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Natick Report

Since 2020: More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

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Top Stories

 
  • —Park improvement funding now up to Town Meeting
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  • —Town government meetings for week of Oct. 5
 
 

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RIP: Bike face sculpture at Coolidge Gardens goes down with its tree

October 7, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Now that was some face plant.

The bike face sculpture, along with the dead tree upon which it has been mounted in front of the Coolidge Gardens housing complex for the past few years, has collapsed in a heap.

Fortunately, no one appears to have been standing too close when that happened at the corner of South Main Street and Cottage Street.

Bike face art tree Coolidge Gardens

Those passing by have been paying their respects, with those stuck in traffic due to utility work on Rte. 27 south getting a few extra moments to reflect on this public art’s demise.

The bike face was the work of local artist Jeff Olsen, who has also made his mark with bicycle art on the Cochituate Rail Trail at the Wonderbread spur off of Speen Street.

coolidge tree bike face art
Bike face tree art, from 2022

 
Regarding the bike face at Coolidge Gardnes, Olsen told us in 2022: “Jay Ball asked me to do something fun with that dead tree, and since it’s rotten enough that it can’t really be carved, we decided to decorate it.… It’s a bike frame, wheels, fenders and a couple of handsaw blades.”

So the tree’s collapse resulted in a true fender bender.

Bike face art tree Coolidge GardensBike face art tree Coolidge Gardens
 

We get around, but don’t see everything. If you see something that the rest of the community might also want to see, please keep us in mind: natickreport@gmail.com

More: Natick Select Board picks a lane on Main Street Improvement Project

Filed Under: Art

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Outdoor art gallery: Natick High senior car windows

September 26, 2026 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The painted rear windows on Natick High School seniors’ vehicles parked in the Memorial Field parking lot made for a fun sort of art display this week.

NHS senior cars at Memorial Field lotNHS senior cars at Memorial Field lotNHS senior cars at Memorial Field lotNHS senior cars at Memorial Field lot


Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Art

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Natick arts roundup , October 2026 edition

September 25, 2026 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, art gallery opening this month. Here are just a few events happening soon.

Don’t see your free or low-cost Natick cultural event listed? Contact natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.


Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, season opener, “Musical Tales”

Wellesley Symphony OrchestraDATE/TIME: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2pm
LOCATION: MassBay Community College Auditorium, 50 Oakland St, Wellesley, MA
TICKET INFO here
DESCRIPTION: The concert begins with Elisabetta Brusa’s symphonic poem, Merlin, for orchestra, Op.20. Written in 2004, this describes one of history’s best loved legendary figures. Giovanni Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante, is dedicated to long-time WSO cellist and WSO board vice president Jan Schwaner, who passed away on July 22. Jan joined the WSO in 1994, and joined our board in 2006. A joyful presence in the orchestra, Jan was an important part of our outreach program as part of the WSO String quartet. You’ll find more about Jan here.


Saturdays at 4 Series: Children’s Concert: Peter & the Wolf!

Peter and the Wolf, WellesleyDATE/TIME: October 10, 4pm-5:30pm
LOCATION: Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.
DESCRIPTION: Join us for this free Children’s Concert featuring Prokofiev’s beloved Peter & the Wolf! With the professional Puppeteering Group, “Really Inventive Stuff” and Woodwind Quintet, this promises to be fun for the whole family.
REGISTRATION here


Natick Open Studios

Natick Artists Open StudiosDATES/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 17 & Sunday, Oct.  18, 11am-5pm
LOCATION: All Around Natick—participants and locations coming soon here.
DESCRIPTION: Meet and visit in informal settings with over 100 artists living or working in Natick to learn about their art and to purchase unique creations. Painters, printmakers, sculptors, potters, mosaic artists, jewelers, fiber artists, photographers, and mixed media artists. Some artists will offer live demonstrations during the open studio weekend which also include refreshments and live bands.


Wellesley Theatre Project presents “Peter and the Starcatcher”

Wellesley Theatre Project, Peter


Art exhibit at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary

Broadmoor, Natasha Broude, artistARTIST: Natasha Broude
ON DISPLAY: through Oct. 31
LOCATION: Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick, MA
DESCRIPTION: Natasha’s work includes watercolor paintings, as well as graphite and charcoal drawings. Natasha’s preferred subject is landscape. She expresses all the variations of light and shadow using the unique palette, texture, and transparency of the watercolor medium.


Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, presents “The British Have Come!”

DATE/TIME: Sunday, November 8, 2026 @2pm
LOCATION: MassBay Community College Auditorium, 50 Oakland St, Wellesley, MA
TICKET INFO here
DESCRIPTION: William Boyce, Symphony No. 4; Benjamin Britten,Four Sea Interludes; Ralph Vaughan Williams, Symphony No. 5. Please join the WSO for a reception after the concert. MassBay is minutes from Rt 95, easy to get to with free parking. Great dining and shopping is minutes away in nearby Wellesley Square. Tickets are pay-what-you-can.


