Special to the Times-Free Press
The East Boston Artists Group recently held its Second Annual “Harboring Creativity” Exhibit and Sale, partnering with the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Watershed located in in the East Boston Shipyard and Marina. With the generous assistance of the ICA staff, local sponsors, and ZUMIX, nearly 50 artists who live, work and create in East Boston showcased and sold their art in the spacious renovated industrial space on the neighborhood’s waterfront. 15 of the artists were new participants this year.
This was a great opportunity for artists to share their art with the neighborhood. It also allowed the community to see contemporary work being made in their own backyard. The art featured was compelling and diverse, and included paintings, mixed media, photography, fiber arts, graphic design, sculpture, collage, printmaking, jewelry and more. Also featured at the Watershed was “Open Your Hearts”, a deeply moving short documentary about a group of young people who embark on a creative, yearlong research and performance project about immigrant stories. The documentary was produced by Mindy Fried and Hoopla Productions in conjunction with ZUMIX, one of East Boston’s finest youth programs. It was also an official selection of the Roxbury International Film Festival. Fried and some of the young participants led a panel discussion following a scheduled showing of the documentary. East Boston Artist Group members Alberto Roblest, and Charlene Liska shared videos as well, “Multiple Exposure” and “Ode to Jack Kerouac”, experimental films by Roblest, and “Off the Grid”, a true story of a 14-year adventure in the wilderness by a person who had epilepsy, by Liska with Bart Higgins.
The event was a great success; over 600 visitors attended daily. The first evening a reception with refreshments was held that allowed artists to mix with both long-term and newer residents, as well as visitors who traveled to East Boston for the show. Since the inaugural “Harboring Creativity” event, the East Boston Artists Group has been growing somewhat dramatically as many new residents are also artists. Along with other dynamic arts and cultural groups in East Boston, EBAG has contributed to the community becoming a magnet for art and culture lovers, promising additional exciting and colorful events during the year.
Mounting a show the scale of “Harboring Creativity” could not have been done without the ICA, Fusco & Four/Boston Design Week, the East Boston Foundation, The Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, ZUMIX, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the many local businesses, corporations and individuals who provided the necessary financial support. EBAG received a “Festivals and Projects” grant from the MCC to help with the expenses of this event. MA State Representative Adrian Madaro said, “The East Boston Artists’ Group has played a pivotal role in supporting creatives and giving them a platform to display their works within the broader East Boston community. I’m delighted to see that they’ve received a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which is committed to helping cultural organizations like this one grow and engage more people in our communities in the arts.” Also weighing in on the MCC grant was MA State Senator Lydia Edwards, who said, “The East Boston Artists Group (EBAG) is an organization that supports local artists, and I’m so proud of the work they do in East Boston. Congratulations on this well-deserved Event & Projects Grant awarded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.”
All the generous sponsors, including elected officials, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, MA State Senator Lydia Edwards, MA State Representative Adrian Madaro, Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta-Zapata, and Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, were acknowledged and presented with Thank-You Certificates and small gifts, including greeting cards featuring the art of over 20 EBAG members. (*These cards are available for purchase at $20 per set of 10; some sets have a ‘surprise’ 11th card, featuring a mural by HarborArts artists Silvia Lopez-Chavez and Felipe Ortiz. Please contact EBAG through their website: www.eastbostonartistsgroup.com for more information.)
“Harboring Creativity” will return to the ICA Watershed during Veterans Day Weekend of 2025!