Join the artists of Western Avenue Studios for Open Studios the first Saturday in May- and don’t forget to take part in the Spring Art Thing, our free drawing for a Western Ave gift certificate!
Spring Art Thing at Western Avenue Studios
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Creaticity: Lowell Art & Maker Festival
The Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) is excited to announce Lowell’s first Art & Maker Festival will be happening this weekend, September 16-17, 2017 in downtown Lowell. CREATICITY will fill Market Street with art and culture of all types – artists and makers, writers, performers, music, interactive public art, and so much more.
Many of the artists, writers, and makers of Western Avenue Studios will be featured at this event. WAS artists vending on Market Street will be:
Aaron Slater Glass- John Francis Designs
- Carland Cartography
- Scrapsapien
- Walk on the Moon jewelry
- Dave Drinon
- Muddy Girls Studios
- Recycled Matters
- Katherine DuBose
- Arlette Laan Fiber Creations
- Jack Attack Clothing
- Amaranth & Rue Handmade Soaps
- Prunella’s Workshop
- La Cueva Blu
- Barbara Fletcher
- Suzanne Hodge
- B. Felt
- Joelle Felyce
WAS artist Lisa Hertel will also be doing a free workshop, “Grow Your Own Wire Tree,” on Saturday at 4:30. Stephan Anstey is doing a workshop at 4:30 on Sunday entitled, “Coming Unstuck through Poetry.”
Creaticity is free and open to the public.Visitors can expect to see over 50 booths lining Market Street exhibiting fine art and artisan goods for sale, featuring works by local artists. Makers will showcase their creations or projects promoting science, technology and art. Stage and street performers will delight young and old alike, with music, theater, and dance. Free interactive workshops and demos will be held throughout the two-day festival, allowing visitors to learn and create their own art. Visit the writers corner to speak with local authors and listen to their works. The Revolving Museum will be creating a large public art piece, where the public can join in making the artwork over the course of the weekend. Walking tours will be led by members of the community, allowing visitors to learn more about Lowell’s public art scene, dance in Lowell, and innovation & invention.
A New Look for the Old Ball Game
Sports fans and art lovers unite! Western Avenue Studios and the Lowell Spinners continue their partnership this August 11th with “Art in the Park,” a unique chance to browse and purchase creative works by Western Ave Artists at LeLacheur Park, and with a Silent Auction, the proceeds of which will go towards Spinners charities and Loading Dock Arts, a 501(c)3 charity that supports art education and resources in Lowell.
Up for auction will be original works of art created using Spinners baseballs and other gaming equipment. Check out a sneak preview below of some of the works of baseball art that will be for auction at the August 11th game at LeLacheur Park, and get your tickets to the game online here to be part of the action! The game will be followed by fireworks.
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- By Suzanne Hodge, studio 511A
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- By Assemble Lab, studio located on the third floor
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- By Margot Mam Art, studio 206
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- By Liz Stewart, Lush Industrial, studio A205
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- By Derek McGearty, Scrapsapiens, studio a210
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- By Nan Hockenbury, studio A401
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- By Laura Massei, July Design Studio
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- By Lisa Hertel, studio 109
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- By Deb Arsenault, studio A407
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- By Bruce Wood, studio 427
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- By Ron Weed, studio 205
Featured Artist – Bruce Wood – Studio 427
You’ve seen Bruce Wood’s creations all over Western Ave & even outside our walls, now find out what makes him tick!
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you from? Where did you study? How long have you been an artist?
A: I grew up in Massachusetts. After graduating High School I attended Arizona Western College on an athletic scholarship. Then transferred to Northern Arizona University to study art. I have received a Bachelor of Science with an extended major in ceramics. I transitioned directly in to graduate school and received a Master of Arts in art education. Creativity has always been in my life. I have expressed it through building furniture, making pottery, fabricating jewelry, designing digital imagery, photography, and now through found object sculpture.
Q: What is the first thing you remember making/creating by hand?
A: As a kid I remember building tree houses and forts. I once found an out-cropping of raw clay and turned it into pottery.
Q: What do you love most about your art?
A: I love the challenge of putting things together that don’t belong together and making them look like they go together naturally. I also enjoy using everyday objects in a design and hiding them in plain view.
Q: What is your biggest obstacle with your art?
A: Time. I have a multitude of ideas that I want to attempt, and not enough time to tackle them all.
Q: Describe a typical art creativity session. What is it like? For example, do you work in silence, or do you work to music? Do you prefer to be alone, or do you need people around?
A: I work on several ideas at once. Each project spins off ideas for something new. I am torn between finishing an existing project or starting a new one. I jump from one thing to another and am always challenged to make my next piece better than the last.
When I am in the zone all existence is blocked out except the tasks at hand.
Q: How does your personality translate into your art?
A: I like to make things that please me. I like to continually improve my skills and talents. The thought of failure rarely enters into the equations.
I am comfortable spending time by myself, living inside my head.
Q: Did you always know you wanted to make the art you make today? Did you start out in a different medium in the early days?
A: I never imagined making the art I do today. I always believed I would be a potter. I like trying new things which has lead me to new art, media and skills.
Q: What advice do you have for someone just starting out as an artist?
