Subject: Somerville Open Studios (SOS) paints the town "Green" -- May 5-6 [with city-wide preview events running from March 30 on]
For Immediate Release
Visual Art / Open Studios, along with gallery and museum exhibitions
(public transportation/car-sharing theme)
March, 2007
Mary Curtin, SOS media contact, 617-241-9664, 617-470-5867 (cell), marycurtin@comcast.net
[high res digital images]
[SOS updates available at www.somervilleopenstudios.org]
SOMERVILLE OPEN STUDIOS 2007
“IMAGING THE GREEN LINE”
presented by
the largest open studios
in New England
and the
second largest in the U.S.
with over 300 artists
exhibiting in a citywide
studio arts event
Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6
(Somerville, MA) Somerville Open Studios 2007: Imagining the Green Line. Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6, noon-6pm, with over 300 artists in more than 100 venues in various locations throughout the city of Somerville. [With special events preceding Open Studios weekend: “Artist’s Choice” exhibition, April 22-May 6, including an art opening on Sun., April 22, 2:30-5:30 pm, and an “Artist Toast” on Sun., April 29, 2:30-5:30 pm. At the Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Rd., Somerville.] All Somerville Open Studios events are free and open to the public. For up-to-date information, visit www.somervilleopenstudios.org or call 617-470-5867.
Without a doubt, the Green Line extension planned for Somerville will prove to be the great social equalizer uniting all the disparate neighborhoods that make up the grand scheme of the city. Since artists often initiate the transformation from what is imagined to reality, this year’s 9th annual Somerville Open Studios (SOS) is providing a catalyst for that transformational change by engaging the public in this year’s timely “Imagining the Green Line.”
The two anchor exhibits for this year’s SOS green line exploration are the Brickbottom Gallery’s “Green Line Connections” (Mar. 30-May 6, www.brickbottomartists.com) and the Nave Gallery’s “The Green Line” (April 27-May 27, www.artsomerville.org/nave). A free trolley service will connect these galleries during SOS weekend, running from the Union Square area on the east side to the Powderhouse Square area on the west side. The trolleys, which will emulate the proposed green line route, will run on a continuous basis during SOS weekend and will make frequent stops on the way, giving the public the opportunity to take in the unprecedented number of Somerville artists who will open up their work spaces for that weekend. To complement the trolley service, there will also be a free Zipcar-sharing service providing easier access to those studio locations that are not easy to reach by trolley.
Over 300 artists will be showing at more than 100 locations throughout the city. During this free citywide showcase for the arts, mid-career and emerging artists working across a broad spectrum of fine art styles and craft media – including painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, glass, fiber, jewelry, furniture and ceramics – will exhibit and sell their work to the public.
This year’s theme is not only providing the glue for a wide variety of visually artistic adventures for the public. It is also providing an opportunity for other Somerville constituents to contribute their take on the future of public transportation and car-sharing expansion in Somerville. For example the free trolley service, made possible from generous backing by the Office of the Mayor of Somerville, will also be “curated” by Somerville’s own Cervena Barva Press (www.cervenabarvapress.com) who will showcase a wide variety of traveling spoken word artists throughout the two days. The trolley service will also be assisted by representatives from the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (www.somervillestep.org), with guidance also offered by the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and the Somerville Traffic & Parking Department. Zipcar Inc. (www.zipcar.com), who has recently announced its car-sharing initiative with the MBTA, will be providing its own creative transportation angle for the weekend.
SOS Preview Events at the Somerville Museum:
Leading up to the SOS weekend in May, the Somerville Museum (www.somervillemuseum.org) will host its traditional “Artist’s Choice,” which provides a sneak preview of the art work that will be on display during open studios. Each participating SOS artist will choose one piece of work to be featured in this salon-style exhibition. The details for “Artist’s Choice,” which runs from April 22 through May 6, are as follows:
--April 22, Sun.: art opening, 2:30-5:30 pm [with live music provided by Somerville vocalist Steve Thomas and his “co-conspirator” Ben Schwendener on piano (www.stevethomasjazz.com)].
--April 29, Sun.: "Artist Toast,” 2:30-5:30 pm [led by Doreen Manning, editor of the Beat (www.middlesexbeat.com), followed by an “open floor for other toasts”].
--Regular gallery hours: Thurs., 2-7 pm; Fri., 2-5 pm; Sat. (4/28), noon-5; Sat.-Sun. (5/5-5/6), noon-6; and by appointment.
The Somerville Museum is located at 1 Westwood Rd., Somerville; phone: 617-666-9810.
Various SOS weekend guides available to the public:
SOS website:
The continuously updated SOS website (www.somervilleopenstudios.org) allows visitors to search participating artists by name, medium and location. The site includes full event information and a downloadable map, available by mid-April, so that visitors can easily plan their routes beforehand.
SOS map booklet:
SOS has created a printed booklet-style map showing specific studio locations within five neighborhood zones. The booklet features indexes by artist and by artistic medium, and also includes information on the trolleys, Zipcar-sharing, designated parking areas, special designations for handicapped accessible studios, and local sponsors. On May 5-6, this map booklet will be available on the trolleys and at all trolley stops, as well as at every studio site and at many retail establishments throughout the city. Unique map stands, designed and built by SOS artist Hilary S. Scott, will be located in various neighborhood artist enclaves. Before SOS weekend (from April 22 on), maps will also be available at several exhibition sites and retail establishments throughout the city. Updated information on where to obtain a map will be available on the website by mid-April.
SOS studio location markers:
Green balloons will mark all exhibition sites during SOS weekend.
SOS: overall weekend experience:
Somerville Open Studios (SOS) has come a long way from presenting 80+ artists in 1999. However, SOS continues to be dedicated to maintaining that initial local, grass-roots feel, providing visitors with the opportunity to view art made within the community, to interact with local artists, and to have access to artists' working spaces, ranging from the dozens of home studios to the large studio and commercial buildings, such as Central Street Studios, Joy Street Studios, Mad Oyster Studios, Vernon Street Studios, Washington Street Art Center, among others.
SOS: further background:
Somerville Open Studios (SOS) is a non-profit organization formed for the purpose of producing an annual open studio and related events in Somerville, Massachusetts. Its goal is to broaden the public's exposure to, and appreciation of, finished works of art as well as the art-making process. This exposure both educates the community and raises awareness of the diverse artistic experience available in Somerville. Somerville Open Studios is managed by a Board of Directors comprised of participating artists. An Open Studios executive committee is formed each year to organize the event. This committee is assisted by many dedicated volunteers. SOS is run by artists volunteering their time, energy and talents, and is fully supported by participating artists and the sponsorships of local businesses. For more information, log onto www.somervilleopenstudios.org.
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