Spring ArtWalk, organized by the Maynard Business Alliance, brought art and music to downtown Maynard on the first Saturday in May followed by Open Studios the next day. Ominous rainclouds held off during the afternoon concert in Memorial Park by the Blueprint Jazz Club & Friends and the rain that fell in the evening may have kept some away but those who ventured out saw and heard amazing art and beautiful music.

“We wanted to provide a fun time showing what Maynard has to offer with lots of activity in music, film, dance and of course art,” said Megan Summers, owner of Inspired Bliss with her mother Charity and part of the committee from the Maynard Business Alliance that organized the Spring ArtWalk.  

“ArtSpace was overwhelmed by the positive response during this year’s ArtWalk and first Town-wide Open Studio,” according to Suchi Mumford, Artspace executive director. “We welcomed hundreds of visitors to our new Gallery space at 15 Nason Street and the Studios at 9 Nason and 74 Main. 

“The community has been incredibly friendly and supportive, whether through visiting our brand-new gallery space, taking our classes, or visiting our events and studio artists. We’re planning on making town-wide Open Studios an annual event as see how the arts are a draw in other towns. We’ll be tabling at Maynard Pride and the Farmers Market in coming months and hope to see more folks there”, said Suchi.

Artspace was founded in 2001 and eventually housed at the former Fowler Middle School building until two years ago when building code violations Artspace couldn’t afford to fix forced the town to close the building. At one point, 80 artists had studios at the Fowler which also housed the Acme Theater. The new Artspace locations provide studio space for 18 artists and has allowed Artspace to expand from a single location to a town-wide organization including home studios artists.

“This is the first town-wide Open Studios and I’m excited to participate,” said Julia Berkley who has a studio in her home on Orchard Terrace. “I’m especially excited to show my work because we had a house fire in 2020 that destroyed my studio and my art – but we were able to rebuild and now I have this beautiful, bright space and I’m excited to be painting.”

Rachel Korn, who has a studio at Artspace, said, “Open Studios gives people an opportunity to come in and interact with our art, it’s a bridge that can bring us together. I want people to see what I’m making; we’re a part of the community and we want people to see what we’re doing.”

Catherine Solovay, a scientist by profession, paints to show “what is seen and what is unseen”, is grateful and excited to have a studio at Artspace. She has had a studio in her home but having a studio at Artspace “for the last three months has been so freeing!”