A: Make a lot of art and always try to improve. Don’t worry about the opinions of others. We are all in a growth process with our art.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the arts community?
A: I love being around a community of artists. For a long time I made art by myself. I learned that using myself as my own inspiration eventually stifled my artwork. My art has grown exponentially since I have moved into Western Avenue Studios.
You can visit Bruce in his Studio #427 on the First Saturday of each month at Western Avenue Open Studios!
Create More
Create more love. Create more understanding. Create more peace.
Create more ART.
Best wishes from all of us at Western Avenue Studios to all of you, and yours, in the coming new year.
The Art of Gift Giving
Special events like Holiday Open Studios may be over with for 2016 but there’s still time to get thoughtful, unique, local, handmade gifts for everyone on your list. Many of our artists will have their studios open for shopping in the days leading up to Christmas. Check the board by the elevator as you walk into the building to see what studios are open that day.
Also the Loading Dock Gallery, which features many artists throughout the building and the local arts community is featuring extended hours this week for your shopping needs!
Don’t forget to come back January 7th for our first Open Studios event of 2017!
Shop Local * Shop Independent * Shop Handmade
Artists Pick the President
In a year like this one it should come as no surprise that the “Primped Out Pumpkin Contest,” one of the annual events at ARToberfest, had it’s share of political commentary. Shanna Thompson, of studio 210, took things a step further and let ARToberfest visitors vote for their choice for President.
The results of this pre-election by artists and art-lovers followed national polls. Hillary took the lead over the Trumpkin – but not by as much as you’d think (or hope depending on your political bent.) So take that as a warning, when it comes to elections nothing is ever for certain. In keeping in this spirit, Western Avenue Studios is an early voting location this year. Lowell residents are invited to skip the long election day lines and cast their vote early on Sunday October 30th, from 10:00 to 2:00, at Western Avenue Studios, located at 122 Western Ave, in Lowell, MA.
Also on the ballot is your chance to voice your opinion on your Representative in Congress, the Governor’s Councilor, the State Senator, State Representative, and Sheriff. You’ll also have your chance to weigh in on ballot Question One (an additional slot parlor), Question Two (expanding charter schools), Three (quality of life rights for farm animals) and Question Four (legalizing recreational marijuana.)
And don’t fret- early voters still get nifty “I voted” stickers!
Primped Out Pumpkins: and the winner is . . . .
Each year during ARToberfest weekend, Western Avenue Studios artists transform simple pumpkins into dramatic works of art! From fanciful fairy tale pumpkins to fretfully frightful abstractions, you’d be amazed at how a building full of artists use their creativity in an effort to win the coveted “People’s Preferred Pumpkin” prize. During ARToberfest weekend visitors were invited to wander the hallways and vote for their favorite creation.
This year the winner of the contest was in line to recieve The Great Pumpkin Trophy, created by artist Bruce Wood of studio #427, a $50 COOL gift certificate, and a Pumpkin Spice & Chill gift set, created by Amaranth & Rue Handmade Soaps, of studio #A302. Most importantly the winner would earn bragging rights for the next year.
Here are some of the creations that were entered into the contest:
The winners of the 2016 Primped Out Pumpkins Contest are . . . . . .
Third Place: Cheryl Polcaro, studio 323, with her Caterpillar Pumpkin
Second Place: Bruce Wood, studio 427, with his Scary-Go-Round
And our first place winner: Derek McGearty, studio A210, with his Scrapsapien Workers
Congrats to everyone who took part in this year’s contest!
Artists of Western Ave Studios rule “Kingdom Animalia”
The Whistler House Museum of Art has given their 2016 juried members exhibit a “wild” theme this year – and many of the artists at Western Avenue Studios have been included in the show. “Kingdom Animalia” shows off the animal loving side of art with more than eighty original pieces in a variety of mediums.
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- Quebec Cat by Art Ferrier, studio 503
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- Moose by Ilene Richard, studio 325
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- Red Lion Fish by Val Borgal, studio 504
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- Lollipop Panda by Jack Holmes, studio A207
“The Kingdom Animalia exhibition came out of discussions of people’s love for pets, and we chose to expand the subject to include all animals,” says President and Executive Director Sara Bogosian. “The result is a wondrous array of paintings, drawings, sculpture, and fiber art of creatures large and small. It is an overwhelming and lovely exhibition that all ages will enjoy.”
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- Call Me Sweetheart by Nita Leger Casey, studio 407A
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- Homage to Julia by Laurie Simko, studio A512
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- Jezebel by Denise Rainis, studio 418
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- Resting Spot by Kathy Lennon Clericuzio, studio 202N
Among the many works on display are several by WAS artists. Valerie Borgal, Joe Lapiana, Jack Homes, Art Ferrier, Kathy Lennon Clericuzio, Nita Leger Casey, Laurie Simko, Suzanne Hodge, Margot Mam Thach Ilene Richard, and Denise Rainis all have works represented in the show. Congratulations to Laurie Simko, who has three pieces in the show, one of which earned her a Whistler Award.
The “Kingdom Animalia” exhibit runs through June 18th. The museum is open to visitors Weds through Saturday, 11:00 to 4:00. Or visit the artists themselves in their studios the first Saturday of every month during Open Studios to see more of their work.