So many things, so little time!

Sometimes I'm so busy enjoying Maynard's coolness that I don't have time to share everything that's going on. Now I'm forced to try to cram everything, so forgive me for the long post.

Erikson's!

Photo: Andrew Child, ArtSpace

The scoop on the scoops! Erikson's opened for the 2016 season on April 9th, much to people's delight.

Business Hours:
Monday through Saturday 12:00-9:00pm
Sunday's 11:00 - 9:00 pm

Outside of the standards, here are some of the flavors that have been made over the last weeks:

M&M
Mocha Almond Fudge
Snikkers
Strawberry Cheesecake
Purple cow
Dark n stormy

Mill & Main
Mill and Main installed their new signage. Other things: I mentioned in March that Building 10 was razed (that's where the expected courtyard will be). The area is now being cleaned up for its new look. And the area that will be the sort of gateway to the pond is getting cleaned out.

In the past people have come in with plans for various projects. Then it either takes forever, or the plans never come to fruition. It's nice to see that Saracen Properties is diving into this.

I've heard that Battle Road Brewing will be finished later in the summer, and that the boardwalk around the pond may be finished the end of summer 2017.















Jimmy MacDonald's new project
I've given you scoop on Jimmy MacDonald before. He owns three apartment buildings in town. Some disagree with the brick aesthetic of the exteriors of his buildings, others love it. He sure has done the town good by getting rid of some major (even condemned) eyesores.
Most recently (through my own observations), it seems that Jimmy is remodeling a colonial-style property that is opposite the post office on Florida Street. I'm guessing it will be apartments again. It's looking good.

Do you remember the yellowish building that this was? I wish I had a photo to show you.

The Purple House is no longer purple!
I'm not the biggest fan of purple, or asphalt-paved yards, so I'd shake my head whenever I passed  the Purple House when driving round the back of the fire station on Rte. 27. Last year I did a post on purple houses in Maynard. Many of you were good enough to share some that I had missed.

A few months ago I was amused to see that there were others who agreed with me—there was a commercial sign in the window that read "We buy ugly houses!" Yesterday I grabbed a picture of the house, where you can still see the sign in the window. Now there are only patches of the color left. It will be interesting to see what else happens there.

The Murphy and Snyder building got a new window
In November we were all amazed as we watched the plywood get removed from the windows of the Murphy and Snyder building. Here was the post that I did. The joy was brief as we watched new plywood go up in the window. I feared that the owner had done it out of spite because he had been getting phone calls and letters, not to mention the guerilla citizen who had painted the plywood black. Not so! I was glad to see that it was just a lull in the work and that the window was finished during the winter. Hooray! I'm sorry I don't have a picture of that one to share. If I get one, I'll add it to the post.

The Corner Closet got their sign up
It's nice when things feel more permanent, so seeing the Corner Closet's sign on the building made me feel good. If you haven't been in there, there's lots to see. We often think of them as having women's and children's clothes, but there are lots of clothes for teenagers, and clothes (need a suit?) for men.

Photo: Dave Griffin, Confluence Visuals

Don't miss the Spring ArtWalk!
While I've got your attention, I may as well remind you about the Spring ArtWalk coming up on Saturday, May seventh, from five o'clock to seven o'clock. This will be its fourth year, and every year it just gets better and better. There will be music and art in many downtown locations and artists doing there thing outside. River Rock Grill, Blue Coyote, El Huipil, and The Halfway Cafe will be offering 10% off to ArtWalk guests.
In the past there has been an art giveaway based on a scavenger hunt. You can see more pictures from past ArtWalks by clicking here.

The Feline Film Festival is sure to be a good time!
I saw this on my Facebook feed and had to share. "TICKETS ON SALE!!! CaRMaH (Cat Rescue of Marlborough and Hudson)'s long awaited Feline Film Festival will hold their premiere at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre on Friday, May 20 at 7 pm! Dress fancy or plain, and come join us! We expect a sell out, so order your tickets early—just $10, and all proceeds go to the cats!"

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" author, Jeff Kinney speaking in Maynard
How cool is it that author Jeff Kinney will be coming to Maynard!!  Many thanks to the Maynard Public Library for helping to make this event happen.

Wednesday, May 4th at 6pm.
Fowler Middle School Auditorium
April 19 at 7:45pm

From the Friends of the Library:
"We're excited to announce that children's author Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series will be here in Maynard!! Jeff will visit the Fowler Middle School Auditorium on Wednesday, May 4th at 6pm.

