The Marion Art Center joins more than two dozen local cultural organizations to launch a celebration of the arts across the South Coast region in May 2021. SouthCoast Spring Arts is a 10-day festival celebrating the arts in our communities by connecting innovative, creative, and affordable art and cultural events in communities across the region, from Fall River to Wareham. The inspiration for this undertaking was to continue the spirit of ArtWeek MA, a statewide program of the Boch Center, which is evaluating when their programming will resume in light of the COVID-19 crisis. SCSA events will take place from May 7 – May 16, with an emphasis on virtual, hybrid, or outdoor in-person events, in response to the state’s current safety guidelines.
The MAC joins this effort with eight new cultural events in theater, live music, and visual arts. In keeping with the ArtWeek mission, all Spring Arts events at the MAC are offered at low cost or for free. On Friday, May 7, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, join a virtual gallery tour of the MAC’s new contemporary printmaking exhibit, followed by a conversation with the MAC’s ED and Gallerist/Art Dealer Cade Tompkins. On Saturday, May 8, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, join fiber artist Kristina Goransson for a felting workshop where you can learn how to make unique three-dimensional forms with wool. On May 8 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, enjoy a live outdoor concert at the Bandstand at Island Wharf in Marion where the MonteiroBots will perform their special blend of jazz-funk for a socially-distanced crowd. On Thursday, May 13, from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, attend an outdoor staged reading at the bandstand of LZ Bravo: A Vietnam Tour of Duty, an original, one-act drama conceived by John Heavey, local actor and drama director at Tabor Academy. On Friday, May 14, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, we’ll host a virtual workshop, “Taking Better Photos with Your Smartphone” with artist Deb Ehrens. Deb will teach you how to tell a story with your photos while making the most of a free photo editing app call Snapseed. On Saturday, May 15, from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, you’ll paint your own sunrise painting while tasting local wines in the “Paint and Sip” workshop with artist Barbara Healy. Don’t miss the final MAC Spring Arts event on Sunday, May 16, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, which will be a special encore virtual concert of the Tri-County Symphonic Band’s performance of Cape Cod composer Michael Donovan’s “Postcards from Buzzards Bay.” The concert, originally recorded in 2019, will be accompanied by beautiful images of Buzzards Bay. You’ll see both vintage postcards and original fine art while listening to this celebration of the body of water that shapes the lives of all who live and work in the region. Enjoy a live Q&A session following the concert, and witness interviews with multiple composers. Additionally, the MAC will host a special performance by the Toe Jam Puppet Band for kindergarten, first, and second-graders at Sippican School in Marion.
Art lovers of all ages are invited to ignite their creative spirit and celebrate SouthCoast Spring Arts. To register for Marion Art Center events, head to the MAC’s website at marionartcenter.org. Find out more by emailing info@marionartcenter.org. Discover more events all throughout the local region or join a virtual event from anywhere by visiting southcoastspringarts.org. Regional SCSA events will be added through early April.