November 2018
Culture is Here!
Natick is home to one of the first Cultural Districts in the Commonwealth and received its designation in 2012. We've changed a lot since then and we've worked to add creative arts, economic vitality and more cultural events to the lives of visitors and residents in the town.

Natick Artists Open Studios weekend was a fruitful one with over 75 artists participating and many visiting local artists. The district also celebrated two new electrical boxes in town with a formal ribbon cutting event complete with both of the artists.

For the Love of Natick: A Creative Placemaking Weekend will take place from 12-4 pm on November 3rd & 4th. You'll be able to chat with the artists and view the temporary art installations on the common, Adams St. and Moran Park until Nov. 17th.

We have a full calendar of events all month long at our website at natickcenter.org. Our Welcome Center at 20 Main St. is open for information on upcoming events. (Hours : M – F 6:30 am – 7:00 pm, Sat 8 am – 4 pm, Sun – Closed.)
The formal unveiling of the 2 electrical boxes with artists Mary Erickson and Rebecca McGee Tuck!
Benches by Mark Favermann & hopscotch by Eddie Brucker on the Common
from Nov. 3-17th.
Look for Kouzza's musical art piece on the pedestrian bridge by the MBTA Train Station.
Natick Center Creative Placemaking Weekend
The  Natick Center Cultural District Town of Natick, MA , and the  Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)  in Boston are excited to display the work of the finalists that have been awarded funding to execute temporary art and design projects that aim to transform public spaces in Natick Center. 

Eight projects were selected to take part in the "For the Love of Natick: A Creative Placemaking Weekend" , including art installations on the Common by  Eddie Bruckner Fine Art Mark Favermann Rebecca McGee Tuck . Art on Adams St. by  Beth Fagan , at Moran Park the  Musical bridge by Kouzza  and Shahreen Quazi's way-finding decals around town. Performance art on Saturday at the  Common Street Spiritual Center  from 2:30-4:30 pm coordinated by  Nellie Krentzman Goodman , and Sunday at the reception event by  Eve Agush Costarelli  at the  Common Street Spiritual Center  from 4-6 pm. The temporary art displays will be up around Natick Center until Nov. 17th.

Come on the weekend for your chance to visit and chat with the artist's who created these pieces for you to enjoy!

In addition to the roster of projects awarded through the official Call for Creatives, project partners have also been working with the Common Street Spiritual Center, which has commissioned a diverse group of local artists to produce artistic “Visions of Community” that will be displayed on the gazebo on Natick Common, as well as collaborating with the Natick Coalition for Change on the “We Are Natick” photography campaign launched in 2017. They will also be displayed during the Call to Creatives Weekend.

The selected projects will demonstrate the potential for arts and culture to transform Natick Center through installations that can activate public spaces and make it easier to travel around the center in ways that make it more interactive, inclusive, sustainable and bold. The projects aim to attract more residents and those who live outside the town to visit and spent more time in the Center and to interact with the local community. 

Join us for the Reception Event at the  Common Street Spiritual Center on Sunday  from 4-6 pm to hear from the artists and see Eve's performance. 

You may view up to date postings on the district's Facebook page.
NAOS
Since 2003, Natick Artists Open Studios (NAOS) has featured a show that is comprised of over 70 artists who live or work in Natick, with additional guest artists. NAOS is committed to bringing art to the community by opening our studios and exhibition venues throughout the town.

NAOS allows conversations about the experience of creating art and how it is made.

The 73 artists participating in NAOS 2018 produced works in:
  • Ceramics
  • Fiber
  • Glass
  • Jewelry
  • Painting
  • Mixed Media
  • Mosaics
  • Sculpture
  • Weaving
  • Wood

New this year was the NAOS Passport, which could be picked up at any location. The
NAOS Passport entered them into a drawing for a $50 NAOS gift certificate, good at any
participating artist.

Several hundred Natick and surrounding town residents enjoyed the good weather to
view the art at 8 Group Locations in Downtown Natick, as well as 14 Neighborhood
Studios throughout the town.