Thoughtful Animals by David Parish

 

Broadmoor, Natick, photography exhibit
Yak, Bhutan, by David Parish

ON DISPLAY: through Oct. 21
LOCATION: Bacon Free Library through Oct. 21
DESCRIPTION: David Parish is a photographer and a long-term resident of Natick. He has been involved with several organizations in the town, including as Chair of the Broadmoor Advisory Board and, most recently, as Chair of the Bacon Free Library. David began his travels as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkey and, when possible, has continued to travel with his wife, Shirley, hoping to observe animals in their natural settings.  His wish is that the photos on display will appeal to children, and perhaps even some adults.


Will cross street for art—Page Waterman Gallery

While you’re at the Bacon Free Library South Natick, checking out the David Parish exhibit, stop by Page Waterman Gallery, just across the street. The South Natick dam may be gone, but the gallery has an excellent inventory of dam paintings, and art is forever.


Flamenco Performance

DATE/TIME: Thursday, October, 7pm-8:15pm
LOCATION:
Morse Institute Library, 14 E Central St, Natick
REGISTRATION for this event is suggested, but not required. Patrons who register will receive an event reminder and any updates about the event. Registration also helps us know how many chairs we need.
DESCRIPTION: Combining dynamic footwork, intricate guitar playing, and powerful emotional singing, flamenco brings together music, dance, and storytelling in a uniquely captivating way.
SPONSOR: This program is possible due to a grant from the Natick Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency and the Friends of the Library.


Gallery 01760—”Local Clouds”, miniature watercolors

 

Natick Gallery 01760, Nathalie Garfinkle
Nathalie Garfinkle

ON DISPLAY: through September
LOCATION: Gallery 01760, Adams St., Natick Center
DESCRIPTION: Nathalie Garfinkle’s miniature watercolor paintings of cloudscapes. Nathalie says, “Local Clouds is a collection of watercolor cloudscapes focusing on the magic of our everyday places.” The Gallery is devoted entirely to presenting small and beautiful gallery quality miniature art. The art space typically hosts shows lasting one month each. For all submission and show inquiries, email executivedirector@natickcenter.org


Beyond Wellesley

 

Boston Lyric Opera, outdoors

EVENT: Street Stage at Titus Sparrow Park
DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 3, 4pm-5pm
LOCATION:
 Titus Sparrow Park, 75 West Rutland Square Boston, MA 02118
COST: Free
DESCRIPTION: BLO’s Street Stage rolls into Boston’s South End. This delightful concert program showcases everything from opera classics to musical theatre, all performed by extraordinary professional musicians. Enjoy gorgeous views of Boston from the scenic amphitheater lawn, explore the newly renovated playgrounds and basketball courts, and admire the historic architecture and gardens surrounding this treasured urban green space. In partnership with The Friends of Titus Sparrow Park and The Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy


Danforth Art Museum and School at Framingham State University

EVENT: Drop Into Art
DATE/TIME: Sunday, Oct. 11, 1pm-4pm
LOCATION: 14 Vernon Place on the Framingham Town Common
COST: Free
DESCRIPTION: This popular, ongoing event encourages creativity for adults and kids alike. A variety of materials are provided. It’s free and no pre-registration is required. Just drop in!


Boston Book Festival

DATE/TIME: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10am-5pm
LOCATION: Copley Square, Boylston St. @ Dartmouth St. in Boston’s Back Bay
COST: Free
DESCRIPTION: New England’s largest literary event brings 25,000 people from across the region to Copley Square for an outdoor marketplace of ideas, great stories, author visits and much more. This annual event culminates a year-round celebration of writers and the written word.


Vivo Performing Arts presents “Gravity & Other Myths”

DATES/TIMES: Friday, Oct. 23, 8pm; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2pm & 8pm
LOCATION: Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich St., in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood
COST: $44-$98 including fees
DESCRIPTION: The old saw that one must spend 10,000 hours to achieve greatness in a particular gets put to the test when Australian contemporary circus group GRAVITY & OTHER MYTHS brings its jaw-dropping human agility into a tale of impassioned dedication. Eight acrobats and one musician investigate physical skill—how it’s obtained and perfected, and how it transforms lives. Set to a driving musical score using live percussion/drums, Ten Thousand Hours is a love letter to human bodies and the amazing things they do.


 

Not that we’re being dramatic, but Natick Report simply cannot survive without your help.

  • Sign up for our free weekday email newsletter
  • Send us story tips, photos, ideas: natickreport@gmail.com
  • Support our work via a tax-deductible donation

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment, Music, Theater

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Coffee With a Purpose guest—Rob Dunlavey, documents South Natick dam through art

September 19, 2026 by Deborah Brown

Natick artist, Rob Dunlavey
Natick artist, Rob Dunlavey, in his home studio

Coffee with a Purpose is a free discussion series featuring various guests. Rob Dunlavey, Natick resident and local artist, will be the guest on Monday, Sept. 21, 9am. Rob will share the story of the art he’s created inspired by his daily visits to the South Natick Dam. He will be will be sharing his latest work, his perspectives, and maybe even a sneak peek at a new book he’s created about the dam.

Anyone interested in attending this session, or learning more about Coffee With A Purpose should email Doug Hanna, moderator of the group, at natickhanna@rcn.com.  The group’s video recordings are on YouTube.

