The dancers were like lit matches. We, on the other hand were five years late, and yet, on April 21, we are taken in like family at the Pao Arts Center, now celebrating its fifth anniversary, for its presentation of Lenora Lee Dance’s “Convergent Waves: Boston,” an immersive, multi-media dance performance to celebrate the contributions of local activists and non-profit leaders in Boston’s Chinatown community. The Pao Arts Center’s philosophy is that we are all late- comers to this favored continent of North America, and we’re all dancers thinking that wherever our own feet hit the ground is ours to keep. And we’re so right. And so wrong! Since the present pandemic has claimed this world as its very own, my fellow adventurer, Madeleine, and I have barely ridden the Red Line, so we jumped at the chance when we were invited to “Convergent Wave’s” world premiere. We traveled by T … [Read more...] about A TIME & PLACE FOR CELEBRATION: PAO ARTS CENTER’S ANNIVERSARY HONORS AAPI COMMUNITY
Community
INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT: DOVER’S ART CENTER BUILDS VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY
Located at a deep bend of the Cocheco River in the beating heart of burgeoning Dover, New Hampshire, is where you’ll find the historic Washington Street Mills complex. Over the past few years, something special has happened within this former textile mill, as the Seacoast Region city it calls home — the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire — has transformed into one of the fastest-growing communities in the state. This circa-1880s mill complex has sprung to new life through the efforts of a vigorous and varied blend of talented entrepreneurs. At the core of it all is a thriving artists’ colony anchored by a multifunctional creation, exhibition and performance space named The Art Center which is well-served by the boundless and infectious energy of its passionate owner, Rebecca Proctor. In the damp gray of early-April, as the New England spring struggled to find its … [Read more...] about INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT: DOVER’S ART CENTER BUILDS VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY
MAYNARD AS A CANVAS: EXPANDED OFFERINGS, BUSINESSES, CREATE A BUZZ
When we moved to Maynard five years ago, Donna Dodson’s sculpture, “Seagull Cinderella,” had just returned from her tour of Michigan, so we stored her temporarily on our front lawn. She received fan mail, daily visitors taking selfies and local media attention. Later that summer, “Seagull Cinderella” flew to New Bedford for a public art project where she became the subject of controversy. In an unexpected outpouring, the people of Maynard rallied behind her and said to New Bedford: “If you don’t want her, send her back! We miss her.” So, she paraded back into town followed by a band and a throng of Maynard’s liveliest in spirited attire. And to this day, she remains perched out front of our home. It was then that we realized we had joined a uniquely supportive arts community. What drew us to Maynard was its reputation as an arts hub. ArtSpace Maynard’s studios in the town’s iconic … [Read more...] about MAYNARD AS A CANVAS: EXPANDED OFFERINGS, BUSINESSES, CREATE A BUZZ
THRIVING IN THEIR VERSATILITY: FRESH-EYED TOUR OF BOSTON MUSEUMS UNCOVERS SECRETS
Boston is no stranger to incredible artwork — nor has it ever been. Alongside its vast history, its artwork too is constantly evolving, drumming its heartbeat. Artistic representation, formerly a narrow cross-section of the city’s population, is wider than ever. Naturally, as these changes devolve, Bostonians are apt to see an increasingly diverse breadth of artwork — and thank goodness. Now finding homes inside Boston’s greatest museums,artwork from every corner of humanity has the chance to reach a wider audience; themes that were historically taboo, or simply not acknowledged, have finally taken center stage. Summertime is a wonderful season to museum hop; that’s exactly what I did over the course of two weeks, during some of the most sweltering weather Boston has seen in years. To call one of the following museums my favorite is simply impossible; all of them left their own … [Read more...] about THRIVING IN THEIR VERSATILITY: FRESH-EYED TOUR OF BOSTON MUSEUMS UNCOVERS SECRETS