November 15th was such a great day for the ArtSpace Maynard arts community, of which I am a grateful part. With a growing Membership, they are not only succeeding in supporting artists in their creative lives, but are actively driving activity and energy to Maynard’s downtown, which is so important to me as a Maynard resident. ArtSpace will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year! Over the last few years they have developed a clear mission: “to connect a diverse community of artists with arts supporters, students, and business partners… and serve as a local and regional economic catalyst.” The success of this single day confirms the vibrancy and commitment behind this goal.

The day started with a monthly artists gathering where the energy of creation is shared. And just as that first event was ending in the gallery, the space was being readied for the next—an opening scheduled so that, when it was over, visitors would be able to dine in any of a number of Maynard restaurants.

The Morning: The Artists’ Circle and the Powerful Community it Creates

As the sun streamed into the fairly-new ArtSpace Gallery at 15 Nason Street, artists steadily arrived for the 10AM start of the Artists’ Circle. They took seats in folding chairs around the gallery walls freshly hung with Member pieces for the Holiday Small Works show. As Members were able to point out their pieces, there was an instant connection between the sharing session and the exhibition.

The Artists’ Circle is a peer-to-peer program facilitated by my studio-mate Priscilla Alpaugh Cotter and me. Born from a desire to foster local, creative community and recognizing that the life of an artist is often isolating, ArtSpace established the Circle as a supportive space where Artist-Level Members could share their work and ask for the feedback they need. As facilitators, we work to ensure that everyone receives equal space and time. The hope is that participants will feel supported in sharing their work, but also recognize how important simply being an audience member is to all involved.

Originally held on weekday mornings, the sessions consistently drew about seven people. Recognizing that many of the artists that would benefit the most from the program held day jobs, ArtSpace added a Saturday to the schedule. This change has proven exceptionally successful—the November 15th session filled the room to capacity with 17 artists!

The work shared was varied and dynamic. There were writers, printmakers, painters, illustrators, and artists who work with mixed media, collage and even doodling. One artist brought intricate engravings on animal horns, and the whole session began when one of the writers shared a poem of gratitude which set a wonderful tone for the whole Circle. I know I felt very grateful to be there absorbing the creative energy of those around me. 

The Evening: Holiday Small Works Opening Night

With the morning session complete, the gallery began buzzing with preparations for the opening night of the ArtSpace Holiday Small Works Show. With nearly 70 visitors in just two hours, the event was a clear success.

A Showcase of a Growing Membership

The Small Works show is one of several opportunities where all ArtSpace Artist-Level Members are invited to participate. For this show, works were limited to a maximum of 12 inches on their longest side, a format chosen specifically because the smaller scale makes pieces more saleable for the holidays. 

Energy and Connection

Opening night was marked by palpable energy and excitement. Studio artist Alison Wilensky (Nosh) baked sugar cookies that featured images of many of the artworks on display, adding a creative twist to the treats.

Crucially, the need for name tags—there were so many new members attending!—made it easy to start up lively conversations. When I stood back, it was like I was witnessing a fabric of moving bodies in conversation. Organic introductions and genuine interest led to easy connections. A visible sign of success was the appearance of red dots, indicating sales. A red dot is more than a transaction, it’s a sign of validation, the fuel that tells the artist that their work has found an audience.

This dynamic exhibition was expertly hung by Gallery Committee members Cathy Hauke McCarthy, Laura Howick, Barbara O’Brien, Mica Knapp and Michelle Mendez over the course of three days. All their hard work shows in the way that they were able to make the disparate work flow. 

Conclusion: ArtSpace as a Downtown Catalyst

The successful, full-day schedule on November 15th—from the intimate, supportive sharing of the Artists’ Circle in the morning to the bustling energy of the Small Works opening in the evening—highlights ArtSpace’s renewed momentum. The organization is successfully growing its diverse community of Member artists and strengthening its role as a vital local and regional economic catalyst in the downtown.

The general joy about the entire experience is evidence that ArtSpace is achieving its mission of connecting artists with supporters, providing crucial space for creative development, and fostering meaningful community engagement.

Visit ArtSpace: Gallery shows are often a beautiful reflection of our growing Member community. You can view exhibitions at the Barbara Erwin Gallery, 15 Nason St., Maynard.

If you are interested in participating in future ArtSpace events or becoming an Artist-Level Member, visit the ArtSpace website at artspacema.org.