#AdventuresAwait attraction of the week:
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society
130 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA
LOCATION: Located shortly off Route 2, Lexington Arts and Crafts Society is located at 130 Waltham Street.
DESCRIPTION: The Lexington Arts and Crafts Society is a unique, non-profit regional education center dedicated to the preservation and promotion of excellence in both the traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. Our nearly 400 members come from all over New England.
Founded in 1935, the Society fosters an environment that supports and inspires artists and artisans. It is currently composed of nine artist guilds: Ceramics, Decorative Arts & Basketry, Metalworkers, Needle Arts, Painters, Polymer Clay& Beading, Weavers, Photography and Woodworkers. There are also sustaining members who participate and support the Society.
Our building was built through the efforts of our founding members and includes a fully equipped Ceramics Studio with kilns, a Woodshop with the best equipment, a Weavers Studio with a variety of looms, a well-equipped Metalsmithing studio as well as a Painters studio. All of which are available to our members.
Our classes and workshops are open to the public. Adults and Teens, beginners to advanced, are taught by artists that are prominent in their mediums. Artists known throughout the country for their many awards and as members of the American Watercolor Society, American Society of Marine Painters, the National Watercolor Society to name a few. Many of our member artists also exhibit in area galleries and businesses in Lexington and other area towns.
Scholarships from Art Scholarship Funds are available to graduating seniors from Lexington High School. In addition, our Scholarship Committee provides continuing support to scholarship recipients in furthering their art careers at accredited art institutions.
The Society has opened our Parsons Gallery to many invitational exhibits that provide the setting for a yearly (22nd year) Regional High School Artists Show, the Korean Cultural Society of Boston’s yearly exhibit, the 300th Anniversary Exhibit, the biennial State of Clay, the Lexington Field and Garden Club’s biennial Art-a-Blooming, the Chinese Painters Guild, the North Bennett Street School, an exhibit of work by the students of the SNAP (Special Needs Arts Program and in the past have partnered with the Lexington Public Schools Art Department.
We cofounded the Town-wide Lexington Open Studios and ArtWalk with Home Studio Artists and the Munroe Center for the Arts.
All of these endeavors require our artists to volunteer their skills and their time to complete the necessary tasks to make these events happen. Another benefit of membership is the opportunity to sell their creations at our three sales: The Annual Fair, our only actual fundraiser, at which all proceeds go to the support of the Society, the Holiday Marketplace, and the summer Artisans Market.
All our volunteers strive to keep the Society a welcoming place for the public to enjoy the many opportunities to enhance artistic skills, educate and be part of a thriving Lexington arts community for all.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Lexington Arts and Crafts Society Woodworkers Guild presents: On and Off the Wall ! April 14th to April 29th
The Reception will be held on Sunday, April 25th from 2:45PM to 4:00PM.
The artisans of the Woodworkers Guild will display our best recent creations from our eclectic membership, we are encouraging original concepts that can be displayed “on or off the wall”.
The renowned Jay Rogers , (www.jayrogersboxes.com) will give a talk at the Reception on Sunday, April 15th at 2:45. Jay designs exquisitely detailed wooden installations that often contain compartments and hidden panels, thus being defined as boxes. We are delighted to have him share some of his marvelous pieces with the attendees.
Some, but not all, of the members’ Gallery pieces will be for sale. In addition, there will be a “Gallery to Go” area, where smaller items can be purchased for immediate take-away.
This year’s exhibit is an added treat as it is part of the townwide Lexington Open Studios. So while visiting the Gallery patrons will have an opportunity to experience the working studios of the many artists that make up the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday, and Sunday from 12 – 4pm. Saturday 10am- 4pm, Closed Mondays
Open to the public. Free admission and parking.