Kinney is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books featuring a middle-school weakling named Greg Heffley, his friends and family. The first Wimpy Kid book was published in 2007 and became an instant bestseller. Now numbering 10 books, the series has more than 164 million copies in print. The books are currently available in 51 editions in 45 languages. In addition, three movies based on the book series have been filmed and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Musical premiered earlier this month.

Since initial publication in 2007, the series has gone on to win many regional and national awards around the globe including two Children’s Choice Book Awards and five Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for Favorite Book. Jeff Kinney was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. Jeff lives with his wife and two sons in Plainville, Massachusetts, where he owns a bookstore, An Unlikely Story."
Full details here.

Big Band at the Fine Arts Theatre

You can see a big band orchestra perform right here in Maynard! The Hal McIntyre Band will be performing a tribute to Peggy Lee, with the vocal stylings of Jody Ebling, Thursday, May 26, 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now at the theatre. 

This might make a great Mothers' or Fathers' Day present!

I grabbed this from the Fine Arts Theatre's Facebook page:

Here's a little history:

"Billed as “The Band America Loves,” the original McIntyre Orchestra debuted at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, NY in 1941, as well as headline venues including New York’s Commodore Hotel, Hollywood’s Palladium Ballroom and Chicago’s Sherman Hotel. During the war years the group regularly played overseas for U.S. troops as well. McIntyre continued leading the orchestra well into the 1950s (including an appearance backing the Mills Brothers on their 1952 chart-topper “Glow Worm”.) Hal died in a house fire at his home in Los Angeles on May 5, 1959. 

With permission from the McIntyre family, Don Pentleton continued the band. Don is the musical director and drummer. He is a veteran Big Band drummer who has also performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Skitch Henderson, Ella Fitzgerald and comedians Phyllis Diller, Pat Cooper, Frankie Fontaine, and George Jessel." -Maudslay Arts Center, 2015

General Admission: $28, Seniors, $25. Come down to the box office for your tickets.

My dear neighbors, with so many things happening in Maynard you are going to be busy. I didn't get to list everything that's going on, but I hope to see you at many of these great events!

Street Sweeping to Start March 21

I got this from the Town Administrator's blog:
Please be advised that the 2016 annual Town-wide streets sweeping begins on Monday, March 21st. We expect the sweeping to take four to six weeks, weather dependent. Our sequence of sweeping will be as follows:

Want to know when your street will be done? Click on this link to see where in the sequence of sweeping your street will fall. 

Second Building (Building 10) Teardown at Mill and Main

It's nice to see that work continues down at Mill  & Main. It means that we're that much closer to that beautiful plan that they're working toward. The impatient person in me feels like it will never get here fast enough, but I know it has to be done right.

Someday we'll struggle to remember what the old mill complex used to look like, and we'll wonder why nobody had thought to bring this plan forward sooner.

What are People in Maynard Reading?

I was recently somewhere here in town where conversation suddenly turned to the books people were reading. It was really interesting, and I mentioned to the people I was with that I would love to have their reading list. I started to think about what other people in Maynard might be reading and thought, Why don't I ask people and then do a blog post about it?

So here, in no particular order, are the books that some of your fellow citizens are reading. It's so cool to see the diversity of all these titles. 

Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life, by Peter Gray - Denise
Rick Steves Snapshot Lisbon, by Rick Steves - Denise
Men Explain Things To Me, by Rebecca Solnit - Holly
The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh - Michel
Ivy Cole and the Moon, by Gina Fargo - Claire
Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo - Claire
The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough - Ken
Team of Rivals, by Dorothy Kearns Goodwin - Ken
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand - Ken
Raising the Curve: A True Portrayal of Classroom Life, by Ron Berler - Lauren
Tragedy & Hope: A History of the World in Our Time, by Carroll Quigley - Amanda
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, by David Holmgren - Amanda
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? An Uncle Eric Book, by Richard J. Maybury - Amanda
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, by Nathaniel Branden - Amanda
Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel
Secret Sisters, by Jayne Ann Krentz - Meghanne
Missing Pieces, by Heather Gudenkauf - Meghanne  
Orphan Train, by Christina Baker Kline - Meghanne
Coaching the Artist Within, by Eric Maisel - Pencil Lady
Memoirs of Hadrian, by Marguerite Yourcenar - Pencil Lady
After the Reich: A Brutal History of the Allied Occupation, by Giles McDonogh - Rob
The World Below, by Sue Miller - Brenda
Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande - Kat
How Should a Person Be?, by Sheila Heti - Sue
Behind the Beautiful Forevers, by Katerine Boo - Sue
The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism, by
Doris Kearns Goodwin - Margaret
An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude, by Ann Vanderhoof - Andrew
The Drums of Autumn  (Outlander Series Book 4), by Diana Gabaldon - Gwen
The Tao of Physics, by Fritjof Capra - Gwen
Skinner Luce, by Maynard author Patricia Ward - Priscilla
The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton - John
All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr - Whitney and Joan
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, by Lois McMaster Bujold - Rob
Too Many Children Left Behind, by Bradury, Corak, Waldfogel, Washbrook - Rob
Death in Paradise, by Robert Parker - Joanie
The American Class Structure In an Age of Growing Inequality, by Dennis Gilbert - Dennis
Charleston, by John Jakes - Larry
Seveneves, by Neal Stephenson - Katrina
Bernini: His Life and His Rome, by Franco Mormando - Liz
The Chronicles of Master Li, by Barry Hughart - Josh 
Number Ten Ox, by Barry Hughart - Josh 
The Space Below My Feet, by Gwen Moffat - Donna
A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman - Lauren
The Purpose Economy, by Aaron Hurst - Lauren
The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton - Jan
The Whites, by Richard Price - Jan
Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain, by Maryanne Wolf - Carolyn
The Fifth Season, by N K Jemisin - Liz
Into Oblivion, by Arnaldur Indrisason - Dottie
Faithfully Feminist; Jewish Christian and Muslim Feminists On Why We Stay, edited by Jennifer
Zobair and Gina Messina-Dysert, and Amy Levin - Lois
The Gold Eaters: A Novel Hardcover, by Ronald Wright - Laura
The Yacoubian Building, by Alaa-Al-Aswany - Elizabeth
Daughters of the Samurai: Journey from East to West and Back,  by Janice P. Nimura - Christie
Needles and Pearls, by Gil McNeil  - Christie
The Art Forger, by B. A. Shapiro - Loretta
Rival Rails: The Race to Build America's Greatest Transcontinental Railroad, by Walter Boardman - Christie
Along the Infinite Sea, by Beatriz Williams - Trudy
Ready Player One, by Ernst Cline - Trudy
The Grownup, by Gillian Flynn - Trudy
The Bat, by Jo Nesbo - Trudy
Protocol Zero, by James Abel - Trudy
Silo series, by Hugh Howey - Trudy
The Ringed Castle, by Dorothy Dunnett - Laura
An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears, - Linda
Made in Detroit ( poetry), by Marge Piercy - Linda
the Bible - Linda, Dorothy 
A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving - Dorothy
The Cold War: A New History, by John Lewis Gaddis - Sander
Candy Freak, by Steve Almond - Kathy
The Pale View of Hills, by Kazuo Ishiguro - Kathy
With this next one, I couldn't help but keep the readers book report with it:
"I came upon a great mystery series that is totally engrossing and unexpected! It takes place in the 1970s in newly Communist Laos. You read me right, Laos. The hero is a 72 year old man (!) the country's only coroner—not by choice. Oh he also happens to have the spirit of a 1,000 year old Hmong shaman residing within him. It is hysterically funny! I am totally transported into a culture as foreign to me as can possibly be and can't stop reading them. It reminds me of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency books that take place in Botswana. Anyway the series is The Dr.Siri Mystery Series I am currently reading the 3rd book Disco for the Departed. (He's haunted by a particularly cruel spirit that plays disco music.). The first one is The Coroners Lunch, - oh, all by Colin Cotterill. - Kathleen

This was kind of fun. Maybe I'll make it a regular post that I do a couple times a year. Thanks so much to everyone who participated. 

Both Articles for Rezoning Passed at Town Meeting Tonight

In case you didn't make to the full-house, funfest that is Annual Town Meeing, just wanted to let you know that the rezoning approvals for both 129 Parker (the Shoppes at Maynard Crossing) and Mill & Main (formerly Clock Tower Place) have passed. I am hopeful that both changes will lead to more good things happening in Maynard. 

