Don't miss the chance to be part of a public arts project!

While traveling in Portugal last year I saw an amazing art installation done on an art deco shopping mall located on a busy cosmopolitan street in the beautiful city of Porto (or Oporto as it's called in English). Hundreds of ordinary citizens (adults and children, alike) helped build the pieces that made the final installation. The result was an amazing explosion of blue tubes that moved with the wind. It was really cool. I wish I had been part of the project.

Public art changes the flavor of places. It's like a beautiful necklace, or better yet a hat ;-), that takes a basic outfit and turns it into something truly special. That's where Catherine Evans comes in. She's a Maynard Artist who creates, what I think of as "visual rhythms". Her art brings community attention to overlooked environments.












Catherine is getting ready to start a new project, but even better—part of the project involves bringing people together through art. Just stop right there. Doesn't that sound wonderful, the bringing of people together through art? I may not have been part of the Porto art project, but I can certainly be part of this one.

When finished, the work will be installed on the fence across from ArtSpace, and stay up through the summer, adding to ArtSpace Outdoors 2016, an outdoor display of sculpture. Maybe you haven't been by yet, but over the last few months, the ArtSpace grounds have become a wonderful display of form and color. We have some very well-know artists from New England and New York displaying their work here in Maynard. With these new additions, art now spills out of the studio building and into the community, which is just what Catherine Evans is trying to do with her project.

So how can you join me in being part of this? No artistic knowledge is needed. You don't need to be able to draw a stick figure or a straight line.  To quote Catherine, "Each person will express themselves differently in creating their piece. The coming together of those pieces, that is the beauty. And that is community. A big reason behind the project is to make art more accessible to everyone. And not just art done by professional artists."

Of course I love that.

You don't have to be a Maynard resident to be part of this. Artists of all ages are encouraged to participate. You could gather a bunch of your friends, bring your cups of coffee, tea, or juice  boxes and hang out putting these things together. Each participant will make a piece that will become part of the total project.

This project will be started and finished soon, so if you want to be part of it, get on board! One may participate at the following places on the dates listed:

At smARTroom
79 Main Street
Saturday May 7th, 5 to 7:00 pm
(during Maynard Art Walk)

At smARTroom
79 Main Street
Wednesday. May 11th, 7 to 9:00 pm
Saturday May 14th, 1 to 4:00 pm

At ArtSpace
63 Summer St.
Saturday, May 14th 4 to 6:00 pm
(at opening reception of ArtSpace Outdoors 2016)

If you have a large group that would like to participate (troop, club, group), but can't make the dates, drop me a note or message here, I'll try to put you in touch with Catherine as soon as possible so that she might be able to set you up with what you need to join in.

Catherine is still in need of old t-shirts and and CDs/DVDs to use in the project. If you have any to donate, please drop them off at smARTroom.

And don't miss your chance to appreciate more art at ArtSpace. There is a gallery opening for artist Richard Kattman's big, colorful abstractions from 5-7, and tour the outdoor art at ArtSpace and meet some of the artists. May 14, 4-6pm.