Natick Report

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

Natick student art showcased at Page Waterman’s Virtual Gallery juried exhibit

by Leave a Comment

Natick High School artists shine this year at Page Waterman Gallery’s 5th annual juried exhibition,  NEXT UP!, taking place online through May 28th. It’s been nice to see that Natick entrants have increased their presence in the prestigious show—four painters, drawers, printmakers, and photographers have entered their talents this year, up from one last year.

The NHS artists are: Rabkwan Chaimattayompol; Shanna Deng; Tia Perkins; and Rebecca Riley.

Natick HS, Page Waterman
Rabkwan Chaimattayompol; Natick High School; Mixed media (watercolor, collage, color pencil)

138 art submissions have been entered. First-, second-, and third-place winners will be chosen, plus honorable mentions and people’s choice awards, in the following categories:

  • Painting, drawing and printmaking
  • Photography
  • Sculpture

NEXT UP! jurors are Keris Salmon, a former network long-form news producer now working as a photographer, filmmaker and textile designer, as well as a media consultant on independent television and film projects; and Allison Tolman, owner at The Tolman Collection of New York who has worked as a private dealer of contemporary Japanese works on paper for 25 years.

Winners will be announced May 16.

Here’s how to support your favorite artists by casting a People’s Choice vote.

Natick HS, Page Waterman
Shanna Deng; Natick High School; Digital (FireAlpaca)
Natick HS, Page Waterman
Tia Perkins; Natick High School; Photography
Natick HS, Page Waterman
Rebecca Riley; Natick High School; Charcoal on paper

About Page Waterman, Gallery & Framing

[Read more…]

Fran's Flowers, Framingham
London Harness
Linden Square, Wellesley

Artists announced for Natick Traffic Calming Public Art projects

by Leave a Comment

Natick Center Cultural District and the Public Art Committee last fall  put out a call for proposals for the planned Traffic Calming Public Art projects at the intersection of Rt. 27 and Rt. 135. General parameters called for projects that were positive, original and colorful and that reflected the immediate environment; the character or culture of the Town of Natick; the history of the area; community pride; creativity;  or other themes. Stipend of $500–$1,200 were thrown in to make things interesting.

Drum roll please for the finalists…

The project, supported by a $25 K state Shared Streets & Spaces grant, must be implemented by Oct. 9, 2021.

MORE:

Traffic experiment in Natick could get artsy

Stay calm, Natick: this is only a traffic test

Subscribe to our free Natick Report daily email

Page Waterman, Wellesley

ArtWeek is coming to Natick Center

by Leave a Comment

Natick ArtWeek returns bringing many events and activities—some are virtual, some are in person, all are inspiring. From Oscar-nominated film screenings, Art in Bloom, and virtual painting & cooking workshops, signing up for Natick ArtWeek events is the perfect way to celebrate spring. The Natick Center Cultural District has all the info on how to take full advantage of the creative fun.

Natick Center Cultural District

DATES: April 11-17

EVENTS:

April 11: Patachitra Workshop: a virtual demonstration of traditional Indian scroll painting with story.

April 11: Leherein New England Virtual Cooking Demonstration. Take a culinary trip to the Far East using a single spice mix– curry powder

April 12: Groove and flow with a special blend of yoga, Qigong, dance and meditation styles where the participants can explore and experience the joy of movement and freedom of expression within a supportive, creative environment, regardless of experience and/or abilities.

April 13: Pop-up art school: Felted Beads 101 at the Morse Institute Library

April 14: Lunar Phases and Meditating on Tarot by Sally Craigin

April 15: Oscar shorts screening at TCAN

April 16: Adult trivia Night—1980s Pop Culture at Bacon free Library

April 17: Natick’s Art in Bloom and Sidewalk Sale

Save the date: Natick Art in Bloom will be Sat., April 17th

by Leave a Comment

Natick Art in Bloom

Natick Garden Club members will design floral arrangements inspired by the public art in Natick. There are many fantastic public art pieces to choose from like The Unconventional Garden, Wings of the Butterfly, various electrical boxes, the bus stop mural, and mosaics.

