By John Lynds
Eastie artist Diane Modica works in her studio during last year’s East Boston Open Studios at the Atlantic Works Artist Building at 80 Border Street. This year’s event will kick off Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23.
Part of what has made East Boston a wonderful place in which to live is the neighborhood’s flourishing artist community. The East Boston’s Artist Group at 80 Border St., renovated a decade ago by the East Boston Community Development Corp., is unlike any other art gallery or studio in Boston. Here the building balances unique workspace for artists with a fine gallery in which to display local art shows with weekly, monthly and annual events to embrace community participation and support.
Year after year, no other event tries to engage Eastie residents and expose them to the world of art and culture as does the annual East Boston Open Studios.
“East Boston Open Studios is an annual arts event that gives the public and artists an opportunity to connect, converse and see original art work,” said one of the event’s organizer Diane Modica. “The Atlantic Works artist studio building is a community of professional artists with works on view and for sale, including: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, jewelry, and more.”
This year over 30 Eastie artists invite the community to see their latest creations in their studios, view group exhibitions, attend live music and dance performances and visit the new artist studios across the neighborhood.
The East Boston Artist Group has set the date for the 17th Annual East Boston Open Studios to be held at the Atlantic Works Artist Building at 80 Border Street. This year’s Open Studios will take place on Saturday, April 22 from noon to 6 p.m. and again on Sunday, April 23 from noon to 6 p.m.
The Open Studios weekend will also include music, performances and artwork at Zumix, 260 Sumner Street (open Saturday only), artwork celebrating Earth Day created by the kids from the Shining Star Day Care Center, working with the National Art Honor Society students from Revere High School on display at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church at 28 Paris Street and artwork on display at the Eastie.com office at 42 Maverick Street.
“The arts and cultural scene in East Boston is growing and as the premier artist building in East Boston 80 Border street is very excited about our 17th annual Open Studios,” added Modica. “We invite everyone to come by and see the Creative Energy in this building.”
Open Studios artists in the Atlantic Works building include; Cindy Bishop, Domenic Chavez, Chris Chou, Nick Costopoulos, Darlene DeVita, Rick Dorff, Jessica Dunegan, Jason Fitz-Gerald, Kevin Frances, Jesse Kahn, Kim Kent, Maureen Kirra, Jaime Min, Diane Modica, Liz Nofzinger, Maureen O’Connor, Moni Oolyonghai, Jane O’Reilly, Juliann Rubijono, June Krinsky Rudder, Sarah Rushford, Anna Salmeron, Carmen Sasso, Loretta Shoemaker, Larry Volk, and Jaye Woodstock.
East Boston Open Studios is organized by the East Boston Artists Group, a volunteer organization made up of artists living and working in East Boston. The group sponsors arts events throughout the East Boston neighborhood including an Open House and Holiday Sale in December.
The Open Studios event is supported by a grant from the East Boston Foundation with administrative support from Zumix.
The Atlantic Works building is a quick 5-minute walk from the Maverick Station on the Blue Line. If driving, there is plenty of free on-street parking.
For more information and directions, visit our website at www.eastbostonartists.org. You can email [email protected] and follow on Facebook @East Boston Artists Group or on Twitter @eastbostonart.
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Eastie artist Diane Modica works in her studio during last year’s East Boston Open Studios at the Atlantic Works Artist Building at 80 Border Street. This year’s event will kick off Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23.