More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.
Registration for Natick Recreation & Parks winter activities kicks off on Dec. 7, but you can preview the offerings now in the new brochure.
Glowing jack-o’-lanterns perched on top of the old stone wall in front of The Eliot Church in South Natick as organizer Tod Dimmick paced in front of them, pausing to take notes on a clipboard. Almost 20 of the carved pumpkins were entered in the annual contest this year, competing for first-, second-, and third-place ribbons in youth and adult categories on the night before Halloween.
“It’s never easy to choose from so many great entries,” Dimmick said as he tallied the scores and readied the ribbons.
Youth, 1st place: Lilah McNitt for “Super Scary”
Youth, 2nd place: Conrad Farr for “Homegrown”
Youth, 3rd place: Charlotte Peterson for “Jack and Zero”
Adult, 1st place: Lee Manuel for “Tortoise”
Adult, 2nd place: Stephanie Smith for “Cinderella’s Nightmare”
Adult, 3rd place: Carol Hildebrand for “New England Pumpkin Python”
Congratulations to all, and thanks for participating in this great community-building event.
Photo credits: Tod Dimmick
The Morse Institute Library supplied the scarecrow starter kits. Families and kids put together their own creations at home and brought their completed projects to a family scarecrow stroll last week. The stylish sentries currently grace the front lawn of the W. Central St. library as more than just spirited autumnal decorations. We haven’t seen a single crow in Natick Center ever since the new guards have been put to work.
Here are some pics:
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Over 30 artists at a dozen locations in Natick either opened up their studios or set up tables in a group setting to display their offerings over the weekend at the annual two-day Natick Artist Open Studios event. The art-loving public came out in good numbers on a beautiful fall day to check out (and buy) the work of local silversmiths; painters, metal workers; ceramicists, fabric artists, woodworkers, photographers, jewelers; and more.
By the count of artist and record-keeper extraordinaire Jo LaFalce, by Saturday visitors from 14 cities and towns, including Madrid, had come through the 23 Adams Street studios alone. That’s not Madrid, Maine or Madrid, Kentucky, by the way. That’s as in Madrid, Spain. This event is getting quite a global feel to it.
New this year is a Family Diversity photo exhibit, on display upstairs in the sanctuary of the historical First Congregational Church through October 23. Sponsored by the Hanna family, the poignant exhibit features portraits of families who have grappled with the mental illness of one of their own. Each photo is combined with a compelling account of the family’s struggles and triumphs that show strength, courage, integrity, and accomplishment in the face of adversity and stigma. Stop by the Natick Center church and find out how people living with mental illness and their families have come out of the shadows and into the public eye.
Natick Artists Open Studios (NAOS) will take place on Saturday, Oct. 15, 11am-5pm AND Sunday, Oct. 16, 11am-5pm, at locations all over town. The event is an opportunity to meet and celebrate the working artists in the community. (It’s also an opportunity to be a little snoopy as you look around the studios of a wide and eclectic group of artists.)
If you’re looking for the perfect one-of-a-kind holiday gift, NAOS is the place. From studio to studio, variety abounds. Expect to see silversmiths; artists who paint in acrylic, oil and watercolor; mixed media artists; metal workers; art made from fabric, ceramics, and wood; photography in a variety of styles; mosaics; jewelry; and more. Artworks range from large-scale paintings to delicate earrings, and everything in between, in a wide range of price points.
Artists—some who are just starting out, some who are full-time professionals with decades of experience—will be there to answer questions, give demonstrations and to sell their artwork. The event is always a fun and educational experience for the family, as well as a chance to pick up some local artwork and support local makers.
This event has been ongoing for over 20 years, and only COVID was able to interrupted it, briefly. NCOS is always run by volunteers and it’s always free to visit all the studios.
New this year: a Family Diversity photo show will be upstairs in the First Congregational Church, and look for NAOS in the Social Hall at the Church.
Studios at 3 Adams Street
43 Main Street
The Visitors Center, 20 Main Street
First Congregational Church, 2 E. Central Street
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 39 E. Central Street
Morse Institute Library, 14 E. Central Street
The Barn, 62 Farwell Street
3 Malden Street
Ryan Black Art Studio, 203 Union Street
The Eliot Church, 45 Eliot Street (Sunday only)
75 Middlesex Ave.
And more…