The event will take place on Adams and Court Street and will allow visitors to walk through and view these works of art with the corresponding floral arrangements.  Other works of art that are not in the immediate area will be set on tables with a photo of the art next to the arrangement.

Natick’s Art in Bloom will be taking place during the Natick Center sidewalk sale. The Natick Garden Club will also have an information table and some sidewalk sale items, including wildflower seed packets, DIY sunflower seed pots, and notecards.

This will be an outdoor event and all social distancing protocols will be in place requiring masks and 6 feet of distance between groups.

MORE:

Beyond Natick: a visit to  see the Monet exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Beyond Natick: Monet exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

by Leave a Comment

I’d all but given up on getting into Monet and Boston: Lasting Impression at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Every time I tried to score tickets it was the same story—sold out. On a lark I logged on one last time for a shot at the exhibit, which runs through March 28. Success! All 35 of the MFA’s gorgeous Claude Monet oil paintings were mine for the viewing. I headed into the big city. Please note: advance timed-entry tickets are required for all visitors, including members and children. No ticket sales on site at the Museum.

It’s been over 20 years since the museum has gathered together all of its canvases by the French Impressionist, but they are reunited, along with works by Hiroshige, Jean-François Millet, and Eugène Boudinand, and it feels so good. In all, over 50 works are on view, hung on jewel-colored walls across several galleries. The show is a visual delight for those who love pretty pictures,  and lots of them, all at once. Count me in. In this exhibit, organized by Katie Hanson, associate curator of European paintings, patrons are given a rare opportunity to stroll through gallery after gallery of beautiful colors, stirring landscapes, tranquil domestic scenes, and light, captured seemingly at will by the artists and transferred from paintbrush to canvas.

Here are some pics:

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Meadow with Poplars, about 1875. This painting brings in so many of the motifs the artist would return to again and again—stacks of grain, poplar trees, and poppies, all rendered in a light and bright palette. This one has been part of the MFA’s collection since 1927.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Camille Monet and a Child in the Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil, 1875. Monet and his wife, Camille, rented a home in this suburb of Paris, where Monet became seriously interested in gardening.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Boulevard St. Denis, Argenteuil, in Winter, 1875. In this painting, Monet captures commuters in Argenteuil, off to the train for the15-minute trip to Paris. The artist organized his life so that he got to work from home and pop into the city only when he wanted to.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Flower Beds at Vétheuil, 1881. The flowers, profuse and in full bloom are Monet’s. They lead down to the Seine as part of a terraced garden.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Fisherman’s Cottage on the Cliffs at Varengeville, 1882.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Valley of the Petite Creuse, 1889. Note the stripped-bare oak tree to the right. The oak’s leaves weren’t working for Monet, so he decided to do something about them.  “I’m going to offer fifty francs to my landlord to see if I can have the oak tree’s leaves removed; If I can’t, I’m done for…” The landlord agreed. Up close the work, with its generous paint daubs, is reminiscent of a raised relief map.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
It wouldn’t be a Monet exhibit without water lilies. The artist showed 48 paintings over his lifetime from the water lilies series.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Claude Monet, Grainstock (Sunset). 1891. Another of his famous motifs, Monet painted a series of grain stacks that were stored near his home in Giverny.

 

Monet exhibit, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Monet show was possibly the most socially distanced gallery experience I’ve ever had when viewing a major exhibit at the MFA. I don’t think I can ever go back to jockeying for position to view beauty, not after a visit this civilized.

EXHIBIT: Monet and Boston: Lasting Impression

WHEN: The exhibit runs through Sun., March 28, 2021

WHERE: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 465 Huntington Ave.

MUSEUM HOURS: Wed. – Sun., 10am – 5pm

TICKETS HERE