1st Building Demolition in Mill & Main Project has Begun

Seagull Cinderella Lives on Summer Street (sounds almost like a tongue twister)

"Have you seen that big bird?"
"What's with the bird on Summer Street?"
"There's like this giant sculpture of a bird with breasts on someone's lawn. Do you know anything about it?"

The Summer Street sculpture has had the town abuzz since the fall, when it appeared on the lawn of one of the houses. When I heard the chatter I knew what it was. I had heard that some known-to-the-art-world artists were moving to Maynard. I knew that had to be them. Obviously, I was all excited.

I have had the information to do a blog post on this for a little while, but there's so much to say that I was a little overwhelmed at the thought of writing it. I've decided that I just need to get it out and not waste any more time, so forgive me if I ramble!

Dear Neighbors of Maynard, allow me to introduce you to Donna Dodson, Andy Moerlein and Seagull Cinderella!

I was able to reach Donna via her blog, and she graciously invited me over to see their home and work space. On the day of our get together I eagerly approached their house—having already driven slowly by on a few occasions, I couldn't wait to see Seagull Cinderella up close. Along with the sculpture, their yard had workers and light construction equipment—they were having some work done on the place.

The barn of the property was being finished to be their studio, and though it didn't have any work in it yet, I did get to see it. All this work has meant that their house is acting as a temporary studio. There are sculptures and drawings simply but beautifully displayed everywhere. They've pretty much allowed themselves a kitchen and their rooms upstairs, but the rest of the first floor is a bit like a meandering working gallery, and the basement is currently where they get all the sculpting work done.

They are newly weds who met over art. If I'm correct, they both had sculptures on display in the same gallery, and bad weather left the show opening poorly attended. The two spent the entire time talking to each other. They became friends and kept trying to find ways to work together. The rest, as they say, is history.

Collaboratively they create ephemeral, large-scale, public-display sculptures as The Myth Makers. Both artists have a thing for nature—birds, trees, and stones seem to appear again and again in their work.

I was going to try to describe Donna's work, but realized that her artist statement already does: ‘My artwork celebrates the mystical relationship between human beings and the animal kingdom. Because there were no icons of women in the church that I grew up in, my vision is to create them. Through hybrid female-animal forms that I sculpt in wood, I flesh out sensuality, sexuality and soul with a well-proportioned figurative vocabulary. The natural grain of the wood interacts with the form and shape of my sculptures in a descriptive way, suggesting nostrils, and nipples or garments and fabric textures. I often stylize each piece to enhance the girl, woman, princess, queen or goddess within. The mouths, or in some cases beaks, are closed symbolizing the mysteries they embody. These figures are sculpted in sizes ranging from one to four feet tall. I use color in both subtle and bold ways to activate each piece. My inspiration comes from ancient iconography and mythological imagery.’

I couldn't find Andy's artist's statement, so you'll have to bear with my quick description. His work draws a lot of inspiration from rock. He talked to me about one of his favorite subjects, 'scholar's stones'—naturally occurring or shaped rocks which are traditionally appreciated by Chinese scholars. He dipped into the philosophical and touched on the perceived meanings of 'value', especially when it came to the idea of these scholar's stones. His own work imitates stone forms and texture, often carved out of wood. Take a look in their back yard and you'll get to see one of his large stone sculptures perched in a young tree that shouldn't be up to the task. They defy gravity, they do.

Not only are they cool artists who are new to town, but they're also good citizens; I ran into Andy at the 129 Parker Street meeting at the high school the other week. He was there with a clipboard in hand, likely working on some sculpture ideas, but also asking questions. That means a lot to me. It says that they're really here and present. And the only reason Donna didn't attend was because she had broken a toe when she banged it on one of her sculptures.

Another funny bit of information... I heard that someone in town dressed up as "Seagull Cinderella" for Downtown Trick or Treat. There may even be pictures out there somewhere. I told Donna and Andy about it. They'd love to see it, as would I—what a great idea!

They are not shy about talking to people about their work and hold open houses every now and then. So keep your eye on them and stop in if the chance comes up. And if you see them walking around, say hello and welcome!

Maynard's Arts Community Keeps on Growing

Over the last year and some change, Main Street has seen a big increase in the filling of vacancies by arts based business. 6 Bridges took over the old Brazilian Market, I don't even remember what used to be where Denault Studios was, and smARTroom took over Tish's. It feels like there's something in the air.

