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Arts

Saturday, May 18, 2013

'Muslim Journeys' Discussion Series Begins May 30

The series will kick off with a discussion of the book, "House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance."

The Somerville Public Library is launching a new book discussion series called "Muslim Journeys," according to an announcement from the city of Somerville. The discussion series is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association and "aims to familiarize the American public with Islam and the cultural heritage of Islamic civilizations around the world," the announcement says. The first event in the series, which takes place May 30, will be a discussion of Jim al-Khalili’s book, House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance. The book brings readers into the world of the "Arab Enlightenment," a period of Islamic history known for tolerance and intellectual and …

In this Article:

Somerville Public Library and Tufts University

Friday, May 17, 2013

Festival Aims to Expose Different Side of Tibet

Contemporary Tibetan art, music and more is the focus of Friday night's festival.

The Tibet Arts and Culture Festival takes place in Somerville Friday night, and Exa Méndez, one of the festival's organizers, hopes it will expose a different side of that country. "Every time we hear about the Tibet issue it's about politics or human rights abuses … very dense subjects," she said. "The idea [for the festival] is for people to see different parts of Tibetan culture," she said. The festival, which takes place at The Center for Arts at the Armory, will feature contemporary music, painting, photography, food, poetry and more: parts of Tibetan culture "people don't get to see," Méndez said. The musicians and singers are graduates of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in India. The institute was set up to keep Tibetan …

In this Article:

The Center for Arts at the Armory and Tibet Arts and Culture Festival

This Weekend in Somerville: PorchFest, Doggie Spring Fling, ASSEMBLED and More

There's a ton happening in Somerville this weekend. Don't miss out.

PorchFest The third annual PorchFest takes place Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Over 100 bands will be playing on porches throughout the city. Check out this map to plan your PorchFest itinerary.  Somerville Dog Spring Fling Som|dog, Somerville's dog group, is hosting the first ever Spring Fling on Sunday. The party will include dog-related activities, vendors, a dog treat bake-off contest, a doggie fashion show, live music, a "kiddie corner" with crafts and face painting, and consultations with local trainers and behaviorists. Also, there will be a beer garden with craft beer. It's in Union Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ASSEMBLED: The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row This new market of handmade arts kicks off on Satuday in Assembly …

In this Article:

Somerville Dog Party Happens May 19, ASSEMBLED: The handmade arts market at Assembly Row, Announcing Artists and Food Trucks Coming to the Launch of ASSEMBLED: The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row in Somerville on May 18th, and 17 more ›

Friday, May 10, 2013

This Weekend in Somerville: Historical Bike Tour and a Silent Film

Also, M.O.M.'s Run, celebrating Mother's Day and learning how to repair old windows.

Silent Film Series: The Thief of Bagdad Somerville Theatre has a lineup of silent films that will screen throughout the summer. On Sunday, watch Douglass Fairbanks in 1924's "The Thief of Bagdad."  M.O.M.'s RUN The annual Mother's Day run benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and this year the event is honoring Sean Collier, the MIT police officer and Somerville resident who was killed after the Boston Marathon bombings. It starts at 10 a.m. Sunday in Davis Square. An after-run party takes place at Redbones. Historic-Somerville Bike Tour The theme of this year's bike tour is "Industrial Somerville, Past and Present." As part of the guided tour, you'll ride your bikes and learn about Somerville's industrial growth and evolution. The …

In this Article:

Somerville Theatre, M.O.M.'s RUN, Redbones, and 5 more ›

Monday, May 6, 2013

Scenes from Somerville Open Studios

It's one of the biggest open studio events in the country. If you've got photos to share, you can do so here.

It was a beautiful weekend for Somerville Open Studios, which included nearly 425 artists and almost 110 studio spaces. Now in its 15th year, Somerville Open Sudios is one of the largest open studio events in the country. Here are some scenes from this year's event, which took place Saturday and Sunday. If you've got photos or videos you'd like to share, click the "Upload Photos and Videos" button.

Marji Gere, Violinist and Educator, is May's Artist of the Month

Gere performs chamber music, composes wacky puppet shows and teaches string instruments elementary school students.

Marji Gere, a violinist with the Boston Public Quartet, has been named May's Artist of the Month by the Somerville Arts Council. Gere teaches string instruments to elementary school students in Mattapan and works with pianist Dan Sedgwick to perform recitals, explore xenharmonic tunings and compose puppet shows, according to an announcement from the Arts Council. She also directs "An Exciting Event," described as "an unwieldy and wacky chamber ensemble of musician-puppeteers." She has degrees in music and English from University of Iowa and a master's degree in arts education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the announcement says. Somerville Arts Council Launches 'Artist of the Month' Series Susan Berstler Chosen as …

In this Article:

Somerville Arts Council, Somerville Arts Council Launches 'Artist of the Month' Series, Susan Berstler Chosen as Somerville's January Artist of the Month, and 3 more ›

Friday, May 3, 2013

Somerville Open Studios Turns 15 this Weekend

It's one of the largest open studio events in the country, it's happening Saturday and Sunday, and it's free.

Now in its 15th year, Somerville Open Studios has become one of largest open studio events in the country, said Rachel Mello, coordinator of the event. It's main rival, in terms of size, is an event run by the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, she said. This year, almost 425 artists and 110 studio sites will be participating. The event grows a little bit every year, Mello said. SOS, as it's known, is completely free. It encourages the public to visit art studios across Somerville, a city with a large and vibrant arts community. It takes place Saturday and Sunday, and some studios will host previews Friday night. As always, free trolleys will run throughout the city, letting studio-goers traverse Somerville and enjoy their time …

In this Article:

Somerville Museum, Redbones, and Vernon Street Studios

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Scavenger Hunt Seeks to Map Public Art in Somerville

Anyone can participate, and there will be prizes.

With Somerville Open Studios happening the first weekend of May, two Somerville residents are embarking on an ambitious project: to map all public art in the city of Somerville. They're not doing it alone. In fact, they could use your help. Emily Bhargava and Luisa Beck, along with the Somerville Arts Council, are organizing a scavenger hunt that takes place during the month of May. Its aim is to create a map that catalogues the city's public art. The idea started because "both of us wanted this map," said Bhargava. Somerville is filled with murals, statues, monuments, mosaics, stained glass and other works of art, some of them in well-traveled locations, some of them tucked away. They're asking people to find a piece of artwork, take a …

In this Article:

Somerville Arts Council

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Somerville Open Studios Kids' Show

The show runs through May 10 at the Armory.

If you're looking forward to Somerville Open Studios, check out the kids' show at The Center for Arts at the Armory Cafe. If features works by kids 14 and under, and it runs through May 10. The cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In this Article:

The Center for Arts at the Armory

Monday, April 29, 2013

Bobcat Goldthwait's 'Willow Creek' Screens in Somerville

It's the world premiere of a film that follows Bigfoot hunters deep into the woods.

The world premiere of "Willow Creek," a film directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, screens Monday at Somerville Theatre. The film follows a man and his girlfriend as they retrace the steps of famous Bigfoot researchers. Part of the Independent Film Festival Boston, it screens at 9:30 p.m. More here.

In this Article:

Somerville Theatre

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  1. This Weekend in Somerville: PorchFest, Doggie Spring Fling, ASSEMBLED and More
  2. Complaints About PorchFest Put Somerville Music Festival in Jeopardy
  3. Saturday: Somerville's PorchFest to Feature Over 100 Musical Acts
  4. Somerville PorchFest
  5. 'Muslim Journeys' Discussion Series Begins May 30

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