Photos of event courtesy of Paradise Photo and Video.
Artist's Rolf Larson, Debbie Harary and
Gail Fisher were all a part of the
2-day NAOS weekend.
Carol Krentzman and Amy Steinmetz at the Studio.
Mosaic Marathon
Local mosaic artist, Carol Krentzman of the  Mosaic Art Institute of Natick , is excited to have designed, along with local artist  Amy Robinson Steinmetz, an outdoor mosaic panel to be installed on the  Fair and Yeager Insurance Agency  building on Court Street in Natick Center.

Prior to the Natick Artists Open Studios weekend Carol and Amy welcomed residents to observe the partners from the New England Mosaic Society (NEMS) as well as local artists during their Open House at The Studio @ 3 Adams. During NAOS Carol was at the NCCD Welcome Center sharing the artwork with the community.

The completed mosaic panel will be installed at the corner of Court & Adams Street in the Spring of 2019.
Small Business Saturday is November 24th!
Small Business Saturday
This Nov 24, we want to share Small Business Saturday® with you! It's a holiday shopping tradition that celebrates small businesses like the ones in Natick Center!

So mark your calendar for Nov 24th — the Saturday after Thanksgiving — and grab a friend or family member and come to Natick Center to shop between 9-5 pm on the big day!
 
Help us get the word out and celebrate Small Business Saturday by using #ShopSmall, and #shopnatickcenter on Facebook, Instagram, and all your social networks.

Thank you for all your support, and we'll see you Saturday, Nov 24th!
Ensemble Lyrae Concert
Ensemble Lyrae Concert will be held at the Morse Institute Library on November 10th at 2:00 pm. “Expressions of Light and Dark” probes the subtleties found in all visions of light and shadow.

Through works by Felix Mendelssohn, Zoltán Kodály, Gustav Holst, Adam Guettel, Ola Gjeilo, and many more, these degrees of luminosity will evoke a sensational experience for audiences. Ensemble Lyrae continues to introduce new music for women’s voices through the commission of Brian John and his setting of “You, Darkness” with text by Rainer Maria Rilke, and a fresh interpretation of Disney’s “All in the Golden Afternoon” by Eva Kendrick.

Inspired by the natural beauty and brilliance of the constellation Lyra, Ensemble Lyrae brings together five uniquely and highly talented musicians. While each shines as a soloist, together, these women form deep connections in performing duets, trios, and quartets.
Ensemble Lyrae Concert will be held
at the Morse Institute Library on
November 10th at 2:00 pm.
The Natick Farmers Market is now inside the Common St. Spiritual Center until Spring.
Natick Farmers Market
The Natick Farmers Market is located in Natick center and held every Saturday from 9:00-1:00 pm indoors at the Common St. Spiritual Center. It features local farms with fresh fruit, vegetables, local vendors with bread, bagels and pastries and unique crafters each week. The market is held rain or shine.

Please visit  natickfarmersmarket.com   for more information and a weekly list of vendors.
Cornucopia, Candy, and Christmas Trees
Ornament-Making Workshop
Saturday, December 1, 2:00 pm at the Natick History Museum.

Please join the Natick Historical Society and the First Church Natick for an ornament-making workshop led by Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions.

Well into the early 1900's, people decorated Christmas trees with homemade paper, candies, cookies, gilded walnuts, gifts, and other edible ornaments. A particular favorite, however, was the cornucopia, a cone-shaped ornament filled with candy. Rita Parisi will speak briefly about Christmas tree ornaments from this time and will then instruct participants on how to make a cornucopia of their own.

All materials will be provided. Everyone from ages 5 to 105 is welcome. Space is limited,so please email [email protected] or call 508.655.0729 to reserve your spot.
Decorate your own Victorian Ornament on Saturday, December 1st at 2:00 pm.
A Community Visit
A Community Visit with the Natick History Museum is Wednesday, November 7th,
10:00 am-11:30 am

Visit with the staff of the Natick Historical Society at the newly-restored Natick History Museum. Explore two new exhibits, "Your Dream House: At Home in Postwar Natick, and "Across the Centuries: Looking at Local Objects." Rides will be available on the Connector Bus. RSVP require for the Connector Bus only--please call Sharon at (508) 647-6540. 
There's something for all ages at the newly restored Natick History Museum!

Natick Center Cultural District
20 Main St., Suite 208
 Natick, MA 01760 - 508-650-8848
Check out our Events Calendar on our website for more information about Natick Center activities!

You can also visit our Business Directory for information on our local, downtown merchants,
art classes, organizations and much more!