When La Rosa nail salon left a few weeks back, we all feared another empty store front. Yesterday I was pleased to see some people inside doing a little work. I thought maybe there were people working for the landlord to get it ready to rent. I was wrong. Today when I went by, there were skateboards in the window, eclectic fabric, a Christmas tree that looks like it has been in a tussle with some spools of ribbon, and a motorcycle—yup, a real motorcycle.

As I went to get coffee and work my shift at 6 Bridges Gallery, acquaintances I ran into asked me if I knew what was going on, and who was moving in to the location. I didn't have the answer. But when my shift was done, I walked through the rain to go get a quick bite for lunch, and as I passed La Rosa I saw two young men stepping inside. I couldn't resist, so I knocked.

Let me introduce you to Ian and Dillon. They were nice enough to let the weird lady on the street take a picture of them. (Sorry the photos are blurry; it was chilly and I was in a hurry.)  These young guys are adding to the fabric of our arts scene. I didn't get to talk to them much because I needed to go, but they were very friendly. In the brief time that we chatted, I learned that they will be running it as a studio space. I think they said they're thinking of calling it "Dissonance Archive". If I'm correct, and I may not be, I think they said that they would be doing both audio and visual art.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to them again soon, and get better details.

In the meantime, let's welcome them to the neighborhood! We wish them luck and we'll be watching as they transform their space to reflect their creativity.

Really Cool Art Show at ArtSpace Maynard “From Cave Drawings to Selfies: #painting people”

I missed the 2nd Saturday art opening at ArtSpace last weekend, and now that I've had a chance to see the show, I'm really sorry that I didn't make it. I would have loved to have met the artists. The work is phenomenal and the combining of the images of these two artists' is spot on. I heard that there might have even been some important people in the art world who attended the opening.

In a suggestion of an urban setting, Ann Strassman and Youngsheen A. Jhe paint images of people in all their raw and imperfect beauty, either juxtaposed with mannequins that seem to be imitating their stiff and impersonal posturing, or in deliberately incomplete settings where the negative space seems as important as the positive. Strassman's paintings done on unfolded cardboard boxes, use the surface to add another layer of depth and meaning to the work. The large scale format of these pieces is striking.

I am not doing this show any justice with my writing or my photo. You just have to see it in person. I think you'll be impressed.

This show will only be up through December 31st. If you have family in town for the holidays, this might make for a great visit. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, from 11:00 am- 3:00 pm. The gallery will not be open on Christmas Day. 

Here's the description that is posted on the ArtSpace Web site:

“From Cave Drawings to Selfies: #painting people”
Featuring Ann Strassman and Youngsheen A. Jhe
The ArtSpace Gallery is pleased to present an exhibit by Ann Strassman and Youngsheen A. Jhe.  The work of both women is contemporary using clothing, objects and architecture of current culture that reflects the choices of our times by depicting the human face and figure and how it has changed over the history and mankind, which gives the viewer a greater appreciation of this discipline.

I hope you enjoy this show as much as I did.

I Heard the Vietnamese Restaurant is Supposed to Open on Friday 12/4

Yesterday ArtSpace artist Jen Maestre (you know her as the Pencil Woman) mentioned that she happened to be walking by the soon-to-open Gigi's Vietnamese restaurant and saw someone inside, so she walked in. She asked if they were open yet and they told her that they were planning on opening tomorrow, Friday, December fourth. They gave her some business cards (and maybe some menus) to share with people. Jen said she'd have them in her studio during the ArtSpace Maynard Holiday Sale this weekend.

The menu is available online. I'm looking forward to sampling some Vietnamese cuisine soon!

Free Screening of "Codegirl" at Fine Arts Theatre, Sponsored by Yieldbot, Monday, December 14th

I'm really proud that my husband and the company he helps run (Yieldbot) out of Mill & Main thought the subject of girls in technology was important enough to bring "CODEGIRL" to Maynard. And I'm so pleased that our local theater (Fine Arts Theatre Place) agreed. 

On December 14 at 7pm, Yieldbot is sponsoring a free screening of "CODEGIRL" at Fine Arts Theatre Place. 

"CODEGIRL" is a recent documentary that centers around an app competition (specifically the 2014 competition) that is held yearly worldwide that encourages girls to get into technology. My husband watched it during a brief period when it was being offered by Google on Youtube for free. He felt it was important and thought that we have a great chance to get even more people to see it.

