 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GARAGE ART
Event helps spur city's
grassroots artist community
By Dinah Cardin / Correspondent
Article courtesy of the Malden Observer
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
That place just might turn out to be Malden. Until it does, Sand T has her garage, also known as artSPACE@16.
Residents of Princeton Road caught sight of quite a crowd at house number 16 Saturday, despite the soggy, chilly weather. Neighbors glimpsed a parade of artists and art lovers entering into Sand T and Wes Kalloch's detached two-car garage, a meeting place growing in its popularity for art, musical and literary events over the past couple of years.
Many artists fled to Malden when they were driven out of Fort Point buildings, said Sand T, and many more will come if she has her way.
"I feel I have chosen this path," said Sand T Saturday, as a crowd milled through her garage, sipping wine and admiring mostly contemporary artwork from 22 local artists, hung on the garage walls and temporary partitions.
"This is what I'm good at. Just because I was kicked out of the building, I don't want that to be the last chapter of my life."
Cleverly timed, Saturday's event fell just four days before Sand T and other artists were scheduled to meet with representatives of the mayor's office, the Downtown Revitalization Committee of the City Council and the Malden Redevelopment Authority to discuss Malden's future as an arts community. The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday night, after the Observer's deadline.
"Sometimes it takes one person to create an atmosphere. She might be doing that," said artist Jim Belmont. "Malden may be able to see the artists finally emerge."
Great spaces
Stephen Yang-Sammataro and Rob Wilkie, both from North Andover and active in the Lawrence arts community, were sure they were in the wrong place when they drove into the tight residential neighborhood, matching the address on their invitation. But once they entered the small garage space and immediately began making important contacts, they were glad they had decided to come.
"We're interested in seeing the arts scene in different areas and interested in seeing the revitalization in Malden and in other areas through artists," said Yang-Sammataro. "The mill spaces of Lawrence and Malden have unbelievable potential."
Many feel using old warehouses for artist spaces can only have a positive trickle down effect on all aspects of a vital community.
"When you have a place where artists are thriving, it supports all economic levels of a community," said Eda Daniel, a Malden resident and arts supporter, "from old timers to new people coming in."
Stephanie Mahan Stigliano, a local teacher and artist, is a 12-year resident of Malden and juror of this exhibit. She enjoyed watching local artists come together as she witnessed two artists meeting who lived on the same street.
Stigliano commends Sand T's efforts to provide a "much-needed meeting ground for local artists" in a city that has no centralized artist studio space. Although the response to the current exhibit was strong, Stigliano says she knows there are more artists in Malden and she hopes they will come out in strong numbers to support the community effort.
Artists have chosen Malden for various reasons, said Stigliano, beyond its comparatively lower rents.
"It's so multicultural and open to people," she said. "Also it's really unpretentious, community-minded and really close to Boston and Cambridge."
Stigliano's husband teaches sculpture at Massachusetts College of Art. Chuck Stigliano says the couple first moved to Malden to raise their family, but have since found themselves among other artists and musicians.
"Our street is sort of Malden's Avenue of the Arts," he said. "There's a wave of people. Malden is sort of becoming the next scene, the next area for artists to move into. In 10 years we'll be saying, 'Remember when Sand T had that garage.' She's going places. She says we're here, let's make it about us."
Artists under rocks
Helena Farrell, an 82-year-old lifelong resident of Malden, scanned the list of artists, shaking her head.
"I'm just amazed that a couple of my neighbors are here," she said.
"I had no idea how many artists lived here, until this show," said Malden artist Mary O'Malley, who grew up in the community. "I felt really isolated."
Talking to other artists and getting feedback on her work is important, said O'Malley, adding that after art school, where students find constant interaction, an artist's life can be lonely. She hopes to see art help infuse vitality into Malden's downtown.
"When my parents moved here, the downtown was really exciting," said O'Malley, 29, recalling the downtown movie theater and the big Jordan Marsh department store. "Now it's sort of a wasteland."
O'Malley said she hopes Malden can one day be a community like Somerville - revitalized by arts and culture, with music clubs and interesting restaurants.
She also hopes cooperation with the city will help move the concept of the tucked-away garage space to a more visible part of Malden.
"This isn't the goal," said Kalloch, gesturing around the garage. "The goal is for something that's on the main drag. But for now this is great."
The first goal has been to locate the local artists, he said.
"We have to turn over the rocks and find them and get them out. We want them to show up and be counted," he said. "We want to find out who is here now and let it be known there is something here for those who want to come."
Another group of local artists, the Malden Sketch Group, will also be exhibiting work at Commerce Place at 350 Main St. in Malden Square the month of March, with a reception on March 7 from 6-8 p.m. The exhibit at artSPACE@16 will open again March 15 from 12-5. Additional viewing hours are Monday through Friday evening, 7-9 p.m., by appointment. Call 781-321-8058 or send email to SandT.artSPACEat16@verizon.net.
|
ARCHIVES
|
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||