised movement. Learn from choreographer Sallee Slagle and the dancers of Forty Steps Dance while exploring the movement of “Creatures.” The edited video of Slagle’s choreographic masterwork “Creatures,” which was filmed at LynnArts theater, will also be shown. This workshop at Nahant Community Center, 41 Valley Road, is for adults and children age 8 and older.