Back in college he was part of a team that did a study that found that one of the big reasons that girls, even at a young age, don't go into technology is that they don't identify with the image of who they think is good with technology. This is slowly changing, and competitions like the one in the movie are doing their part by giving girls direct access to working with technology, working towards a goal, and being successful with it.

But the movie itself can play a big role as well, by giving visibility to these girls and their struggles and success. It reminds everyone that there's no reason they can't do it, and provides an opportunity for our girls to see these girls as an example and inspiration for what they can do if they want to.

We have a daughter, and we don't ever want her to believe that the things she might want to do could be limited by her gender. Whether or not you have a daughter interested in technology, the film inspires thinking. Reserve your free ticket now because this is an important topic. 

Here's a link to the trailer.

 

ArtSpace Mourns the Loss of Artist Doris Carlson

I met Doris Carlson sometime in the early two-thousands, when I joined ArtSpace Maynard. What struck me about meeting her was how kind she seemed. Somehow she managed to convey compassion, a sense of humor, patience, and understanding, all with her gentle voice. I'm sure it's something that all who knew her loved about her. On Friday, November thirteenth, at age eighty-eight, she died in hospice from complications of cancer.

There are many artists that I admire at ArtSpace, but Doris was always on a special pedestal that my mind holds for people that I want to be like when I grow up. I remember her telling me about the decision she made to, when she was in her fifties and after her kids were grown, go to art school! I hadn't even had the courage to apply to art school as a young woman! With that little story she flipped a switch in my brain.

Now, one might think that a woman who had spent most of her days as what was then referred to as a "homemaker" that decided to go to art school might stick to some conservative approach to art; maybe painting some flowers and leave it at that. This was not the case with Doris. She once gave me and my (then four-year-old) daughter a tour of her home, the art she collected, and her own art. Each piece that she showed me opened a door to new possibilities. We stood before a highly textured and gilded piece that was lovingly framed and in a hallway. "Do you know what that is?" she asked. When I said that I didn't, she smiled and declared wryly, "Cocoa Puffs cereal! I have another one upstairs that I did that is Shredded Wheat!" And we laughed.

Doris was more than just a late-blooming artist with a playful personality, she was also legally blind. Macular degeneration had begun to rob her of her sight many years ago, but let me assure you that she never let this be the defining trait that people would remember her by. It was certainly a part of the last several years of her life, but mostly only because she couldn't drive herself places. And if she saw your shadowy figure in the hall, she'd have to ask you to tell her who you were.

When I would give friends tours of the ArtSpace building, along the way we'd come to some of Doris' work—bold patterns of stripes, glazed in metallic paints, angular and bulbous intertwining abstract formations. I'd tell my touring friends that she was legally blind, and they'd invariably express their sympathy. But by my judgment, Doris didn't feel sorry for herself. She hardly complained about her struggles, even when she found out she had cancer. Mostly she'd talk about the nuisance of symptoms, as if she were holding the thing in her hand and showing it to you so you could both nod and agree about it being a real pill. That's just how she was.

As do most artists, I often have doubts about my art. But when I had chances to talk to Doris, her spirit always left me feeling grounded and secure, like nothing was really impossible and things weren't such a big deal. Her story never got old, and she often seemed surprised by how much I loved hearing it. She didn't see herself as a maverick, and I'm not sure she ever grasped how much of a heroine she was to me.

She was loved by her ArtSpace colleagues and will be missed. You can still find her work on display in the hallway outside the studio space that she shared, the studio with the purple door. I hope you'll consider coming to see it at the next ArtSpace Open House.

Miracle of Miracles—the Plywood Has Been Removed!

If I hadn't kept my wits about me, I might have skidded off the road due to a miracle that I was witness to today. Maybe you saw it, too. As I approached the intersection of Powdermill and Waltham Streets, I saw a most wondrous sight. There were workers... replacing the windows... of the old Murphy and Snyder building!

Somebody pinch me.

Whether it was the letter writing campaigns, complaints to Town Hall, a trend toward improvements of commercial buildings all over town,  or Maynard's Guerilla Plywood Painter (GPP), the message got through to Mr. VanValey, the owner of that parcel of land.

And so...

Here ye, here ye!
From this day forward let us declare November nineteenth to be an informal holiday in Maynard! In this season of giving thanks, this one might be close to the top of the list.

Now, what do we call this holiday? "Bye-Bye Ply Day"?