Natick Report profiled Rob last year after he was awarded a Maurice Sendak Fellowship. You can see the story here.

Upcoming Coffee With a Purpose schedule

  • 9/21 – Rob Dunlavey—updated South Natick Dam art (and book!)
  • 9/28 – Debra Budd—Dementia Friendly Natick
  • 10/5 – Fall Town Meeting warrant walk—through with Moderator and Fincom Chair
  • 10/12 – No CWAP—Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day
  • 10/19 – CWAP Internal discussion—Fall Town Meeting articles

You don’t want to see our illustrations. But if you’d like to support our writing, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

Filed Under: Art, South Natick Dam

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Arts roundup, August 2026: Outdoor concerts; Natick Nights; Art in Action; and more

August 1, 2026 by Deborah Brown

Natick is fortunate to have a lively arts scene, with various opportunities to engage with or make art at any given time. Check out a concert, theater performance, art gallery opening this month. Here are just a few events happening soon.

Don’t see your free or low-cost Natick cultural event listed? Contact natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.


EVENT: Stacey Peasley concert

DATE/TIME: Aug. 4, 5:30pm-6:30pm
LOCATION: The lawn of the Bacon Free Library, 58 Eliot St., Natick
DESCRIPTION: With energetic beats, catchy melodies, and soaring vocals, Stacey Peasley’s music and performances have been gathering accolades and fans for over a decade!


EVENT: Natick Nights—250th Anniversary of the United States and 375th Anniversary of Natick

DATE/TIME: Aug. 6, 5pm-8pm
LOCATION: Natick Common and around Natick center
DESCRIPTION: Music, food, activities, including historical interpreters.


EVENT: Art in Action

DATE/TIME: Thursday, Aug. 6, 5pm-7:30pm
LOCATION: Morse Institute Library lawn, 114 E. Central St., Natick
SPONSOR: Natick Art Association
DESCRIPTION: Art in Action affords visitors an opportunity to watch artists at work, ask questions, and in some instances, try their hand at creating their own art.


EVENT: Jammin’ With You

DATE/TIME: Aug. 7 & Aug. 21, 10:30am-11am
LOCATION: The lawn of the Bacon Free Library, 58 Eliot St., Natick
DESCRIPTION: Be prepared to laugh, dance, sing, and jam your way through 30 minutes of non-stop family fun! This performance is geared toward kids ages 1 – 7, but fun for the whole family. With modern takes on children’s classics and classic original tunes, you’ll be humming and bopping all the way home. This program will be held outdoors, so bring a blanket or chairs.  In case of rainy or cold weather (under 45 degrees), it will be rescheduled.


Polly in the Colony, theater productionBeyond Natick, theater production, Polly In The Colony

DATES: Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, 2026 — 7pm, 2pm.
LOCATION: Boston College High School, Bulger Performing Arts Center, 150 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
AGES: Recommended for grades 3–6, teachers and families
Tickets $10 kids, $15 adults, teachers get in free. https://friendsofpolly.com/tickets

DESCRIPTION: A 250-YEAR-OLD DOLL WHO WITNESSED THE BOSTON TEA PARTY TAKES THE STAGE. “Polly in the Colony: A True Revolutionary Tale” — a new play for young audiences — makes its world premiere at Boston College High School Aug. 8 and 9, timed to America’s 250th anniversary.

She arrived in Boston on a tea ship in 1773 and was purchased off a shop counter on the very day colonists dumped the tea into the harbor. For more than a century since, she has sat behind glass at Boston’s Old State House, receiving handwritten fan mail from generations of children. Now Polly Sumner — a real, 250-year-old fashion doll — is stepping into the spotlight to tell her own story.


Multicultural Day, Natick EVENT: Multicultural Day 2026

DATE/TIME: Aug. 22, 11am-2pm
LOCATION: Natick Common
SPONSOR: Natick Center Cultural District
DESCRIPTION: This event highlights the diversity and cultures in the community. Visit a variety of cultural booths for fun activities and educational opportunities! To be a part of Multicultural Day, please fill out this Google Form here.


Bacon Free Library, artistEVENT: Art exhibit

DATES/TIME: July 30 – October 8, during library hours
LOCATION: Bacon Free Library, 58 Eliot St., Natick
DESCRIPTION: “Monotypes, Inspired by Nature,” by Lynda Goldberg.


Beyond Natick, Lyric Stage in Boston announces season line-up

VENUE: Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street, 2nd floor (accessible), Boston
PERFORMANCES: 
All My Sons—Sept. 18 – Oct 18
Peter Pan Goes Wrong— Nov. 13 – Dec. 31
Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d — Feb. 5 – Feb. 28, 2027
King James — March 19 – Apr. 11, 2027
Les Misérables— Apr. 30 – June 20, 2027
TICKETS: https://www.lyricstage.com/


Not that we’re being dramatic, but Natick Report simply cannot survive without your help.

  • Sign up for our free weekday email newsletter
  • Send us story tips, photos, ideas: natickreport@gmail.com
  • Support our work via a tax-deductible donation

Filed Under: Art, Music, Theater

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